Benthic Macroinvertebrates Associated with Riparian Habitat Structural Diversity in an Eastern Amazon Stream Urbanization Gradient

Abstract

Rich freshwater biodiversity is threatened by increasing deforestation and disorderly urbanization throughout the Brazilian Amazon, especially in streams and creeks, leading to loss of aquatic habitats. Biological information combined with habitat and water quality are effective tools for rapid assessment. The impact of increasing urbanization was assessed in the Cereja River, eastern Amazonia using a Riparian Habitat Diversity Index (RHDI), benthic macroinvertebrate structure and water and sediment variables in ten areas along the Cereja using multivariate analyzes. Increasing urbanization is associated with lower RHDI, abundance, diversity and equity of benthic macroinvertebrates, higher conductivity, pH, temperature, width and percentage gravel. This information is useful for rapid identification of impacts, assessment of recovery of degraded areas and maintenance of non-degraded areas along urban streams.