INFLUÊNCIA DO USO E OCUPAÇÃO DA TERRA NO ECOSSISTEMA AQUÁTICO DA SUB-BACIA HIDROGRÁFICA DO ARROIO CADENA, EM SANTA MARIA, RS

The study had the objective to relate the forms of land uses andthe aquatic ecosystem properties of the Cadena's stream catchment,identifying its critical aspects concerning the environmental conditions.The methodological proposal, accomplished in stages, made possible toanalyze the aquatic and terrestrial systems. It was observed that the landuse forms influenced in the aquatic system, altering the water originalcharacteristics. It was verified that the most critics collection points werelocated in the urban area, whose water presented significant alterations as for the physical, chemistries and bacteriological properties, with highcontamination. Therefore, the Cadena's stream catchment shouts for itsecosystem recovering, which must be considered from the beginning ofthe land use form and occupation.