- 38 -

Physico-chemical and biological variables of San José Creek, Otún

river drainage/upper Cauca, Colombia

Variables físicoquímicas y biológicas de la quebrada San José, afluente del río

Otún, Alto Cauca, Colombia

Carlos A. García-Alzate*, Cesar Román-Valencia*,

Diana X. Lopera*, Melissa I. González* & Maja Šimunović**
Recibido: Agosto 13 de 2008
Aceptado: Noviembre 4 de 2008

RESUMEN

Se realizó un análisis bimodal y nictemeral en la quebrada San José, afluente del río Otún, Alto Cauca. Se evaluaron
variables fisicoquímicas y biológicas; se aplico índices de diversidad alfa Shannon-Wiener, Simpson, Margalef y Pielou. El
ANDEVA mostró que existen diferencias significativas, entre los periodos de lluvias y sequía, para la temperatura
superficial del agua, la temperatura máxima, el pH y la conductividad. Se registraron 1571 ejemplares de
macroinvertebrados: 1010 en lluvias y 561 en sequía; Ephemeroptera fue el más abundante en ambos periodos. El
fitoplancton presentó 3977 individuos en lluvias y 25093 en sequía, Ankistrodesmus fue el más abundante en lluvias
(39,02 % AR) y Cladophora en sequía (35,16% AR); mientras Vorticella fue el más abundante en ambas épocas (82,72%
AR en lluvias y 45,10% AR en sequía). Los peces Hemibrycon rafaelense y Bryconamericus caucanus fueron abundantes y
dominantes. Los resultados son consistentes a drenajes oligotróficos en sequía con tendencia a la eutroficación en
lluvias.
Palabras claves: bimodal, nictemeral, plancton, invertebrados, peces.

ABSTRACT

A bimodal, nictemeral analysis of San José Creek, a tributary of the Otún River, Upper Cauca was studied. We evaluated
physico-chemical and biological variables and applied Shannon-Wiener, Simpson, Margalef and Pielou's biological
diversity indices. ANOVA showed that there are significant differences between wet and dry seasons, in surface water
temperature, maximum air temperature, pH and conductivity. A total of 1571 macroinvertebrates were collected: 1010
from the rainy season and 561 from the dry. Ephemeroptera was the most abundant taxon in both periods. For
phytoplankton we collected 3977 individuals during the wet season and 25093 from the dry. Species of the genus
Ankistrodesmus were most abundant during the rainy season (39.02% RA) and Cladophora during the dry (35.16% RA).
Vorticella was the most abundant specie of zooplankton in both seasons (82.72% RA wet, 45.10% RA dry). Hemibrycon
rafaelense and Bryconamericus caucanus, fishes of the family Characidae, were the most abundant and dominant. Our
results indicate that the drainage was oligotrophic in the dry season, but eutrophic during the wet.
Key Words: bimodal, plankton, invertebrates, fishes.

INTRODUCTION dramatic variations of physical and chemical

variables are present in continental waters (rivers,

W ater is directly connected with every part

of life; it forms aquatic ecosystems where
series of live communities develop that
depend on water properties (pH, conductivity,
temperature, specific heat, superficial tension,
among others) for survival (Posada et al. 2000;
Román-Valencia et al. 2005). One of the most
important properties of water is its capacity to
maintain many elements, both solid and gas in
solution (oxygen, carbon dioxide, phosphates,
nitrates, etc.), that are fundamental for organisms
that live there (Roldán, 1992). In the Neotropics,
streams, lakes) because of strong rains, electrical
storms, prolonged droughts, etc. that alter biotic
communities (Sierra et al. 2004). But anthropogenic
activity influences freshwater ecosystems more
than any of these.
Geomorphological, hydrological and biological
interactions determine baseline parameters
present in river communities (Bernal et al. 2006).
Two major elements of biotic communities that
develop in continental waters are the aquatic
macroinvertebrates and fishes (Roldán, 1992). In

* Laboratorio de ictiología. Universidad del Quindío A.A. 2639. Armenia, Colombia. cagarcia@uniquindio.edu.co & ceroman@uniquindio.edu.co
** Division of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb Rooseveltov trg 6, Zagreb, Croatia. E-mail: msimun@yahoo.com

rev. invest. univ. quindio (18): 38-48. Armenia - Colombia

 Physico-chemical and biological variables of the otun river - 39 -
past years, rapid evaluation procedures to assess
biological communities as well as physical and
chemical properties of aquatic systems have been
used to characterize and restore ecosystems
affected by contaminants (Marqués et al. 2001).
Macroinvertebrate communities have been used as
biological indicators of aquatic ecosystems affected
by contamination (Alba-Tercedor, 1996). The
objective of this article is to present the results of a
nictemeral and bimodal analysis of some physico-
chemical and biological variables, to determine and
record the current condition of San Jose Creek, a
tributary of the Otún River, Upper Cauca drainage, of
northwest Colombia.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Samples were taken from San José Creek, Otún River
drainage, Upper Cauca, located in municipality Dos
Quebradas, Risaralda, Colombia (04° 47' 087''N,
075° 38' 072''W) at 1575 m.a.s.l. Stream bottom is
covered principally by rocks, bank vegetation
consists of Guadua angustifolia, and Araceae,
(Pteridophyta and some Graminaceae). Samples
were collected between 3rd and 4th March and 28th
and 29th April 2007; work includes both climatic
seasons of this area (Fig. 1).
Physico-chemical variables: The following
equipment was used: oxymeter OXI196-
Microprocessor to measure dissolved oxygen and
superficial temperature of water; mercury
thermometer for air temperature; maximum and
minimum thermometer air temperature;
conductivity with HANNA HI98842 conductimeter;
water pH with potentiometer PIN POINT-BNC and
relative humidity with thermohygrometer; that was
recorded every hour during 24 hours. Physical
variables width and depth were measured with
decameter and flexometer respectively; current
velocity was calculated by timing a floating ball as it
travelled one meter.
To determine chemical variables, water samples
were collected in sample jars for measuring:
Chemical Demand of Oxygen (C.D.O.), hardness
(calcium and magnesium), alkalinity, acidity,
turbidity, pH and chlorine, moreover, Biochemical
Demand of Oxygen (B.D.O 5 ) was measured
according to methodology recommended by APHA
(1998) and Wetzel & Likens (2000). We also
measured total and fecal coliform concentrations.
rev. invest. univ. quindio (18): 38-48. Armenia - Colombia
Samples were analyzed in the water lab of the
University of Quindío, Armenia, Colombia. The
concept of trophic state was described according to
Dodds (2007).
Biological variables. Phy toplankton and
zooplankton identification was carried out for
specimens from water samples jars, preserved with
4% formalin and colored with lugol. They were
determinated with the help of taxonomic keys:
Lackey (1956), Kudo (1966), Bicudo & Bicudo (1970),
Uhlerkovich & Schmidt (1974) and Needham &
Needham (1978). Macroinvertebrates were
collected near shore in areas with flow with nets and
entomological forceps and later conserved in vials
of 70%-alcohol, in a quantitative analysis. Samples
were taken to the Biology Laboratory of the
University of Quindío, Armenia, for identification
with the use of taxonomic keys (Needham &
Needham, 1978; Correa et al., 1981; Roldán, 1996;
Wetzel & Likens, 2000; Posada-Garcia & Roldán-
Pérez, 2003). Fishes were collected with different
kinds of nets, held by two people, and making
passes both up and downstream, and from one
bank to the other, to cover all stream biotypes.
Identifications were made in-situ, and some
specimens were conserved in 10%-formalin and
transferred to the Ichthyology laboratory of
University of Quindío, Armenia, Colombia (IUQ), to
confirm identifications using taxonomic keys and
comparative specimens (Román-Valencia 1993,
1995, 2003; Román-Valencia & Ruiz-C. 2005, 2007;
Román-Valencia et al. 2003, 2005; Ruiz-Calderón &
Román-Valencia 2006 a, b; García-Alzate et al, 2007;
García-Álzate & Román-Valencia, 2008a, b).
Statistical analysis. Average was used to indicate
central tendency and the coefficient of variation by
Pearson (CV) for relative dispersion. Analysis of
variance (ANOVA α = 0.05) was used to evaluate
significance of average variation for physico-
chemical variables with biological importance
between sampling sites. The program STATISTIC 7.0
for Windows was used.
Diversity Indices. Shannon-Weiner (1949), Simpson
dominance (1945), Margalef richness (1951) and
Pielou equity (1966) indices were calculated to
evaluate numeric structure of plankton, fish and
aquatic macroinvertebrate communities. The index
of contamination for organic matter (ICOMO) was
also calculated using the formula of Ramirez & Viña
(1998):
- 40 - García-Alzate, C. A. et al.

ICOMO= 1/3 (I. BDO + I. Total coliform + I. Oxygen 21

%) 20

19
Where:
18

mm
I. BDO= -0.05 + 0.70 Log. BDO (mg/l) 17
I. Tot. Col. = -1.44 + 0.56 Log. Total Col.(NMP/100ml) 16
I. Oxygen %= 1- 0.01 oxygen % (Oxygen (%) > 100% 15
have I. Oxygen %= 1) 14

Range Concentration Indicator Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun

Month
Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

0 – 0,2 Very Low Very Good

Figure 1. Monthly pluviometric multi-annual data, Bosque
0,2 - 0,4 Low Good station, Dos Quebradas (Risaralda), Colombia, 1980-2004.
0,4 - 0,6 Media Medium
0,6 - 0,8 High Bad
0,8 – 1 Very High Very Bad RESULTS

BMWP/col. For bioindicator analysis Biological
Monitoring Working Party (BMWP/col) modified for
Colombia by Roldan (2003) was used, this method
uses degree of tolerance of macroinvertebrate
families to contamination.
Physico-chemical variables. At the study area it rains
from September to November and from March to
May; and is dry from June to August and January to
February (Fig. 1). Samples were taken from wet and
dry seasons calculated from existing rainfall records.
Nictemeral oscillations as indicated by coefficient of
variation of physicochemical variables were
low, except ambient temperature and
re l at i ve h u m i d i t y ( Ta b . 1 ) . Wate r
temperature varied from 17.4º to 22.3 °C in
the dry season and 15º-19.6°C in the rainy
season (Fig. 2a; Tab. 1.), coefficient of
variation was higher in dry (7.9%) than in
rainy (4.56%). ANOVA showed significant
differences between climatic seasons for
water temperature (F= 9.84, p= 0.0029).
Ambient and minimal temperature did not
show statistically significant variations
between seasons. Ambient temperature
varied with the nictemeral cycle in both
seasons (11.82% CV in dry and 20.18% CV in
rainy). Minimum temperature varied little
between seasons. Maximum ambient
temperature and water temperature did
vary significantly (F=358.25; P=0.000),
coefficients of variance were generally low in
both seasons (2.67% in rainy and 4.93% in
rainy). Maximum and minimum showed
similar patterns, with lowest values at dawn
and the first morning hours, and highest
registered values in afternoon hour (Fig. 2b).

Dissolved oxygen showed low diel variation

Figure 2. Diel and seasonal patterns of variation for physico-chemical
variables of San José Creek, Otún River, Upper Cauca, Colombia.
A: Surface water and air temperature. B: Maximum and minimum
temperature. C: Dissolved oxygen.
in the dry season (1.96% C.V) but high
variation in the rainy season (24.91% C.V)
(Tab. 1). ANOVA indicated that there were
no significant differences between seasons

rev. invest. univ. quindio (18): 38-48. Armenia - Colombia


(F= 2.27, P=0.1388). Nevertheless, this variable had
lower oscillation in the dry vs. rainy seasons (Fig. 3),
describing this water body as autotrophic in dry
(8.3mg/l) and heterotrophic in rain (4.24 mg/l).
Conductivity was on average during the rainy season
than in the dry season (44.46 µs/cm and 71 µs/cm
respectively), probably as a consequence of flushing
out of dissolved and suspended solids in water. It
showed little oscillation during the day (Fig. 3), and
larger fluctuation in the rainy season. ANOVA
revealed significant differences in conductivity
between seasons (F= 406.78, P=0.000). pH was near
neutral, with little variation between seasons
(4.45% dry and 3.4% rain), mean was 7.79 mg/l in
dry and 7.46 mg/l in rainy season (Tab. 1); during the
first hours of the day the largest variation was
observed (Fig. 3); this pattern was similar in both
seasons; it was determined that pH had significant
variation between seasons (F= 10.55, P=0.0022).
Total alkalinity was high (47.5 mg/l in dry and 37.2
mg/l in rainy season) compared to acidity that
presented low values (8.94 mg/l in dry and 15.82
mg/l in rainy).
Total hardness was very similar in both seasons, but
lower in the rainy (40 mg/l CaCO3 and 42 mg/l CaCO3
respectively), with permanent hardness higher than
temporary hardness in both seasons (32 mg/l CaCO3
A Dry season
80
70
µs 50
60
40
30
20
8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1
Time (hour)
B three genera of rotifera. Vorticella was most
9 Rainy Season
8,5
pH
8 lower values for the rainy (0.46 bits/ind.) than the
7,5
7
6,5
8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1
Time (hour)
Figure 3. Diel and seasonal patterns of physicochemical
variables in San José Creek, Otún River, Upper Cauca,
Colombia. A: Conductivity. B: pH.
rev. invest. univ. quindio (18): 38-48. Armenia - Colombia
Physico-chemical and biological variables of the otun river - 41 -
in rainy and 24 mg/l CaCO3 in dry). Biochemical
demand for oxygen (BDO) was low for both seasons
(0.55 mg/l in dry and 1.88 mg/l in rainy). Chemical
demand for oxygen (CDO) had low values in dry
(40.4 mg/l O2) and high in the rainy season (425.8
mg/l O2). Chlorine didn't show marked seasonal
differences, generally it was low (31.03 mg/l CaCO3
in dry and 38.041 mg/l CaCO3 rainy).
Biological variables:
Phytoplankton. A total of 29074 individuals were
recorded, 3977 from the rainy season and 25077
during the dry season (Tab. 2). Seven families were
identified: Desmidiacea, Chroccocales,
Chlorophyceae, Chrysophyceae, Bacillariophyceae,
Xanthophyceae and Cyanophyceae, and 45 genera
(Tab. 2). Ankistrodesmus was the most abundant
during the rainy season (39.02% RA), followed by
Melosira (15.06% RA). In the dry season Cladophora
(35.16%), Ankistrodesmus (29.82%), Closterium
(11.98%) and Tetrapedia (11.62%) were most
abundant. Shannon-Wiener diversity was low for
both seasons (1.98 bits/ind. in dry and 1.76 bits/ind.
in rainy) (Tab. 6), Simpson dominance was high (0.24
in dry and 0.22 in rainy), revealing dominance of
various genera like: Closterium, Ankistrodesmus,
Cladophora and Tetrapedia (Tab. 2). Margalef index
showed that richness was high (3.62 for both
Rainy Season seasons) and lastly, values of Pielou's index (0.57 for
rainy and 0.51 for dry) showed that there are genera
that have same relative abundance, such as
Microspora and Navicula in rainy and Phormidium
and Tabellaria in dry season (Tab. 6).
Zooplankton. 158 individuals were collected; 107
from the rainy season, and 51 from the dry (Tab. 3).
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Two divisions of zooplankton were identified:
Protozoa and Rotifera; eight genera of protozoa and
Dry season
abundant in both seasons (89.72 % RA in rainy and
45.10 % RA in dry). Shannon–Wiener index had
dry (1.81 bits/ind.), while Simpson dominance had
higher values in the dry season (0.81) vs. the rainy
(0.24). The Pielou index had low values during the
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
rainy season (0.33), since in this season a marked
dominance of the genus Vorticella was observed. In
contrast, the Margalef index had lower values during
the rainy season vs. the dry (0.64 and 2.014
respectively) (Tab. 6).
- 42 - García-Alzate, C. A. et al.
Table 1. Physicochemical variables in San José Creek, Otún River, Upper Cauca, Colombia.
C.V. = Coefficient of Variation, average in parentheses.
VARIABLES DRY C.V. % RAINY C.V. %
Water temperature °C 19.22 (17.4 -22.3) 7.9 17.7 (15 -19.6) 4.56
Ambient temperature °C 20.68 (16 -28) 20.18 19 (16-23) 11.82
Maximal temperature °C 26.96 (25 -28) 2.67 21.42 (20 -24) 4.93
Minimal temperature °C 19.28 (15 -24) 17.76 17.88 (11 -23) 14.7
Dissolved oxygen (mg/l) 3.33 (3.2 -3.4) 1.96 3.06 (2-4.2) 24.9
Relative humidity % 76.46 (42 -91) 22.06 - -
pH 7.79 (7.43 -8.62) 4.45 7.46 (7.03 -8.11) 3.4
Conductivity (µS/cm) 71 (64 -76) 3.92 44.46 (25 -49) 12.74
Turbidity 25 - - -
Total alkalinity (mg/l CaCO 3) 43.5 - 37.2 -
Total acidity (mg/l CaCO 3) 8.94 - 15.82 -
Total hardness (mg/l CaCO 3) 42 - 40 -
Calcium hardness (mg/l CaCO 3) 24 - 32 -
Magnesium hardness (mg/l CaCO 3) 18 - 8 -
Chlorine (mg/l CaCO 3) 31.0 3 - 38 -
CDO (mg/l O 2) 40.4 - 425.8 -
BDO (mg/l O 2) 0.55 - 1.88 -
Total coliform (UFC/100ml) 361 - 1200 -
Fecal coliform (UFC/100ml) 117 - 1000 -
Depth (m) 0.75 - 1.5 -
Width (m) 8.93 - 12.5 -
Color Crystal - Brown -
Substrate Stony - Stony -
Velocity of current (m/s) 0.38 - 0.85 -

Table 2. Phytoplankton community of San José Creek, Otún River, Upper Cauca, Colombia.
Division Family Genus Rainy Dry Rainy Dry
Chlorophyta Desmidiacea Gonatozygon 185 244 4.65 0.97
Microspora 27 76 0.68 0.3
Navicula 27 62 0.68 0.25
Closterium 23 3004 0.58 11.98
Docidium 2 120 0.05 0.48
Cosmarium 5 5 0.13 0.02
Mesotaenium 4 7 0.10 0.03
Genicularia - 511 - 2.04
Pleurotaenium - 211 - 0.84
Netrium 19 - 0.48 -
Penium 1 - 0.03 -
Chroccocales Protococus 3 101 0.08 0.4
Ankistrodesmus 1552 7477 39.02 29.82
Chroococcus - 302 - 1.2
Chlorophyceae Cladophora 507 8818 12.75 35.16
Oedogonium - 4 - 0.02
Ophiocytium 12 - 0.30 -
Tribonema 1 - 0.03 -
Ulothrix 2 2 0.05 0.01
Mougeotia 2 - 0.05 -
Chaetophora 454 454 11.42 1.81
Spirogyra 3 - 0.08 -
Crucigenia 34 - 0.85 -
Zygnema 1 - 0.03 -
Chrysophyceae 3 4 0.08 0.02
Chrysophyta Bacillarophyceae - 2 - 0.01
Tabellaria 3 23 0.08 0.09
Nitzschia 8 73 0.20 0.29
Gomphonema 5 33 0.13 0.13
Melosira 599 - 15.06 -
Stauroneis - 1 - 0.004
Cymbella - 37 - 0.15
Synedra - 3 - 0.012
Amphora - 4 - 0.02
Gyrosigma - 2 - 0.01
Xanthophyceae 2 - 0.05 -
Ophoctium - 12 - 0.05
Melosira - 537 - 2.14
Tribonema - 1 - 0.004
Phormodium - 22 - 0.09
Cyanophyceae 47 7 1.18 0.03
Rivularia(colonies) 2 - 0.05 -
Coelosphaerium 325 - 8.17 -
Polycistis 1 - 0.03 -
Spirulina 1 - 0.03 -
Anabaena 14 1 0.35 0.004
Phormidium 30 - 0.75 -
Nostoc - 4 - 0.02
Tetrapedia 73 2913 1.84 11.62
TOTAL 3977 25077 100 100

rev. invest. univ. quindio (18): 38-48. Armenia - Colombia

 Physico-chemical and biological variables of the otun river - 43 -

Table 3. Zooplankton community of San José Creek, Otún River, Upper Cauca, Colombia. R. A: Relative Abundance.
# of individuals R. A. %
Division Family Taxon Dry Rainy Dry Rainy
Protozoa Vorticella 23 96 45,10 89,72
Urostyla 5 - 9,80 -
Stentor 10 4 19,61 3,74
Centropyxis 1 - 1,96 -
Oxytricha - 3 - 2,80
Eudorina - 3 - 2,80
Naegleria 1 - 1,96 -
Cilophora Pithothorax rotondus 1 - 1,96 -
Rotifera 3 1 5,88 0,93
Conochlius 1 - 1,96 -
Philodina 1 - 1,96 -
Chromogastes 1 - 1,96 -
Cladocera 4 - 7,84 -
TOTAL 51 107 100 100

Macroinvertebrates. Bryconamericus caucanus (11% in dry) and

There were 31 families and eight orders recorded:
Ephemeroptera, Odonata, Coleoptera, Diptera,
Trichoptera, Neuroptera, Plecoptera and Hemiptera.
A total of 1571 individuals were identified; 1010
from rainy season collections and 561 from the dry
(Tab. 4).
Astroblepus cyclopus (32.05% in rainy) (Tab. 5).
Shannon–Weiner index had low values for both
seasons (rainy 1.17 bits and dry 0.8 bits) (Tab. 6), as
did the Margalef index (0.92 rainy and 0.81 dry) and
the Simpson index because of differences species
abundances.

During the rainy season the orders with most
diversity were Ephemeroptera, Trichoptera and
Diptera, with five families each. Baetidae
(Ephemeroptera) was the most diverse with four
genera (Baetodes, Baetis, Dactylobaetis and
Moribaetis), the same as Libellulidae (Odonata) with
genera Erythemis, Dythemis, Sympertrumillotum
and Macrothemis (Tab. 4). In the dry season, the
most abundant genus was Thraulodes
(Leptophlebiidae, Ephemeroptera), (relative
abundance 16.58%), followed by Baetodes
(Baetidae, Ephemeroptera with 12.83%) and
Leptonema (Hydropsychidae, Trichoptera with
12,48%). During the rainy season Baetodes
(Baetidae, Ephemeroptera) had high relative
abundance (40.22%), followed by Leptohyphes
(Ephemeroptera) (9.98%) and the genus Mortoniella
(Glosoomatiidae, Trichoptera with 8.70%) (Tab. 4).
Water Quality Index
ICOMO. In the rainy season ICOMO was 0.4,
indicating low concentrations of coliform bacteria.
In the dry season values were even lower, 0.11,
indicating that the water had good quality during
the rainy season, and very good quality in the dry,
although it showed an abrupt increase of total and
fecal coliform bacteria at the onset of the rainy
season (Tab. 1).
B.M.W.P/col. In the rainy season the total value for
macroinvertebrates was 89 (Clase II), which
indicates that water had acceptable quality but
showed some effects of contamination. In the dry
season, the value was 113 (Class I), indicating that
water had good quality and that no contaminants
were present.
DISCUSSION

Generally diversity indices were low due to the
dominance of Baetodes in the rainy and Thraulodes
in the dry seasons (Tab. 4). The Margalef index
showed that there were more genera with high
values (5.95) during the dry season.
Fishes. 214 individuals were collected; 136 in the
rainy season and 78 in the dry (Tab. 5). The dominant
species was Hemibrycon rafaelense for both seasons
(77.2% in dry and 50% in raint), followed by
In the Neotropics there are evident variations of
physical and chemical variables in continental
waters, due to influence of climatic seasons (dry and
rainy). For this reason, ANOVA of water
temperatures revealed variation between seasons
with higher values during the dry season, and lower
during the rainy. Maximum temperature varied
more than minimum temperature, probably due to
deterioration of riverine vegetation or no existing
barrier sufficient to prevent light penetration; a

rev. invest. univ. quindio (18): 38-48. Armenia - Colombia

- 44 - García-Alzate, C. A. et al.

Table 4. Aquatic macroinvertebrate community of San José Creek, Otún River, Upper Cauca, Colombia.
# of individuals R. A. %
Order Family Genus Rainy Dry Rainy Dry
Ephemeroptera Baetidae Baetodes sp. 407 72 40.22 12.83
Baetis sp. 58 10 5.73 1.78
Dactylobaetis sp. 5 11 0.49 1.96
Moribaetis sp 6 2 0.59 0.36
Precloen - 1 - 0.18
Tricorythidae Tricorythodes 18 12 1.78 2.14
Leptohyphes sp. 101 11 9.98 1.96
Leptophlebiidae 33 - 3.26 -
Thraulodes 30 93 2.96 16.58
Terpides 3 3 0.30 0.53
Travellera - 2 - 0.36
Oligoneuriidae Lachlania 7 4 0.69 0.71
Homoeoneuria - 47 - 8.38
Heptageniidae Stonema - 3 - 0.53
Psephenidae - 1 - 0.18
Coleoptera Psephenops 15 7 1.48 1.25
Psephenus 1 11 0.10 1.96
Elmidae Cyllopus 2 1 0.20 0.18
Heterelmis 3 5 0.30 0.89
Macrelmis 1 - 0.10 -
Lutrochidae Lutrochus 4 - 0.40 -
Ptilodactylidae Anchytarsus 2 5 0.20 0.89
Hydropsychidae - 2 - 0.36
Trichoptera Leptonema 37 70 3.66 12.48
Smicridea 68 35 6.72 6.24
Hydrobiosidae Atopsyche 5 4 0.49 0.71
Glossomatidae Mortoniella 88 7 8.70 1.25
Polycentropodidae 2 - 0.20 -
Polycentropus - 15 - 2.67
Hidroptilidae Ochrotichia 1 - 0.10 -
Helicopsychidae Helicopsiche - 2 - 0.36
Larvas 51 - 5.04 -
Odonata Calopterygidae Hetaerina 2 14 0.20 2.50
Libellulidae Erythemis 2 2 0.20 0.36
Dythemis 2 - 0.20 -
Sympetrumillotum 1 6 0.10 1.07
Brechmorhoga - 3 - 0.53
Libelulido - 1 - 0.18
Macrothemis 1 - 0.10 -
Gomphidae Progomphus - 7 - 1.25
Phylogomphoides - 1 - 0.18
Simuliidae Simulium 46 14 4.55 2.50
Diptera Chironomidae Chironominae 1 13 0.10 2.32
Blepharoceridae Lemonicola 1 7 0.10 1.25
Psycodidae - 4 - 0.71
Caraptepogonidae Stilobezzia - 4 - 0.71
Tipulidae Atherix - 2 - 0.36
Veliidae Rhagovelia 1 15 0.10 2.67
Hemiptera Naucoridae Limnocoris 1 - 0.10 -
Saldidae 1 - 0.10 -
Hidracarido 1 - 0.10 -
Corydalidae Corydalus 3 12 0.30 2.14
Neuroptera 1 - 0.10 -
Plecoptera Pupas - 16 - 2.85
Perlolidae Perlodes - 4 - 0.71
TOTAL 1012 561 100 100

rev. invest. univ. quindio (18): 38-48. Armenia - Colombia

 Physico-chemical and biological variables of the otun river - 45 -

Table 5. Fish community of San José Creek, Otún River, Upper Cauca, Colombia.

Species Number of Individuals Relative Abundance %

Dry Rainy Dry Rainy

Hemibrycon rafaelense 105 39 77.2 50
Bryconamericus caucanus 15 25 11 10.26
Astroblepus cyclopus 9 8 6.62 32.05
Lasciancistrus caucanus 2 0 1.47 1.28
Chaetostoma fischeri 5 5 3.68 6.41
Brycon henni 0 1 0 0
Total 136 78 100 100

Table 6. Diversity indices for biological variables in San José Creek, Otún River, Upper Cauca, Colombia.
Zooplankton Phytoplankton Macroinvertebrates Fishes
Index / Seasons
rainy dry rainy dry rainy dry rainy dry
Shannon-Weiner 0.46 1.81 1.98 1.75 0.95 1.47 1.17 0.8
Margalef 0.64 2.01 3.62 3.62 4.62 5.95 0.92 0.814
Simpson 0.81 0.24 0.21 0.24 0.37 0.06 0.37 0.61
Pielou 0.33 0.83 0.57 0.51 0.27 0.4 0.73 0.49

similar situation was described Bojsen & Barriga
(2002). Temperature is a biotic factor that regulates
vital processes for living organisms, and also affects
physicochemical properties of other parameter of
the aquatic ecosystem such as: nutrient solubility,
gas solubility, physical state of nutrients, grade of
xenobiotics toxicity and physicochemical properties:
pH, redox potential, gas solubility, density, physical
state and substrate viscosity (Roldan, 1992). These
variations in temperature in general, could be
considered as decisive factors that cause strong
season changes in tropical aquatic ecosystems
(Roldan et al., 1984) such as San José Creek. Other
variables useful to determine the trophic state of
water bodies is the dissolved oxygen. In this study
dissolved oxygen varied little during the dry season
but more during the rainy, indicating autotrophy in
the dry, and a tendency to heterotrophy during the
rainy season. According to Dodds (2007) this is
probably due to the mixing of allochthonous
material and flushing out of pesticides and fertilizers
used in village cultures close to the stream, and
expressed in the abrupt increase of CDO in the rainy
season of more than 390 ppm. In general, patterns of
variation among physicochemical variables
established that this water body is oligotrophic in
the dry season with a tendency to eutrophication in
the rainy season.
Quantity of ions in water has a great significance in
osmotic regulation mechanisms of organisms,
where a drastic variation provokes problems in their
biological activity. According to Machado & Roldan
(1981) normal values are found between 10 and 30
ppm, but values found in this study exceed 30 ppm,
possibly due to the mixing of sewage and runoff
during the rainy season that affects structure of
stream communities (Matthias & Moreno, 1983).
This is corroborated by the increase in fecal coliform
bacteria present during the rainy season by a factor
of more than 900. High pH values for both dry and
rainy seasons are withing limits recorded for the
neotropics (Alba-Tercedor, 1996). Chlorine
concentration is perhaps one of the variables that
exert the most influence on aquatic organism
distribution, because they have to overcome
osmotic pressure (Roldan, 1992). In the rainy
season, high values were present due to a higher
rate of organic contamination. Low values
correlated with high productivity and low species
diversity; coinciding with Gómez and Martínez
(1998). In the rainy season, the genus
Ankistrodesmus was abundant, indicating water
with some degree of eutrophication;
Bacillariophyceae or diatoms found have diverse
physiological characteristics. Some are facultative
heterotrophs that can survive in conditions of low
light that increase in shallow waters (Aguirre &
Palacio, 2005). Presence of this organism in a water

rev. invest. univ. quindio (18): 38-48. Armenia - Colombia

- 46 - García-Alzate, C. A. et al.

body possibly indicates that during the rainy season,
there was a marked increase of contamination that
favors abundance of this group, which is more
tolerant to physico-chemical changes.
The macroinvertebrate community found was
similar to that recorded from other habitats in this
area (Rincón, 2002; Londoño et al. 2005, Garcia-
Alzate et al, 2007). Most abundant were
Ephemeroptera, indicators of clear and oligotrophic
water (Gallardo-Mayenco, 2003, Caicedo & Palacio,
1998). Nevertheless, the composition of this
community was evidently different. Diversity
present in San José Creek regarding macro
invertebrates was low comparing to other reported
studies for tropical streams (Roldán et al. 2001;
Rincón, 2002). Diatomeas (Bacillarophyceae) were
highly abundant in this stream. They have been used
as indicators of water quality, because they can
rapidly show changes in physicochemical
characteristics: for example the genus Nitzschia was
abundant when pH increased (Díaz-Quiroz and
Rivera Rondón, 2004). Similar results were found by
García-Alzate et al. (2007) in one eutrophic stream in
Upper Cauca.
The fish community also coincides with previous
records for this area (Román-Valencia 1993; 1995).
Relative abundance of encountered Characidae
species shows that human impacts on this stream
were not strong, coinciding with García-Álzate et al.
(2007). The eutrophic conditions found during the
rainy season are serious because this stream is a
home of the endemic species Hemibrycon
rafaelense (Román-Valencia & Arcila-Mesa, 2008).
BMWP/col coincides in both seasons with ICOMO
index that classify this water as very good in dry and
good in rain. This change of water quality is possibly
a consequence of allochthonous contaminants that
influence on macro invertebrate community
composition, because some groups don't tolerate
certain degrees of contamination, for example,
Ephemeroptera and certain families of Plecoptera.
In general, the biological quality for both seasons
was good according to indices that determine water
quality. And in spite of certain indications of
contamination, there were no marked visible
alterations in physicochemical and biological
properties in this water body.
Acknowledgments
This study was done with support from University of
Quindío, Vicerrectoria de Investigaciones (Proyecto
357), academic biology program, International
Association for the Exchange of Students for
Technical Experience (IAESTE) and students of
limnology class I semester 2007 of University of
Quindio that collaborated in field work and
laboratory. This article benefitted from corrections
and suggestions of Donald C. Taphorn, anonymous
revisor and editorial committee Revista de
investigaciones of University Quindío.

REFERENCES

Aguirre J. N. & J. Palacio. 2005. Variación espacio-temporal de la estructura de la comunidad de algas perifiticas en la
microcuenca de la quebrada la Vega, municipio de San Roque (Antioquia). Revista Actualidades Biológicas, 27(82): 67-
77.
Alba-Tercedor, J. 1996. Macroinvertebrados acuáticos y calidad de las aguas de los ríos. IV Simposio del Agua en
Andalucía (SIAGA), II: 203-213.
APHA, AMERICAN PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION AMERICAN WATERWORKS (AWWA), WATER POLLUTION CONTROL
FEDERATION (WPCF). 1998. Standard Methods for examination of Water and Sewage and Wastewater. 20a ed.
New York.
Bernal E, García D, Novoa M A., & A, Pinzón. 2006. Caracterización de la comunidad de macroinvertebrados de la
quebrada Paloblanco de la cuenca del río Otún (Risaralda, Colombia). Acta Biológica Colombiana, 11(2): 45-59
Bicudo, E. & Bicudo, R. 1970. Algas de águas continentais braileiras. Sao Paulo: Fundacao brasileira para o
desembolvimento do ensino de Ciencias. 157p.
Bojsen B.H. & R. Barriga. 2002. Effects of deforestation on fish community structure in Ecuadorian Amazon streams.
Freshwater Biology, 47: 2246-2260
Caicedo, O. & J, Palacio. 1998. Los macroinvertebrados bénticos y la contaminación orgánica en la quebrada La Mosca
(Guarne, Antioquia, Colombia). Revista Actualidades Biológicas, 20(69): 61-73.
Correa, M., Machado, T & Roldan, G. 1981. Taxonomía y ecología del orden Trichoptera en el departamento de
Antioquia en diferentes pisos altitudinales. Revista Actualidades Biológicas, 10(36): 35-48.

rev. invest. univ. quindio (18): 38-48. Armenia - Colombia

 Physico-chemical and biological variables of the otun river - 47 -

Díaz-Quiros, C. & Rivera-Rondon C. 2004. Diatomeas de pequeños ríos andinos y su utilización como indicadores de
condiciones ambientales. Caldasia. 26(2): 381-394.
Dodds, W.K. 2007. Trophic state, eutrophication and nutrient criteria in streams. Trends in Ecology and Evolution, 22(12):
669-676.
Gallardo-Mayenco A. 2003. Distribución Espacial de los Efemerópteros (Insecta: Ephemeroptera) en dos Cuencas
Mediterráneas a Diferentes Altitudes. Zool. baetica, 13/14: 93-110.
Garcia-Alzate C., Román-Valencia, C., Vanegas-Rios, A. & Arcila-Mesa, D. 2007. Análisis fisicoquímico y biológico
comparado en dos quebradas de alta montaña neotropical. Revista de Investigaciones Universidad del Quindío, 17:
57-80.
García–Alzate C. & Román–Valencia C. (2008a). Biología alimentaria y reproductiva de Hyphessobrycon poecilioides
(Pisces: Characidae) en la cuenca del río La Vieja, Alto Cauca, Colombia. Rev. Mus. Argentino Cien. Nat. n. s. 10(1):
17-27.
García–Alzate C. & Román–Valencia C. (2008b) Una nueva especie de Hyphessobrycon (Pisces: Characidae) para el Alto
Río Cauca, Colombia. Animal Biodiversity and Conservation. 31. 2. En prensa.
Gómez, A.S. & Martínez C.L.R. 1998. Fertilización en los sistemas acuícolas. En: C.J.L.R. Martínez (Ed.). 1988. Ecología de
los sistemas acuícolas. AGT., México. pp. 77-94.
Kudo, R. 1966. Protozoología. México, D. F. 345 p.
Lackey, J. 1956. Zooflagelados, en: Ward y Whipple, editors. Freshwater biology. Nueva York: Edimsem. P. 190-231.
Londoño, A.; Arrubla J.; Toro J.; Torres D.; Zarate M. & Beltrán M. 2005. Determinación de la calidad ambiental en la
quebrada Agua Bonita, corregimiento de Barcelona, Departamento del Quindío. Revista de Investigación
Universidad del Quindío 15: 55-64.
Machado, T & G. Roldán. 1981. Estudio de las características fisicoquímicas y biológicas del río Anorí y sus principales
afluentes. Revista Actualidades Biológicas, 10(35): 3-19.
Margalef, R. 1951. Diversidad de especies en las comunidades naturales. Inst. Biol. Appl. 9: 15-27.
Matthias, U & Moreno H. 1983. Estudio de algunos parámetros fisicoquímicos y biológicos del rio Medellín y sus
principales afluentes. Revista Actualidades Biológicas, 12 (46): 106-117.
Needham, J. & Needham, P. 1978. Guía para el estudio de los seres vivos de las aguas dulces. Barcelona: Reverte, S. A. 153
p.
Pielou, E. 1966. Ecological diversity. Wiley New York. 165 p.
Posada, J. A, G. Roldan & Ramírez J.J. 2000. Caracterización fisicoquímica y biológica de la calidad de aguas de la cuenca
Piedras Blancas, Antioquia, Colombia. Revista Biología Tropical, 48(1) 532-542.
Posada-García J. A, & G. Roldan. 2003. Clave Ilustrada y diversidad de las larvas de Tricoptera en nor-occidente de
Colombia. Caldasia, 25(1): 169-192.
Ramírez, A. & G. Viña. 1998. Limnología Colombiana. Aportes a su conocimiento y estadísticas de análisis. Colombia.
Bogotá. Editorial Panamericana. 292 p.
Rincón, M. 2002. Comunidad de insectos acuáticos de la quebrada Mamarramos (Boyacá, Colombia). Revista
Colombiana de Entomología, 28(1): 101-108.
Roldán, G. 1992. Fundamentos de limnología neotropical. Fen-Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, 529 p.
Roldán, G. 1996. Guía para el estudio de los macroinvertebrados acuáticos del departamento de Antioquia. FEN-
Colciencias. Bogotá. 217 p.
Roldán, G. 2003. Bioindicación de la calidad del agua en Colombia, uso del BMWP/Col. FEN-Universidad Antioquia,
Medellín, 170p.
Roldan G., Correa, M., Machado, T., Ramírez, J.J., Velásquez, L.F. Y Zuluaga, F. 1984. Estudio limnológico de la represa de
El Peñol. Revista Actualidades Biológicas, 13(50): 94-105.
Roldan, G. Posada J. & Gutiérrez J. 2001. Estudio Limnológico del recurso hídrico del parque Piedras Blancas. Academia
Colombiana de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Colección “Jorge Álvarez Lleras”, Bogotá, Colombia, 152p.
Román-Valencia, C. 1993. Composición y estructura de las comunidades de peces en la cuenca del río La Vieja, Alto
Cauca, Colombia. Biología y Educación (5): 8-19.
Román-Valencia, C. 1995. Lista anotada de los peces de la cuenca alta del río La Vieja, Alto Cauca, Colombia. Boletin
Ecotrópica, 29: 11-22.
Román-Valencia, C. 2003. Sistemática de las especies colombianas del género Bryconamericus (Characiformes:
Characidae). Dahlia (Rev. Asoc. Colomb. Ictiol) 6: 17-58.
Román-Valencia, C. Botero, A & Ruiz-C. R. 2003. Trophic and reproductive ecology of Robeoides dayi (Teleostei:
Characidae) from upper Río Cauca, Colombia. Boll. Mus. Reg. Sci. Nat. Torino. 20(2): 487-49.

rev. invest. univ. quindio (18): 38-48. Armenia - Colombia

- 48 - García-Alzate, C. A. et al.

Román-Valencia, C; Cadavid, J G; Vanegas, J A; & D K, Arcila. 2005. Análisis de algunas variables físicas, químicas y
biológicas en tres quebradas de la cuenca Alta del Río Cauca, Colombia. Revista de Investigaciones Universidad del
Quindío, 15: 83-96.
Román-Valencia, C. & Muñoz, A. 2001. Ecología trófica y reproductiva de Bryconamericus caucanus (Pisces:
Characidae). Boll. Mus. Reg. Sci. Nat. Torino, 18(2): 459-467.
Román-Valencia, C. & Perdomo, A. 2004. Ecología trófica y reproductiva de Argopleura magdalenensis (Pisces:
Characidae) en la cuenca alta de los ríos Cauca y Magdalena, Colombia. Revista del Museo Argentino Ciencias
Naturales, n. s. 6(1): 175-182.
Román-Valencia, C. & Ruiz-Calderòn, R. 2005. Diet and reproduction aspects of Astyanax aurocaudatus (Teleostei:
Characidae) from the upper part of the rio Cauca, Colombia. Dahlia (Rev. Asoc. Colomb. Ictiol), 8: 9-17.
Ruiz-Calderón, R. & Román-Valencia, C. 2006a. Osteología de Astyanax aurocaudatus Eigennman, 1913 (Pisces:
Characidae), con notas de la validez de Carlastyanax, Gery, 1972. Animal Biodiversity and Conservation, 29(1): 49-
51.
Ruiz-Calderón, R. & Román-Valencia, C. 2006b. Aspectos taxonómicos de Cetopshorhamdia boquillae y C. nasus (Pisces:
Heptapteridae), con anotaciones sobre su ecología en la cuenca alta de los ríos Magdalena y Cauca, Colombia.
Animal Biodiversity and Conservation, 29(2): 123-131.
Román-Valencia, C. & Ruiz-Calderón, R. 2007. Una nueva especie de pez del género Hemibrycon (Characiformes:
Characidae) del Alto río Atrato, noroccidente de Colombia. Caldasia, 29(1): 75-85.
Román-Valencia, C. & Arcila-Mesa, D. 2008. Hemibrycon rafaelense n. sp. (Characiformes: Characidae) a new species
fron the upper Cauca River, with keys to Colombian species. Animal Biodiversity and Conservation, 31(1): 67-75.
Shannon, C & Weaner, W. 1949. The Matematical theory of communication, The University of Illinois press. Urbana. 19-
27.
Sierra, O.R, J.J. Ramirez & O.F. Marin, 2004. Dinámica temporal de la comunidad fitoplanctonica y variables físicas y
químicas asociadas al lago Santander (Río Negro, Antioquia, Colombia). Revista Actualidades Biológicas, 26(80):
30-38.
Simpson, E. H, 1945. Measurement of diversity. Nature. 163 (4148): 688.
Uhlerkovich, A. & Schmidt, G. 1974. Phytoplaktantaxo in dem zentralamazonishen schwemmlandsee lago do
Castanho. Amazoniana 2: 243-283.
Wetzel, R. & Likens, G. 2000. Limnological analyses, 3 ed. Nueva York: Springer-Verlag. 429 p.

rev. invest. univ. quindio (18): 38-48. Armenia - Colombia