EVALUATION OF PHYSICO-CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF WATER IN THE SALGADINHO STREAM, NOVA XAVANTINA-MT

Abstract

The characteristics of aquatic environments may vary drastically due to the climatic seasonality of the Cerrado region, and this demands adaptations from the aquatic organisms. Some physico-chemical characteristics of the water in the Salgadinho stream were analyzed. This 3rd order stream is located in the rural area of Nova Xavantina, southern Mato Grosso state. Three sampling sites were determined, located near the stream headwaters, in a tributary and near the stream mouth. The analyese were conducted monthly between September/2003 and September/2004. At each sampling site, six environmental characteristics were analyzed: turbidity, pH, conductivity, total water hardness and discharge. Turbidity values increased due to runoff in the rainy season, and pH and conductivity decreased as the stream discharge increased.