Macrobenthic communities as sentinels of freshwater ecosystem health: a systematic review

Document Type : Review

Authors

1 ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Kolkata, 700120, India

2 ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Mumbai, 400061, India

3 Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies, Cochin, 682506, India

4 College of Fisheries, Kamdhenu University, Kawardha, Chhattisgarh, 491995, India

Abstract

IIn aquatic environments, macrobenthic communities are essential. They are crucial elements of the food chain and significant markers of the ecosystem's health. The selection of sampling and reference points in inland open water bodies like rivers, streams, reservoirs, and dams significantly impacts the assessment of macrobenthic assemblages through proper methodologies. Evaluating macrobenthic communities aids in identifying possible pollutants in aquatic environments, which include heavy metal contamination, industrial waste, organic pollution, and pesticide runoff, all of which have the potential to affect the composition and operations of these communities significantly. Both biotic (living organisms) and abiotic (non-living environmental) elements affect macrobenthic populations. Their surrounding conditions influence these populations' distribution, density, diversity, and abundance. The effects of these interactions can be either beneficial or detrimental, depending on their nature. This review examines the impact of pollution and seasonal variations on macrobenthic communities in inland aquatic environments, especially rivers, dams, and reservoirs. The review emphasizes that, despite numerous studies, foundational data on freshwater macrobenthic populations remain insufficient in many areas around the globe.

Keywords

International Aquatic Research
Volume 17, Issue 4
December 2025
Pages 297-311

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