Background:

The evaluation of the integrity of a river involves the analysis of different aspects of its environment and the ecosystem itself.

Goal.

In the present study, the abiotic and biotic quality of the Cupatitzio river was characterized using multiple indicators.

Methods:

An analysis of the coverage of the different land uses in the basin was carried out, 16 physicochemical variables of the water were measured, and aquatic invertebrates were identified and quantified in 20 monitoring sites. Water quality index (NSF-WQI) and biological indices (Shannon-Wiener, Pielou, and Indicator Species Analysis) were calculated, and multivariate statistical methods were applied.

Results:

Most of the sites present an important coverage of human settlements and agriculture, and the lowest value for natural vegetation. Consequently, the beginning of the river presented a modification in its channel which reduced the value of biological indicators. Overall water quality is medium for the river, related to the presence of organic matter with high values of Biochemical Oxygen Demand (maximum 22.82 mg/L) and nutrients (maximum NO3 of 12.39 mg/L and NH4 of 7.31 mg/L). The dominant families were Chironomidae, Lumbriculidae, Gammaridae, and Baetidae. A significant spatial and temporal difference in family abundance was detected (A=0.061, P=0.0007, and A=0.247, P=0.000008, respectively). Six of the 77 families were identified as significant indicators.

Conclusions:

Only at dry season there was more concordance between environmental quality and aquatic organisms’ indicators. A protocol of the analyses is presented for implementation in other aquatic ecosystems and it is recommended the necessity to calibrate and validate biological indicator indices (e. g., BMWP) to improve interpretation.