Benthic invertebrate ecological risk assessment of Luanhe River, China: Combined physical, chemical and biological approach

Abstract: With the enhancement of human activities which influnce the physical and chemical integrity of ecosystem, it was bound to increase ecological risk to the ecosystem. Benthic invertebrate can stable reflect the state... [ view full abstract ]

Abstract: With the enhancement of human activities which influnce the physical and chemical integrity of ecosystem, it was bound to increase ecological risk to the ecosystem. Benthic invertebrate can stable reflect the state of the ecosystem. We used a comprehensive approach, including the response relationship between environmental flow requirements guarantee ratio (GEF) and river ecological risk index (ERI), the Sediment Quality Guideline Quotient index (SQG-Q) and the Biotic Index (BI), to evaluate the risk of benthic invertebrate in sediment of the Luanhe River, China. Sediment samples were collected at 10 sites during wet season and dry season. According to the response relationship between GEF and ERI that Luanhe River was at moderately risk level in dry season, and low risk level in wet season. It was concluded that all sites appeared to be moderately impacted by the contaminants in dry season, and unimpacted in wet season. The results of BI showed that Luanhe River was at moderately polluted in dry season, and unpolluted in wet season. In conclusion, the benthic invertebrate in sediment of the Luanhe River was at moderate risk level in dry season, and low risk level in wet season.
Keywords: Luanhe River; Ecological risk assessment; benthic invertebrate; contaminant; Sediments