Acta Limnologica Brasiliensia
https://actalb.org/article/doi/10.1590/S2179-975X1623
Acta Limnologica Brasiliensia
Original Article

Effect of water quality on macrobenthic fauna in Achenkovil River, Southern-Western Ghats, Kerala, India

Efeito da qualidade da água na fauna macrobentônica no rio Achenkovil, Southern-West Ghats, Kerala, Índia

Sujitha Sukumaran; Sreejai Raghavan; Beena Sarada Kurup

http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S2179-975X1623 Acta Limnol. Bras. (Online), vol.35, e25, 2023
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Abstract

Aim: The present study investigated the influence of environmental variables on macrobenthic fauna in the Achenkovil River, Southern Western Ghats, Kerala. The knowledge of aquatic ecosystems in many remote areas is very scanty and no one has yet made an attempt to study the macrobenthic fauna of Achenkovil river. Since, macrobenthos play an important role in the benthic community structure a better knowledge of their ecology and distributional patterns in remote freshwater ecosystems would be of great interest for a better understanding of their functioning.

Methods: A bimonthly sampling was conducted from February 2019 to January 2020. Water samples for physicochemical analysis were carried to the laboratory in clean polyethylene bottles. The macrobenthic fauna was collected using Van Veen grab (0.025m2). Multivariate statistical technique such as Principal Component Analysis was used to monitor the variation in environmental parameters. The diversity of macrobenthic fauna was studied using Simpson_1-D, Shannon_H, Evenness_e^H/S, and Margalef’s indices. We analyzed the relationship between environmental variables and macrobenthic fauna, using Canonical Correlation Analysis and Pearson correlation.

Results: A total of 3563 individuals belonging to 9 orders, 32 families, 32 genera, and 32 species were identified. The most dominant order was Ephemeroptera followed by Coleoptera and Trichoptera and the least dominant was Zygoptera. The maximum number of macrobenthic fauna was observed in station 1(S1), (1461 Ind/m2) and the least in station 9 (S9), (37 Ind/m2). Station 1 (S1) is a pristine forest area, so this area is considered the reference site. The macrobenthic fauna in the pristine headwater forests (S1) was much more diverse than in the river mouth (S9) which is a highly impacted region. This region is facing various kinds of anthropogenic stress resulting in pollution and deterioration of water quality. The macrobenthic community structure in the Achenkovil River was significantly associated to the variations in water quality due to various natural as well as anthropogenic stresses.

Conclusions: It can be concluded that Ephemeroptera, Coleoptera, and Trichoptera were the most dominant groups in the undisturbed habitats in the river during the study period. The predominance of Chironomidae species, especially from the Chironomus genus in the midstream and downstream segments of the river is possibly due to their ability to adapt to various environmental conditions or habitats and their tolerance to the low oxygen content in anoxic conditions of the bottom sediment. The lowest abundance of macrobenthos at all the studied stations was observed at station 9 (S9) during dry seasons. S9 is a highly impacted region, characterized by high temperature, turbidity, TDS, pH, conductivity, nitrate, and phosphate values. For this reason, anthropogenic stress and changing environmental conditions are the main factors affecting the distribution of the macrobenthic fauna of the Achenkovil River basin, Kerala.

Keywords

biodiversity indices, biological indicators, freshwater ecosystems, ephemeroptera, multivariate analysis

Resumo

Objetivo: O presente estudo investigou a influência de variáveis ​ambientais na fauna macrobêntica no rio Achenkovil, Southern Western Ghats, Kerala. O conhecimento dos ecossistemas aquáticos em muitas áreas remotas é muito escasso e ninguém ainda fez uma tentativa de estudar a fauna macrobentônica do rio Achenkovil. Uma vez que os macrobenthos desempenham um papel importante na estrutura da comunidade bentônica, um melhor conhecimento de sua ecologia e padrões de distribuição em ecossistemas remotos de água doce seria de grande interesse para uma melhor compreensão de seu funcionamento.

Métodos: Foram realizadas coletas bimensais de fevereiro de 2019 a janeiro de 2020. As amostras de água para análises físico-químicas foram levadas ao laboratório em frascos de polietileno limpos. A fauna macrobentônica foi coletada usando garrafa de Van Veen (0,025m2). A técnica estatística multivariada, como a Análise de Componentes Principais, foi utilizada para monitorar a variação dos parâmetros ambientais. A diversidade da fauna macrobêntica foi estudada usando os índices Simpson_1-D, Shannon_H, Evenness_e^H/S e Margalef. Analisou-se a relação entre as variáveis ambientais e a fauna macrobêntica, utilizando a Análise de Correlação Canônica e a Correlação de Pearson.

Resultados: Foram identificados 3.563 indivíduos pertencentes a 9 ordens, 32 famílias, 32 gêneros e 32 espécies. A ordem mais dominante foi Ephemeroptera seguida por Coleoptera e Trichoptera e a menos dominante foi Zygoptera. O número máximo de fauna macrobentônica foi observado na estação 1(S1), (1461 Ind/m2) e o menor na estação 9 (S9), (37 Ind/m2). A Estação 1 (S1) é uma área de floresta intocada, portanto esta área é considerada o local de referência. A fauna macrobentônica nas florestas virgens da cabeceira (S1) foi muito mais diversa do que na foz do rio (S9), que é uma região altamente impactada. Esta região enfrenta vários tipos de estresse antropogênico, resultando em poluição e deterioração da qualidade da água. A estrutura da comunidade macrobentônica no rio Achenkovil foi significativamente associada às variações na qualidade da água devido a vários estresses naturais e antrópicos

Conclusões: Pode-se concluir que Ephemeroptera, Coleoptera e Trichoptera foram os grupos mais dominantes nos habitats não perturbados no rio durante o período de estudo. A predominância de espécies de Chironomidae, principalmente do gênero Chironomus nos segmentos médio e jusante do rio, possivelmente se deve à sua capacidade de adaptação a diversas condições ambientais ou habitats e sua tolerância ao baixo teor de oxigênio em condições anóxicas do sedimento de fundo. A menor abundância de macrobentos em todas as estações estudadas foi observada na estação 9 (S9) durante as estações secas. S9 é uma região altamente impactada, caracterizada por alta temperatura, turbidez, TDS, pH, condutividade, nitratos e valores de fosfato. Por esta razão, o estresse antropogênico e a mudança das condições ambientais são os principais fatores que afetam a distribuição da fauna macrobentônica da bacia do rio Achenkovil, Kerala.
 

Palavras-chave

índices de biodiversidade, indicadores biológicos, ecossistemas de água doce, ephemeroptera, análise multivariada

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Submitted date:
02/20/2023

Accepted date:
08/17/2023

Publication date:
10/18/2023

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