THE ROLE OF MACROZOOBENTHOS IN AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS

Abstract

Abstract.This article examines the ecological role of macrozoobenthos in aquatic ecosystems, focusing on its functions in the food chain, organic matter decomposition, sediment bioturbation, and its use as a bioindicator of water quality. Drawing on case studies from the Namu Sira-Sira River, the Citarum River, and Lake Asam Suoh, the article demonstrates how shifts in macrozoobenthos species composition reflect chemical and physical changes in aquatic environments more sensitively than standard water-quality measurements alone. The findings underscore the importance of macrozoobenthos monitoring for water resource management and ecological assessment.