Diversity and distribution of Baetidae (Insecta: Ephemeroptera) larvae of streams and Rivers of the southern Western Ghats, India

Abstract

The present research was conducted to study the diversity and distribution of Baetidae larvae (Insecta: Ephemeroptera) of hill streams/rivers of the southern Western Ghats, India. A total of 2982 individuals distributed among 10 genera and 25 species of baetid were collected from 60 sites of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala during August 2009- July 2012 representing an environmental gradient. The present study describe the mesohabitat of sixteen baetid species and evaluate their responses to environmental degradation and water chemistry by means of biological measures (richness and abundance), in order to assess their potential capacity as indicators of these impacts. Most species were found predominantly associated with rock-strewn substrates, but some were associated with grasses and two species was found predominantly in lentic water bodies. Species distribution was influenced by the environmental gradient. In future able to identify which species were found in pristine versus the most impaired areas, therefore enabling to establish the sensitivity of each species among baetid.