Objective:

This research aimed to evaluate the environmental health of the lunatic ecosystem River Ranchería in the area of influence of the El Cerrejón coal complex, through bioindication with aquatic macroinvertebrates.

Methodology:

Three monitoring stations were established (E1, E2 y E3), in which measurements of physicochemical variables were made such as: Temperature (°C), Dissolved Oxigen (mg/L), pH, Salinity (%o), Conductividad (µS/cm), Turbidity (UNT), Total Suspended Solids (mg/L), Chlorides (mg/L), Amonios (µg/L), Nitrites (µg/L), Nitrates (µg/L), Phosphates (µg/L) and Biochemical Oxygen Demand (mg/L). Aquatic macroinvertebrates were collected through multi-habitat sampling with surber net, D-net and PVC nucleators for collection of benthic organisms. Water quality at each monitoring station was classified using the BMWP/col index.

Results:

As relevant results, it was found that the families of aquatic macroinvertebrates with the most abundance in E1 were Baetidae, Coenagrionidae, Philopomamidae, Leptohyphidae and Leptophlebiidae; in E2, Culicidae, Hydrophilidae, Coenagrionidae, Psephenidae e Hydrobiidae and in E3, Coenagrionidae, Hydrobiidae, Belastomatidae and Palaemonidae.

Conclusions:

It is concluded that E1 has good quality waters (BMWP/col 130; ASPT 6.50), with high diversity and richness (H'E1 x 3.75 bits/ind; IE1 x 4.76); E2 and E3 have waters of acceptable quality (BMWP/ col x 65; ASPT 5.00) and dubious quality (BMWP/ col x 50; ASPT-5.25), respectively, with median diversity of families (H'E2 x 2.97 bits/ind and H'E3 x 2.32 bits/ind) and median wealth (IE2 x 2.82 and IE3 x 1.88).

Financing:

Universidad de La Guajira.