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Implementation of an ecological analysis in the framework of water management in three aquatic ecosystems in Colombia. Introduction: Research and diagnosis of water sources is on academic and governmental interest, for this reason, the exploration of numerical instruments applied to watershed management offers the possibility to identify where and what variables are useful in monitoring and rehabilitation programs of aquatic ecosystems. The territories environmental planning and management, which includes water quality, is conventionally analyzed by physico-chemical and hydrobiological indices, in 2014 through the water management guide, included the assessment of the ecological quality index (EQI); this index generates a comprehensive approach through a numerical system of correlations that diagnoses, classifies and detects the affections in a reach of a water system. Objective: This research aims to demonstrate that the index allows to assess the quality of aquatic ecosystems affected by different environmental situations. Methods: In order to analyze the application of this tool, we analyzed three scenarios located in different biogeographical regions of Colombia and as an indicator hydrobiological group we used peripheral and phytoplankton algae. The ecosystems were monitored between 2007 and 2015 and correspond to a flood plain, a high mountain Andean river and a group of ravines in a tropical humid forest. Results: Among the general results, the matrices of response variables determined canonical correlations with (p

Se evaluó la variación espacio-temporal de la comunidad de algas perifíticas y su relación con los diferentes tipos de contaminación antropogénica y natural a lo largo de la quebrada Tolda Fría-La María. Se realizaron cuatro muestreos en periodo lluvioso, lluvia menor y seco-transición lluvia en cinco estaciones: Bocatoma (E1), Ganadería (E2) y Caserío Gallinazo (E5) con impacto antrópico, y las estaciones Romerales (E3) y Termales (E4) con impacto natural. Se encontró que la relación entre la comunidad de algas perifíticas y el gradiente fisicoquímico varío espacialmente en la quebrada, presentando cambios notables en la composición, abundancia relativa, diversidad y densidad de morfoespecies, donde las estaciones E4 y E5 (las de mayor contaminación) mostraron mayor dominancia y menor densidad de morfoespecies. Dichas variaciones fueron explicadas en un 69% por las variables fisicoquímicas como los metales pesados, nutrientes, iones y las variables hidrológicas, siendo los minerales de las aguas termales los que produjeron un mayor impacto en el área de estudio, evidenciado en la conductividad. Además, la riqueza, diversidad y composición de algas perifíticas registradas, en conjunto con los resultados de las propiedades fisicoquímicas establecen que la calidad del agua de la quebrada Tolda Fría-La María fue mejor en las estaciones E1, E2 y E3. The spatial and temporal variation of the periphytic algal community and its relation to the different types of natural and anthropogenic pollution along the ToldaFría-La María creek was evaluated. Four samplings were conducted during the rainy season, lesser rain season, and dry-rain transition period, infive stations:Bocatoma (E1), Ganadería (E2) and Caserío Gallinazo (E5) which have human impact, and Romerales (E3) and Termales (E4) which have natural impact. It was found that the relationship between periphytic algae community and physicochemical gradient varied spatially in the creek showing noticeable changes in composition, relative abundance, diversity and density of morphospecies where stations E4 and E5 (the most contaminated) showed more dominance and less density of morphospecies. These variations were explained in a 69% because of physicochemical variables such as heavy metals, nutrients, ions and hydrological variables being minerals in hot springs the ones producing a greater impact in the studied area which was evidenced in conductivity. Besides, richness, diversity and composition of periphytic algae in conjunction with the results of the physicochemical properties establish that the quality of water in the Tolda Fría-La María creek was better in stations E1, E2 and E3.