Abstract

BAYLON CORITOMA, Maribel et al. Evaluation of the diversity of phytoplanktonic algae as water quality indicators in high andean lakes of the department of Pasco (Peru). Ecol. apl. [online]. 2018, vol.17, n.1, pp.119-132. ISSN 1726-2216.  http://dx.doi.org/10.21704/rea.v17i1.1180.

In the Department of Pasco,Peru, mining activity has been the main economic activity for decades, having generated environmental pollutants such as mine tailings, acidic waters and smoke emissions from mines, concentration plants and foundries as well as negative impacts to high Andean lakes in the upper basins. The aim of this study was to evaluate the water quality of five high andean lakes (Lacsacocha, Yanamate, Quiulacocha, Milpo Andina and Huaroncocha) in the department of Pasco, based on phytoplankton abundance, richness and diversity. For the collection of samples, 40 l of water were filtered on the shore, using a phytoplankton net of 10 μm. Four parameters were evaluated: pH, conductivity, temperature and concentration of metals in the water. The biotic indexes used for water quality assessment were the Shannon-Wiener diversity (H ') and the general diatomic index (GDI). 88 taxa were registered, distributed in seven phyla: Bacillariophyta (28), Charophyta (11), Chlorophyta (30), Cyanobacteria (15), Euglenophyta (2), Ochrophyta (1) and Miozoa (1). The most frequent phylum was Bacillariophyta (69.16%), followed by Chlorophyta (24.26%). Biotic indexes indicated that Yanamate, Lacsacocha, Quiulacocha and Milpo Andina were polluted while Huaroncocha waters had optimal biological quality.

Keywords : phytoplankton; quality indicators; high Andean lakes; Pasco Department.

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