PRELIMINARY NOTES ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF BIOLOGICAL METHODS FOR ASSESSING WATER-QUALITY IN TROPICAL STREAMS

This work presents the data related to studies of macroinvertebrates as bioindicators of water quality sampled in water courses in the Minas Gerais State, Brazil. The purpose of this work was to measure the tolerance ranges of zoobenthic organisms living in tropical rivers at different levels of water sabrobity. Field sampling methodology and physico-chemical parameters in order to determine the water saprobic level are also described. At a polisaprobic (ps) level, members of Familia CHRIRONOMIDAE, CERATOPOGONIDAE, PSYCHODIDAE (Diptera: Insecta) and PHYSIDAE (Mollusca) occurred. Others organisms like leeches and few Familia of Coleoptera (ELMIDAE and HIDROPHILIDAE) showed significant resistance to organic matter occuring in alfamesosaprobic (alpha-ms) waters.