Macrozoobenthos as Bioindicators of Water Quality in a Managed and Restored Tropical River: A Case Study of the Upper Citarum River

Nadya Timuria Cahyani; Nurul Chazanah; Suharyanto; Suci Wulandari; Brima Baranovtaria; Muhammad Rayhan Firdaus Fahmi; Muhammad Haekal Fikri

doi:10.5614/j.tl.2026.32.1.10

Nadya Timuria Cahyani ⁽¹⁾ , Nurul Chazanah ⁽²⁾ , Suharyanto ⁽³⁾ , Suci Wulandari ⁽⁴⁾ , Brima Baranovtaria ⁽⁵⁾ , Muhammad Rayhan Firdaus Fahmi ⁽⁶⁾ , Muhammad Haekal Fikri ⁽⁷⁾

(1) Institut Teknologi Bandung, Indonesia,

(2) Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Bandung Institute of Technology, Indonesia,

(3) Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Bandung Institute of Technology, Indonesia,

(4) Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Bandung Institute of Technology, Indonesia,

(5) Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Bandung Institute of Technology, Indonesia,

(6) Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Bandung Institute of Technology, Indonesia,

(7) Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Bandung Institute of Technology, Indonesia

https://doi.org/10.5614/j.tl.2026.32.1.10

Issue
Vol. 32 No. 1 (2026)

Submitted
December 23, 2025

##submissions.accepted##
March 19, 2026

Published
April 30, 2026

Keywords:

Macrozoobenthos, water quality, bioindicator, Upper Citarum River, tropical river

PDF

Abstract

Macrozoobenthos and physicochemical water parameters were sampled at five stations along an upstream–downstream gradient from July to September 2025. Community structure was assessed based on taxonomic composition, abundance, and diversity indices, while spatial patterns were explored using non-metric multidimensional scaling (nMDS), hierarchical cluster analysis, and SIMPER. Associations between macrozoobenthos metrics and environmental variables were examined using Spearman’s rank correlation. The results revealed pronounced spatial variation in water quality and macrozoobenthos communities along the river. Upstream sections were characterized by higher dissolved oxygen, coarser substrates, and the presence of environmentally sensitive insect taxa, indicating relatively good ecological condition. Midstream sections exhibited transitional conditions with mixed assemblages of sensitive, semi-tolerant, and facultative taxa. In contrast, downstream sections were dominated by highly tolerant taxa with low diversity and high dominance, reflecting degraded ecological conditions associated with organic loading, suspended solids, nutrient enrichment, and reduced dissolved oxygen. These findings support the application of macrozoobenthos as reliable bioindicators for water quality assessment in tropical river systems.

Full text article

Generated from XML file

References

Amin, Y. A., Jamaluddin, & Kaseng, E. S. (2023). Keanekaragaman Makrozoobentos Sebagai Indikator Kualitas Air di Hutan Mangrove Pantai Kuri Caddi di Kabupaten Maros. Jurnal Ilmiah Wahana Pendidikan, 9(10), 359–369.

Anggraini, E., Yuliastuti, N., & Budihardjo, M. A. (2024). Analysis of Water Conservation Priority Locations in Upper Sub Watershed. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 1323(1), 012001. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1323/1/012001.

Aulia, P. R., Supratman, O., & Gustomi, A. (2020). Struktur Komunitas Makrozoobentos sebagai Bioindikator Kualitas Perairan Di Sungai Upang Desa Tanah Bawah Kecamatan Puding Besar Kabupaten Bangka. Aquatic Science, 2(1), 17–29.

Balqish, A., Hutasuhut, M. A., & Idami, Z. (2024). Macrozoobenthos Diversity as Bioindicator of Water Quality in the Namu Sira-Sira River, Durian Lingga Village, Langkat Regency, North Sumatra. JURNAL PEMBELAJARAN DAN BIOLOGI NUKLEUS, 10(3), 1036–1050. https://doi.org/10.36987/jpbn.v10i3.6061.

Chazanah, N. (2018). Pengembangan Penilaian Kualitas Air di Hulu Sungai Citarum menggunakan Model Dinamika Populasi Makrozoobentos [Dissertation]. Institut Teknologi Bandung.

Dauhan, R. E. S., & Efendi, E. (2014). EFEKTIFITAS SISTEM AKUAPONIK DALAM MEREDUKSI KONSENTRASI AMONIA PADA SISTEM BUDIDAYA IKAN. 3(1).

Ekasari, A. M., Burhanudin, H., & Fardani, I. (2022). Analisis Kualitas Sub DAS Citarum Hulu. Media Komunikasi Geografi, 23(1), 44–57. https://doi.org/10.23887/mkg.v23i1.40612.

Faza, F. M. (2015). Hubungan Kepadatan Populasi Makrozoobentos Sedimen Perairan terhadap Parameter Kualitas Air Perairan Sungai [Master’s Thesis]. Institut Teknologi Bandung.

França, M. V., Shimabukuro, E. M., Smith, W. S., Morilla, M., & Taniwaki, R. H. (2025). Impact of Sugarcane Cultivation on Benthic Macroinvertebrate Communities in Tropical Streams. Limnological Review, 25(2), 13. https://doi.org/10.3390/limnolrev25020013.

Gavrilaș, S., Burescu, F.-L., Chereji, B.-D., & Munteanu, F.-D. (2025). The Impact of Anthropogenic Activities on the Catchment’s Water Quality Parameters. Water, 17(12), 1791. https://doi.org/10.3390/w17121791.

Halimatusadiah, S., Hadi Dharmawan, A., & R, R. (2012). Efektivitas Kelembagaan Partisipatoris di Hulu Daerah Aliran Sungai Citarum. Sodality: Jurnal Sosiologi Pedesaan, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.22500/sodality.v6i1.5806.

Hellen, A., Rahardjo, D., & Kisworo. (2020). Komunitas Makroinvertebrata Bentik Sebagai Bioindikator Kualitas Air Sungai Code. Prosiding Seminar Nasional Biologi di Era Pandemi COVID-19, 6(1), 294–303. https://doi.org/10.24252/psb.v6i1.15847.

Imansyah, M. F. (2012). Studi Umum Permasalahan dan Solusi DAS Citarum serta Analisis Kebijakan Pemerintah. Jurnal Sosioteknologi, 25(11).

Irmawan, R. N., Zulkifli, H., & Hendri, M. (2010). Struktur Komunitas Makrozoobentos di Estuaria Kuala Sugihan Provinsi Sumatera Selatan. Maspari Journal, 1, 53–58.

Johan, T. I. & Ediwarman. (2011). Dampak Penambangan Emas terhadap Kualitas Air Sungai Singingi di Kabupaten Kuantan Singingi Provinsi Riau. Jurnal Ilmu Lingkungan, 5(2).

Muntalif, B. S., Chazanah, N., Ilmi, F., Sari, N. E., & Bagaskara, S. W. (2023). Distribution of the Riverine Benthic Macroinvertebrate Community along The Citarum Cascading DAM System in West Java, Indonesia. Global Ecology and Conservation, 46, e02580. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2023.e02580.

Munyai, L. F., Gumede, B. P., Dondofema, F., & Dalu, T. (2025). Environmental characteristics shape macroinvertebrate community structure across spatiotemporal scales in a subtropical African river system. Scientific Reports, 15(1), 6595. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-91346-9.

Muzammil, W., Prihatin, N., & Melani, W. R. (2021). Macrozoobenthos Community Structure and its Relationship with Waters Quality of Kampung Baru, Sebong Lagoi Village, Bintan Regency. Tropical Fisheries Management Journal, 5(1), 20–28. https://doi.org/10.29244/jppt.v5i1.34541.

Nurhidayah, Sofarini, D., & Yunandar. (2014). Fitoremediasi Tumbuhan Air Kiambang (Salvinia molesta) Purun Tikus (Eleocharis dulcis) dan Perupuk (Phragmites karka) sebagai Alternatif Pengolahan Limbah Cair Karet. EnviroScienteae, 10(14), 18–24.

Pratiwi, E. C., & Mirwan, M. (2022). Penggunaan Makrozoobentos sebagai Bioassessment Anak Sungai Brantas. Envirous, 3(1), 10–18. https://doi.org/10.33005/envirous.v3i1.59.

Rachman, R. A., & Wibowo, M. (2022). Kajian Sedimen Tersuspensi di Muara Sungai Jelitik untuk Mendukung Pengembangan Kawasan Ekonomi Khusus Sungailiat, Kabupaten Bangka. Buletin Oseanografi Marina, 11(3), 255–262. https://doi.org/10.14710/buloma.v11i3.41125.

Rosdiana, R., Hapsari, R. K., Kusuma, E. O., & Kusuma, M. S. B. (2021). Konsep Pengembangan DAS Cisangkuy. Jurnal Teknik Sipil, 28(3), 281–288. https://doi.org/10.5614/jts.2021.28.3.5.

Setiawan, D., Riniatsih, I., & Yudiati, E. (2013). Kajian Hubungan Fosfat Air dan Fosfat Sedimen Terhadap Pertumbuhan Lamum Thalassia Hemprichii di Perairan Awur dan Pulau Panjang Jepara. Journal of Marine Research, 2(2), 39–44.

Stoll, S., Breyer, P., Tonkin, J. D., Früh, D., & Haase, P. (2016). Scale-Dependent Effects of River Habitat Quality on Benthic Invertebrate Communities—Implications for Stream Restoration Practice. Science of The Total Environment, 553, 495–503. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.02.126.

Teristiandi, N., & Yuliana, M. (2025). The Influence of Physicochemical Parameters on The Abundance of Macrozoobenthos in Kungkilan River, South Sumatera. 12(1).

Valentino, N., Latifah, S., Setiawan, B., Hidayati, E., Awanis, Z. Y., & Hayati, H. (2022). Karakteristik Struktur Komunitas Makrozoobentos di Perairan Ekosistem Mangrove Gili Lawang, Lombok Timur. Jurnal Belantara, 5(1), 119–130. https://doi.org/10.29303/jbl.v5i1.888.

Wawrzynkowski, P., Bustamante, M., Tajadura, F. J., & Becerro, M. A. (2023). Evaluating Ocean Health and Restoration Success: A Comprehensive Study of the Benthic Quality Index in the Bilbao Estuary. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 292, 108454. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2023.108454.