Influence of water quality on the diversity of macroinvertebrates in the Mandakini River in India

Abstract

This research work was carried out from July 2018 to June 2019. WQI method was utilized to examine the seasonal changes in water quality that can indicate the potential use of water in the future. Water samples were tested from three locations along the Mandakini River. Fourteen physical and chemical parameters were analyzed. All water quality parameters were inside the admissible furthest reaches of the WHO for drinking water except turbidity, especially in the monsoon season. Twelve taxa of macroinvertebrates (Philopotamus sp., Laptophlebia sp., Isoperla sp., Diploperla sp., Tabanus sp., Hydropsyche sp., Baetis sp., Glossosoma sp., Heptagenia sp., Ephemerella sp., Psephenus sp., and Protandrous sp.) were identified in the Mandakini River. The fundamental goal of this investigation was to evaluate the seasonal effects on benthic macroinvertebrate diversity from the physicochemical variables of the Mandakini River. The study also affirmed that tourist-generated waste disposal and poisonous and dangerous chemicals from farming are the key components liable for the deterioration of water quality during the monsoon season. HIGHLIGHTS Seasonal benthic macroinvertebrate diversity along with water quality was studied.; Factors influencing the freshwater diversity were also studied and represented.; CCA was also calculated for all the sampling sites by using PAST software.; Network of various streams and rivulets showing a dendritic drainage pattern.; Water quality impacted macroinvertebrate was also studied.;

Keywords

• canonical correspondence analysis
• macroinvertebrates
• mandakini river
• tributaries
• wqi