Reservatório de Sobradinho-BA: considerações sobre a história, os impactos e a diversidade funcional de macroinvertebrados bentônicos.

Abstract

Although it may seem “infinite”, water is a limited resource, especially in the face of factors such as economic and demographic growth. Therefore, the study of aquatic ecosystems as sources of research becomes essential, with Limnology being the science dedicated to the ecological study of all freshwater ecosystems. Among limnological studies, the use of benthic macroinvertebrates as a method to analyze the health of aquatic ecosystems has been of great relevance. In this context, the study area was based on the Sobradinho Reservoir-BA, considered one of the largest artificial lakes in the world. The objective of the research was to analyze the functional diversity of benthic macroinvertebrates in the Sobradinho Reservoir-BA, as well as their importance for maintaining the aquatic balance in the reservoir. Sampling was conducted quarterly between January 2007 and July 2009. Five points were sampled in the Sobradinho Reservoir, Bahia, so that for each point, two locations were sampled: one in the center and one on the edge of the reservoir. The results of the research showed greater functional richness on the edge of the reservoir compared to the center, in addition to parameters of functional divergence and functional uniformity, which contribute to a better understanding of the health and conservation status of the reservoir. The great abundance of Oligochaetes and other organisms found contribute to a rich diversity of organisms that play fundamental roles in the decomposition of organic matter, nutrient cycling, bioturbation, food chain and in the preservation of the aquatic ecosystem.