Application of some biological indices to benthic macroinvertebrates related to water quality index of Lake Burullus, Egypt

S. Abdel Gawad, Soad; H. Abdo, Mohammed

doi:10.21608/ejabf.2019.66838

Application of some biological indices to benthic macroinvertebrates related to water quality index of Lake Burullus, Egypt

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

10.21608/ejabf.2019.66838

Abstract

Seven chemical variables; Dissolved Oxygen (DO), Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Ammonia (NH₃), Nitrate (NO₃^-), Orthophosphate (PO₄^3-) and Total Suspended Solids (TSS) were measured at twelve stations covering all area of Lake Burullus during winter and summer seasons (2018). These parameters were used to estimate Nile Chemical Pollution Index (NCPI) at each station. From the same stations, Macrobenthic invertebrates were collected, sorted, identified and counted. Twenty-three families were recorded during this study, seven of them are bioindicatory families: Viviparidae, Planorbidae, Thiaridae, Physidae, Neritidae Tubificidae and Chironomidae. Biological Monitoring Working Party (BMWP) and Biological Monitoring Working Party Average Score Per Taxon BMWP-ASPT) were applied to biological data. Regression values between the chemical index and BMWP, BMWP-ASPT indices showed nonsignificant values (P value more than 0.05) during winter and summer. BMWP and BMWP-ASPT indices were not similar with chemical indices. It was concluded that these indices can not used to assess water quality of Lake Burullus,so BMWP and BMWP-ASPT need more developments according to bioindicators organisms of Lake Burullus and its nature.

Keywords