Author(s)

Eric B. Biram à Ngon^1*, Sylvie B. Chinche², Josephine Ndjama¹, Jean Dzavi¹, Donald L. Nyame Mbia³, Mathias Nwaha³, Serge R. Gwos Nhiomock³, Blaise R. Mboye⁴, Ivone L. Tchaouapi³, Ulrich Tchouta³, Chamberline Ngalamou³, Samuel Foto Menbohan³

¹Research Centre for Water and Climate Change, Institute of Geological and Mining Research, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
²Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management, Buea, Cameroon.
³Laboratory of Hydrobiology and Environment, University of Yaoundé, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
⁴Laboratory of Hydrobiology and Ichthyology, Libreville, Gabon.

The inventory of benthic macroinvertebrate species was carried out in some streams of the Mefou catchment area, from August 2021 to August 2022, in order to determine the biological groups that make up the population and characterise these environments. The dataset acquired during this study made it possible to update the existing database and contribute to the knowledge of the biological groups associated in these environments, and to provide additional information on the existing ones in relation to bioindication. Overall 80 families were identified and, on the basis of frequencies of occurrence greater than 75%, 22 families were retained as potential biological indicators. The remarkable diversity of insects and the low abundance of Diptera reflect the low degradation of environments and the good quality of water. The high diversity indices obtained reflect the maintenance of the favourable ecological conditions that favours the development of a balanced and, integrated biological community capable of adapting to changes.

Benthic Macroinvertebrates, Bioindicators, Biological Quality, Forest Watercourse, Cameroon

Ngon, E. , Chinche, S. , Ndjama, J. , Dzavi, J. , Mbia, D. , Nwaha, M. , Nhiomock, S. , Mboye, B. , Tchaouapi, I. , Tchouta, U. , Ngalamou, C. and Menbohan, S. (2024) Inventory and Distribution of Benthic Macroinvertebrates, Indicators of Water Quality in Four Forested Watercourses in Centre Region of Cameroon. Open Journal of Ecology, 14, 381-394. doi: 10.4236/oje.2024.144023.