Benthic Macroinvertebrates as Ecological Indicators: Their Sensitivity to the Water Quality and Human Disturbances in a Tropical River

Macroinvertebrate metrics are helpful tools for the assessment of water quality and overall aquatic ecosystem health. However, their degree sensitivity most reliable bioassessment program development very poorly studied in Togo. This study aimed to test calculated at family genus levels. A total 21 parameters macroinvertebrates' data were collected during three periods 20 sampling sites within Zio River. The canonical correspondence analysis (CCA), factor (FA), Spearman's correlation conducted on data. results reveal that macroinvertebrate structure composition affected by related human disturbances. In this study, groups communities identified including sensitive taxa such as Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, Trichoptera, Odonata (EPTO) taxa; resistant or resilient Oligochaeta, Hirudinea, Diptera, Pulmonates (OHDP) tolerant Prosobranchia, Bivalvia, Lepidoptera, Heteroptera, Coleoptera (PBLHC). All 13 macroinvertebrate-based found be detection disturbance gradients. EPTO tolerance measure [multimetric index River basin (MMIZB), Average Score per Taxon (ASPT), Biological Monitoring Working Party (BMWP)] robust discrimination pressure reveals macroinvertebrates can used order, family, genera taxonomic level.