Abundance And Diversity Of Aquatic Insects In Relation To The Physico-Chemical Parameters In Several Rivers From Bukit Merah Catchment Area
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Date
2017-06
Authors
Ismail, Siti Hamidah
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Publisher
Universiti Sains Malaysia
Abstract
Abundances and distribution of aquatic insects in relation to several physico-chemical parameters from four rivers of Bukit Merah catchment area were studied. A total of 13, 483 individuals of aquatic insects from 7 orders were collected monthly from May 2014 until April 2015 using Kick-net and Drag method. Kurau River, as the control site, had the highest individual numbers of aquatic insects collected with 3941 individuals followed by Ara (3922 individuals), Ayer Itam (3112 individuals) and Jelai (2508 individuals) rivers. Jelai River had more diverse and richer aquatic insect assemblages with the highest value of all ecological indices compared to Ara, Kurau and Ayer Itam rivers. The abundances of aquatic insects were significantly different among the four rivers (χ2 = 20.03, P =0.00) and between months of sampling (χ2 = 189.61, P = 0.00). Based on Water Quality Index (WQI), all the four rivers were categorized as having good water quality (Class II) while scores of Family Biotic Index (FBI) classified the water quality of the four rivers as good, very good and excellent. CCA biplot showed that most of the aquatic insects could not tolerate with high (NH3-N) AN, Total Dissolved Solid (TDS) and Ni. However, Baetis gombaki, B. illiesi, Thalerosphyrus sp., Gumaga sp., Naucoris sp. and Tipula sp. could tolerate with high Cr, Cu, Pb and organic contents. Baetis sp. from order Ephemeroptera was further analysed using IDW analysis from ArcGIS 10.3 software. Out of seven species, B. illiesi (120 individuals) was the dominant, followed by B. idei with 119 individuals. Due to highest abundances of B. illiesi and B. idei in the four sampling rivers, these two species were further analysed for life history and secondary production.
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Keywords
Abundances and distribution of aquatic insects , relation to several physico-chemical parameters