Threats to the integrity of urban streams in the southwest amazon

This study characterized the physical integrity, hydromorphology, and limnology of ten urban streams in the Southwestern Amazon. The objective was to investigate how these characteristics covary and identify threats to the health of these ecosystems. The physical integrity of the streams was assessed using a Habitat Integrity Index (HII), hydromorphology based on width, depth, flow, and substrate type, and limnological characterization through 14 physico-chemical parameters during dry and rainy seasons. Three streams were classified as preserved, two as intermediate, and five as degraded. Anthropogenic alterations were observed in hydromorphological characteristics, especially in width, depth, and substrate type across different integrity categories. Limnological analysis revealed that chemical and biochemical oxygen demands, ammoniacal nitrogen, nitrate, dissolved iron, and sulfides exceeded the limits established by Brazilian water quality regulations (CONAMA 357/2005). The alteration of these parameters reveals that the primary threat to the integrity of these ecosystems is sewage collection and treatment issues, reflecting the absence of basic sanitation. Redundancy Analysis (RDA) indicated the influence of specific substrate types on parameters in degraded streams, while preserved streams showed a correlation between dissolved oxygen with riparian forest conditions and the absence of anthropogenic influence. Cluster analysis emphasized the importance of integrating environmental, hydromorphological, and limnological metrics for a comprehensive assessment of ecosystem health. Given the heterogeneity of Amazonian aquatic ecosystems, this study may contribute to the establishment of criteria based on regional characteristics for accurate assessment and guidance of public policies aimed at protecting and ensuring the integrity of these ecosystems. Keywords: limnological characteristics, microbiological analysis, Porto Velho, urbanization.