Evaluating the Ecological Status of Fluvial Networks of Tropical Andean Catchments of Ecuador

In the tropical high mountains, human activities have strongly intensified in recent decades. Agricultural frontier movement toward higher elevations, river channel modifications, mining, and urban waste discharge threaten ecosystem health, which is even more alarming when drinking water supply comes from surface water. The aim of current study was to evaluate ecological status mountain fluvial networks Andean catchments based on definition different types. Physical–chemical variables macroinvertebrate communities were sampled 90 stations seven catchments. River habitat riparian vegetation quality further evaluated. K-means classification, using physical hydro-morphological characteristics, identified six This classification refined five types by analyses through multidimensional scaling analysis similarity. anthropogenic pressure gradients, present types, inorganic (i.e., conductivity, turbidity), organic fecal coliforms), habitat, quality. Macroinvertebrate responded environmental páramo, forest with humid shrub, urban, Tarqui Heterogeneous habitats altitude favored taxa such as Atanatolica, Mortoniella, Helicopsyche, Anacroneuria, Paltostoma, Atopsyche, Pheneps, Maruina. Chironomidae Psychoda dipteran associated biochemical oxygen demand, lower concentration, coliforms, total dissolved solids, while Haitia linked elevated nitrate concentrations. Integrated watershed management could benefit a well-established biomonitoring network, considering represents natural variability ecosystems, well gradients.