Sains Malaysiana 44(5)(2015): 707–717

 

Aquatic Insect Biodiversity and Water Quality Parameters of Streams in Northern Thailand

(Kepelbagaian Biologi Serangga Air dan Parameter Kualiti Air Anak Sungai di Utara Thailand)

 

 

T. PROMMI* & A. PAYAKKA

Faculty of Liberal Arts and Science, Kasetsart University, Kamphaeng Saen Campus

Nakhon Pathom Province, 73140, Thailand

 

Received: 1 January 2015/Accepted: 22 January 2015

 

ABSTRACT

 

Biodiversity of aquatic insect and physicochemical water quality parameters in Mae Tao and Mae Ku watersheds were assessed bi-monthly from February 2011 to February 2012. A total of 59 families representing 9 orders were recorded. At order level, Trichoptera was found at the highest frequency in total abundance (45.75%) followed by Ephemeroptera (18.06%), Hemiptera (13.45%), Odonata (9.62%), Diptera (8.17%), Coleoptera (4.6%), Megaloptera (0.17%), Lepidoptera (0.11%) and Plecoptera (0.07%). The family Hydropsychidae was the most prominent and the most abundant aquatic insect taxa followed by Chironomidae. Water temperature, dissolved oxygen and ammonia-nitrogen were similar at all sampling stations. Significant variations in pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, sulfate, nitrate-nitrogen and alkalinity were found at all sampling stations. Taxa richness and diversity index significantly correlated with dissolved oxygen, sulfate, nitrate-nitrogen and ammonia-nitrogen (p<0.05, p<0.01). Physicochemical data and biological data showed that mostly the surface water quality in Mae Tao and Mae Ku watersheds were within Type III of The Surface Water Standard for Agriculture and Water Quality for Protection of Aquatic Resources in Thailand.

 

Keywords: Aquatic insect; diversity; physicochemical variables; richness; watershed

 

ABSTRAK

Kepelbagaian biologi serangga akuatik dan parameter kualiti air fizikokimia dalam tadahan air Mae Tao dan Mae Ku dinilai setiap dua bulan sekali dari Februari 2011 hingga Februari 2012. Sejumlah 59 keluarga yang mewakili 9 order telah direkodkan. Pada peringkat order, Trichoptera telah ditemui dengan kekerapan tertinggi (45.75%) diikuti oleh Ephemeroptera (18.06%), Hemiptera (13.45%), Odonata (9.62%), Diptera (8.17%), Coleoptera (4.6%), Megaloptera (0.17%), Lepidoptera (0.11%) dan Plecoptera (0.07%). Famili Hydropsychidae adalah yang paling menonjol dan yang paling banyak takson serangga akuatik diikuti oleh famili Chironomidae. Suhu air, oksigen terlarut dan amonia-nitrogen adalah sama di semua stesen pensampelan. Perubahan ketara di dalam pH, pengaliran elektrik, jumlah pepejal terlarut, sulfat, nitrat-nitrogen dan alkali ditemui di semua stesen pensampelan. Kekayaan takson dan indeks kepelbagaian dengan ketara berkorelasi dengan oksigen terlarut, sulfat, nitrat-nitrogen dan amonia-nitrogen (p<0.05, p<0.01). Data fisikokimia dan biologi menunjukkan kebanyakan kualiti air permukaan di tadahan air Mae Tao dan Mae Ku adalah Jenis III dalam Piawai Air Permukaan untuk Pertanian dan Kualiti Air untuk Perlindungan Sumber Akuatik di Thailand.

 

Kata kunci: Kekayaan; kepelbagaian; pemboleh ubah fizikokimia; serangga akuatik; tadahan air

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*Corresponding author; email: faastop@ku.ac.th