Functional Feeding Groups of macroinvertebrates in El Santuario Stream, Tausa, Cundinamarca

Abstract

Introduction: In Colombia, it is common for water sources to originate in high mountain systems. These systems are often located near human settlements, which causes environmental stress; consequently, the organisms inhabiting these environments are affected. Objective: To identify the Functional Feeding Groups (FFG) of aquatic macroinvertebrates present in Reserva El Santuario: Quebrada El Santuario (Tausa–Cundinamarca). Materials and Methods: Physicochemical variables such as pH, dissolved oxygen (mg/L), temperature (°C), and flow rate (m³/s) were measured with three replicates at five sampling stations. Subsequently, sampling of the aquatic macroinvertebrate community was carried out at each station using a Surber net (220 µm) and manual collection. Measurements of physicochemical variables and biological sampling were conducted between February and August 2022. The Functional Feeding Groups were assigned based on secondary information once taxa were identified to the family and/or genus level. Results: Eight Functional Feeding Groups (FFG) were identified. The Collector–Shredder group was the most abundant (26.25–55.11%). The stations with the highest number of Functional Feeding Groups were the midstream and downstream sites (stations 3 and 5), while the upstream station, located closest to the system’s source, exhibited the lowest number of FFGs. Conclusions: The presence of Collector–Shredder and Collector groups reflects the availability of fine particulate organic matter (FPOM) in the aquatic ecosystem, associated with flow variations that influence physicochemical parameters, thereby favoring the abundances observed in these groups.