O diagnóstico rápido da qualidade da água de cinco pontos do complexo hidrográfico Macacu-Guapiaçu foi realizado utilizando protocolo de avaliação visual (PAV), análises convencionais, composição e estrutura do grupo de ciliados e a ocorrência de macroinvertebrados bentônicos. Foram realizadas coletas de amostras da água em cinco pontos amostrais (A - E) em julho de 2010. Os protistas foram amostrados com auxílio de substratos artificiais e os macroinvertebrados utilizando método multi-habitat. Foram registrados 22 táxons de protozoários e 51 táxons de macroinvertebrados nas cinco amostras. O ponto de referência (A) apresentou maior diversidade de protistas e maiores índices BMWP-CETEC e IBE-IOC em relação aos grupos de macroinvertebrados. Os trechos mais impactados apresentaram menor diversidade e maior abundância de protozoários bem como menores valores para os índices. Os quatro métodos utilizados foram convergentes ao diagnosticar os trechos de referência (A), impactado (B e E) e com grau intermediário de impacto (C e D). Além disso, estes métodos foram complementares visto que os parâmetros convencionais e a composição de ciliados foram mais sensíveis na detecção do aumento da poluição orgânica enquanto que o PAV e a ocorrência de macroinvertebrados detectaram alterações na geomorfologia e degradação do habitat.

A quick diagnosis of the ecological quality of five sections of the Macacu-Guapiaçu hydrographic complex was performed using visual assessment protocol (VAP), conventional analysis, composition and structure of ciliates and the occurrence of benthic macro invertebrates. Water samples were collected from five sampling stations (A-E) in July of 2010. Protists were sampled with aid of artificial substrates, and macro invertebrates were sampled using the multi-habitat method. A total of 22 taxa of protozoa and 51 taxa of macro invertebrates was registered at the five stations. Reference station (A) showed greater protist diversity and higher values of BMWP-CETEC and IBE-IOC indices relating to macro invertebrates. The impacted stations (B and E) presented lower diversity and higher abundance of protozoa, as well as the lowest values for the rates. The four methods used were convergent to diagnose reference station (A), the impacted stations (B and E) and those in intermediate conditions (C and D). Thus, the methods were complementary, as the conventional parameters and ciliate assembly were more sensitive to detecting the increase in organic pollution and VAP and macro invertebrate assembly detected changes in geomorphology and habitat degradation.

In this work we investigated the quantitative aspects of the relationship between Rhinella pombali (Baldissera, Caramaschi & Haddad, 2004) tadpoles and their trichodinid ectoparasites. Specimens were collected from a small stream located at an agricultural area between rainforest fragments in southeastern Brazil. A total of 80 tadpoles were investigated. Trichodina heterodentata Duncan, 1977 was the only trichodinid ciliate species recovered. All tadpoles were naturally infested by T. heterodentata with a mean intensity of 695.14 ± 33.33 trichodinid ciliates per tadpole. A positive correlation was observed between the intensity of the infestation and tadpole weight. Intensity of infestation did not significantly influence mean trichodinid diameter in the populations studied. This is the first study investigating density-dependent effects in interspecific interactions between trichodinids and anurans.