Author(s)

Fils Mamert Onana^1*, Serge Hubert Zebaze Togouet², Antoine Arfao Tamsa³, Nectaire Lié Nyamsi Tchatcho¹, Siméon Tchakonte³, Ernest Koji⁴, Armel William Yemtsa Yemeli¹, Abigaelle Natacha Sandrine Mouto Makong¹

¹Department of Aquatic Ecosystems Management, Institute of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon.
²Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
³Microbiology and Biotechnology Laboratory, Saint Jerome Polytechnic Institute, Saint Jerome Catholic University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon.
⁴Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon.

In this study conducted in the coastal zone of Cameroon, biological indices and functional feeding groups of benthic macroinvertebrates were used to assess the health status of two urban streams. For a better diagnosis, two streams located in coastal forest zone were used as a reference. Benthic macroinvertebrates were sampled monthly over a 3-month period (from May to July 2017) in six urban stations and six forest stations. Measurements of the physicochemical variables were done simultaneously. Physicochemical analysis revealed that urban streams are strongly polluted with high content of decaying organic matters, while forest streams are slightly polluted as indicated by the Principal Component Analysis. Concerning benthic macroinvertebrates, urban streams are poorly diversified with the proliferation of taxa tolerant to water pollution and belonging to the functional feeding groups of collectors-gatherers. Inversely, forest streams are more diversified and dominated by sensitive taxa, most belonging to the functional feeding groups of predators and shredders. These marked differences between biological indices and feeding mode of benthic macroinvertebrates in forest and urban rivers confirm the reliability of benthic macroinvertebrates as good indicators of freshwater ecosystem in the coastal zone of Cameroon.

Urban and Forest Streams, Benthic Macroinvertebrates, Water Pollution, Biological Indices, Functional Feeding Groups

Onana, F. , Togouet, S. , Tamsa, A. , Tchatcho, N. , Tchakonte, S. , Koji, E. , Yemeli, A. and Makong, A. (2019) Comparing Freshwater Benthic Macroinvertebrate Communities in Forest and Urban Streams of the Coastal Ecological Region of Cameroon. Open Journal of Ecology, 9, 521-537. doi: 10.4236/oje.2019.912034.