Influence of granulometry on the distribution of benthic macro invertebrates in some streams of the Mvilla and Haut-Nyong watersheds in Cameroon

This study was conducted from November 2018 to October 2019 in 8 forested streams in the Haut-Nyong and Mvilla watersheds to determine the influence of substrates granulometry on benthic macroinvertebrates. The physicochemical analyses showed highly oxygenated, weakly mineralized and slightly acidic waters. The granulometric analyses reveal 9 categories of substrates depending on the scale of sand, sand+gravel or sand+mud. Sampling of benthic macroinvertebrates allowed the collection of 15058 organisms divided into 5 classes, 14 orders and 49 families. The results showed a taxonomic richness strongly influenced by the nature of the substrate. The combination of coarse sand + silt + dead leaves was more favored the development of benthic macroinvertebrates with 48 families. The taxonomic richness associated to the different index revealed good ecological quality of Sounou, Bengo'o and Lo'o rivers.