Evaluation of the ecological quality of the Musolo River in Kinshasa

This study aims to contribute to the knowledge of the benthic macroinvertebrates of the Musolo River in order to determine the degree of pollution of the latter at the time of anthropisation. This river (located at 04° 19', 91'' S, 015° 31' 36.25'' E and at 279 metres altitude) is situated in the eastern part of the city of Kinshasa, more precisely in the commune of N'sele. Benthic macroinvertebrates were sampled at five specific stations in this river using the Serber net. A total of 834 individuals, 482 in the rainy season and 352 in the dry season, were inventoried. These organisms belong to 3 classes (insects, worms and molluscs), 7 orders (Coleoptera, Heteroptera, Diptera, Odonata, Plecoptera, Gastropoda, Oligochaete) and 15 families (Hydrophilidae), Dryopidae, Dysticidae, Nepidae, Naucoridae, Gerridae, Chironomidae, Culicidae, Athericidae, Libellulidae, Coenagrionidae, Leuctridae, Lymnaeidae, Lumbricidae, Tubificidae). The IBGN values (3/20 to 4/20) reveal that the waters of this river are polluted.