Rapid Assessment of Water Quality of Deepor Beel (Ramsar Site), North East India Using Aquatic Insects

Dharitri Choudhury, Susmita Gupta

Abstract


A rapid assessment of water quality of 10 selected sites of Deepor Beel was carried out using aquatic insect community during September 2012 to February 2013. Aquatic insects were collected from the sites in replicates by ‘Kick’ method. The insect community was represented by 13 families belonging to 5 orders. Physico-chemical parameters of water were analyzed by standard methods. Pearson correlation coefficient analyses revealed that aquatic insect density and family richness were mainly governed by air temperature, water temperature and rainfall. The Stream Invertebrate Grade Number-Average Level (SIGNAL) score, the Biological Monitoring Working Party (BMWPTHAI) score and the Average Score Per Taxon (ASPTTHAI) of the sites revealed severe, moderate and probable moderate pollution, respectively. According to Canonical Correspondence Analysis, total alkalinity and pH were the major governing factors. The present investigation confirmed that aquatic insects are very good biological indicator of water quality of a freshwater system.

Keywords


Insect Density; Total Alkalinity; Biological Indicator; BMWP THAI Score; ASPT THAI Score

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