Spatial and Temporal Variations in Benthic Macroinvertebrates Communities in Shanbeh-Bazaar River, Anzali Wetland Leading to the Caspian Sea

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate spatial and temporal changes in benthic macroinvertebrates communities in Shanbeh-Bazaar River leading to the Caspian Sea. Sampling was carried out in four stations with three replicates using Hilsenhoff Rapid Bioassessment Family Biological Index (HFBI) in 2017. Totally, 3963 macroinvertebrate belong to 3 phylum, 5 class, 9 order and 19 families were identified. The maximum abundance was recorded in spring and the minimum abundance was observed in summer with 2137±186 and 83±19 individual benthos, respectively. The lowest and the highest was abundance observed in stations 1 and 4, respectively. According to the MDS analysis, the distribution of macroinvertebrate showed three distinct groups among stations. The water quality of Shanbeh-Bazaar river for all the stations was very poor except for station 1 (7), based on Hilsenhoff index water quality guideline. The results showed that the increased organic matter due to agricultural activities, adjacent urban and rural wastewater and transport of cargo ships caused an increase in the abundance of pollution resistant benthos including Tubificidae and Chironomidae, which indicates low water quality in this area.

Keywords

• abundance
• fauna
• hilsenhoff index
• macroinvertebrates
• mds