The potential of functional feeding groups of aquatic insect larvae as determinants of the ecological integrity of Tondano lake’s inlets, North Sulawesi, Indonesia

All river ecological integrity is a strategic component for evaluating watershed management programs in an effort to achieve sustainable water management. In this case of handling, Lake Tondano must be synergized with the upstream area in which there are inlet streams. The research objectives were to analyze the potential of functional feeding groups of aquatic insects’ larvae through the analysis of spatial distribution and community structure in the Ranoweleng (Noongan), Panasen (Kakas) and Makalonsouw (Tondano) river areas (upstream of the Tondano river) and to analyze the role of larval functional groups in the studied location. Sampling was carried out according to the availability of river microhabitats, namely zones, riffle zones, pool zones using the Surber Sampler as the square of the plot. Sampling of aquatic insect larvae and measurement of environmental parameters is carried out directly in the study river, water quality testing will be carried out at the Manado Environmental Health Technical Center, while identification of aquatic insect larvae and riparian vegetation is carried out at the FMIPA Unsrat Laboratory. This study found 36 types of insect larvae that are included in 28 families in 7 orders that are unevenly distributed. Petrophila sp larvae are found in all river segments. Individual Cheumatopsyche sp. found most at the time of the study. The highest diversity index is found in reference rivers. Functional feeding groups that occupy the Panasen River are Collector filterers (59%) followed by Collector gatherers (19%), whereas in the reference river, Collector gatherers (46%) dominate followed by Collector-filterers (36%). These results indicate that the Lake Tondano inlet rivers are in very disturbed condition so that the ecological integrity is low.