BENTHIC MACROINVERTEBRATES AS BIOINDICATORS WATER QUALITY IN A STRETCH OF RIVER APODI-MOSSORO

This work was carried out aiming to evaluate the presence of benthic macroinvertebrates as bioindicators of water quality in a stretch of the river Apodi-Mossoro in the municipality of Governador Dix-Sept Rosado, Rio Grande do Norte. For this, samples were taken at three points of a stretch of the river Apodi-Mossoro. The identification of invertebrates was made through a stereomicroscope with the aid of specialized bibliographies. The quantity of macroinvertebrates was expressed as number of macroinvertebrates and per square meter in accordance with the tool used. Were found in three points bodies belonging to the phyla insecta and Mollusca, in which the Phylum Mollusca was the most representative in all sampled points, presenting a total of 17.725 individuals per m(2) collected with the dredger and 831 individuals with grip for the manual. The class gastropoda was the one that presented more individuals in all collections of the family of Thiarideos mainly represented by the species Melanoide tuberculata, a worrying fact public health, with a view that this species is a vector of diseases such as schistosomiasis. In general, were collected in greater abundance individuals resistant to pollution, being an indication that the waters of the sampled points can be polluted and/ or contaminated.