Water quality and macrozoobenthos communities production potential in the Aharchai river (Eastern Azerbaijan)

The aims of this study were determined of water quality and macrozoobenthos communities' production potential in the Aharchai Riverone year (from October 2012 to September 2013).
Samples were taken at 12 stations by sorber sampler (50×50cm) and in the library were separated, identified, counted and weighed. In the river identified 12 families of macrozoobenthos including: Planaridae, Lumbriculidae, Tubificidae, Culicidae, Glossiphoniidae, Gamaridae, Heptagenidae, Caenidae, Chironomidae, Simulidae, Limnaeidae, Sphaeridea. Average of annual number was 159.83 ind/m2 and biomass was 1.49g/m2.The highest number was in August and lowest number in December with temporal and spatial variations. There are significant difference (p<0.01)in number of ind/m2 between months and stations. Bauer method shown that st.1 was in class I with excellent quality and the other stations were in the class II with good quality. The average biological condition was Z=1.85 and production potential determined 170 kg/h. Helsenhoff index shown that (HFBI=4.98) water quality was very good. The results shown that Aharchai River is one of the natural habitats with well balance and it is relatively low pollution but macrozoobenthos communities were temporal and spatial variations.