Phytophilous macroinvertebrate community of an eutrophic lake in Kashmir Himalayas

Abstract

Extensive ecological studies have been carried out on various aspects of Dal Lake, however, the interaction between macrophytes and macroinvertebrates is poorly understood. In order to fill this void a survey of macroinvertebrate community associated with submerged macrophytes was conducted in selected sites of Dal Lake, Kashmir from March to September, 2012. A composite gerking frame box sampler with an inbuilt grappler was used for collection of macrophytes. Altogether 21 invertebrate taxa were collected out of which 18 were identified upto genus level. However, of these only 4 families (chironomidae, ceratopogonidae, planorbidae and Lymnaeidae) showed >75% share on the total abundance. Representatives of some other groups were found occasionally (density ranging from 5-11 individuals per m2) these included dytiscidae, pisauridae, corixidae and gomphidae. Maximum number of macroinvertebrates were found attached to Ceratophyllum demersum (198 individuals per m2), followed by Potamogeton crispus (112 individuals per m2), Hydrilla verticillata (95 individuals per m2) and least for Myriophyllum spicatum (8 individuals per m2).