Desarrollo de una base de datos de macroinvertebrados acuáticos para futuros estudios de ADN ambiental en regiones amazónicas del Ecuador

Abstract

The Amazon basin generates between 16% and 20% of the planet's fresh water. The Ecuadorian Amazon was designated as a scene of multiple conflicts that affect the environmental status of its water bodies. This is why its quality is analyzed to determine the effects of human activities. However, these analyzes are not exhaustive because biological parameters are not included, thus requiring great efforts and resources. Aquatic macroinvertebrates are excellent bioindicators of aquatic pollution, as they have proven to be extremely useful for monitoring water quality. However, its taxonomic record in Ecuadorian regions is scarce. In this context, it was considered necessary to create a database of morphological and molecular taxonomy of this group of organisms. For this, samplings were carried out in 3 areas of the Napo province, morphological identification, DNA extraction, PCR amplification, Sanger sequencing and molecular identification. As a result, 219 aquatic macroinvertebrate organisms were morphologically identified, from which DNA was extracted from 67 specimens and 55 of them were successfully amplified to be sequenced and molecularly identified. All this taxonomic information was compiled and will be transferred to a freely accessible interactive web interface that will serve as a reference for future environmental DNA studies that facilitate constant monitoring of water quality in the Amazonian regions of Ecuador