Population density of chironomus larvae (Diptera, Chironomidae) in selected Tuticorin salt pans, Southeast coast of India

Abstract

In the present study, chironomid larvae were sampled for one year from 2015 to 2016 at two different saltpans viz., Tharuvaikulam and Veppalodai located at Tuticorin, Southeast coast of India. Variations of environmental parameters are observed viz. Temperature 26.3 - 33.8oC (SD 2.293), Salinity 20 - 235 ppt. (SD 59.623), pH 7.7 - 8.3 (SD 0.155), Nitrate 0.353 - 1.273 µmol/l (SD 0.278), Nitrite 0.073 - 0.482 µmol/l (SD 0.155), Phosphate 0.037 - 0.187 µmol/l (SD 0.04), Silicate 0.306 - 1.273 µmol/l (SD 0.223) and Ammonia 0.122 - 0.832 µmol/l (SD 0.205). The chironomid population varied from 125 to 12469 no/g/ha due to the salinity changes and more populations was noticed during monsoon seasons with SD values of 2.362 and 2.452 stations1 and 2 respectively.