Research Article
Aquatic macroinvertebrate diversity and water quality assessment in Vembannur Wetland, Tamil Nadu, India
Abstract
Wetlands are vital components of the ecosystem, offering both ecological and economic benefits. This study was conducted in the Vambannur wetland, located in Rajakkamangalam block, Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu, to assess the diversity of aquatic macroinvertebrates and water quality across three sites in September 2024. A total of 237 individuals, 15 genera, 11 families and 8 orders were identified, with Gastropods being the most dominant order. Key biodiversity indices, including Shannon, Simpson, Menhinick, Margalef and Berger-Parker, were calculated, revealing diversity in sites 2 and 3 compared to site 1. The results highlight the significance of macroinvertebrate diversity in determining wetland quality. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) is used to explore the relationship between physicochemical parameters and macroinvertebrate communities, providing insights into wetland health.
Keywords
Aquatic macroinvertebrates, Water quality, Diversity indices, Biodiversity Vembannur Wetland
Ethical Statement
Ethics committee approval is not required for this study.
References
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- Sheergojri, H.S., Ansari, A.A., & Rasool, Z. (2024). Assessing the ecosystem services of wetlands for sustainable development. Journal of Wetland Studies, 33(1), 45-58.
- Shrestha, S., & Kazama, F. (2007). Assessment of surface water quality using multivariate statistical techniques: A case study of the Fuji river basin, Japan. Environmental Modelling & Software, 22(4), 464–475. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsoft.2006.02.001
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Year 2025,
Volume: 8 Issue: 3, 147 - 155
Abstract
References
- American Public Health Association (APHA) (2005). Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater (21st ed.). American Public Health Association, American Water Works Association, Water Environment Federation.
- Andem, A.B., Okorafor, K.A., Eyo, V.O., & Ekpo, P.B. (2013). Ecological impact assessment and limnological characterisation in the intertidal region of Calabar River using benthic macroinvertebrates as bioindicator organisms. International Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Studies, 1(2), 8-14.
- Andrew, R.J., Subramanian, K.A. and Tiple, A.D., (2008). A handbook on common odonates of Central India. Hislop College.
- Ballut-Dajud, G.A., Sandoval Herazo, L.C., Fernández-Lambert, G., Marín-Muñiz, J. L., López Méndez, M.C., & Betanzo-Torres, E.A. (2022). Factors affecting wetland loss: A review. Land, 11(3), 434. https://doi.org/10.3390/land11030434
- Barbour, M.T., & Michael, T. (1999). Rapid bioassessment protocols for use in streams and wadeable rivers: periphyton, benthic macroinvertebrates and fish. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. https://www3.epa.gov/region1/npdes/merrimackstation/pdfs/ar/AR-1164.pdf
- Basu, A., Sengupta, S., Dutta, S., Saha, A., Ghosh, P., & Roy, S. (2013). Studies on macrobenthic organisms in relation to water parameters at East Calcutta Wetlands. Journal of Environmental Biology, 34(4), 733-740.
- Deepa, R. S., & Ramachandra, T. V. (1999). Impact of urbanisation on the interconnectivity of wetlands. National Institute of Advanced Studies Report. Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.
- Dodson, S. I., Arnott, S. E., & Cottingham, K. L. (2001). The relationship in lake communities between primary productivity and species richness. Ecology, 81(10), 2662–2679. https://doi.org/10.1890/0012-9658(2000)081[2662:TRILCB]2.0.CO;2
- Fındık, Ö., & Aras, S. (2024). The assessment of water quality by macroinvertebrate and water quality indices in small reservoir (Damsa, Türkiye). Ecohydrology, https://doi.org/10.1002/eco.2658
- Hauer, F.R., & Hill, W.R. (2007). Temperature, light, and oxygen. In Methods in Stream Ecology (pp. 103-117). Academic Press. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-012332908-0.50007-3 Jiang, X.M., Xiong, J., Qiu, J.W., Wu, J.M., Wang, J. W., &Xie, Z.C. (2010). Structure of macroinvertebrate communities in relation to environmental variables in a subtropical Asian river system. International Review of Hydrobiology, 95(1), 42-57. https://doi.org/10.1002/iroh.200811131 Junk, W.J., An, S., Finlayson, C.M., Gopal, B., Květ, J., Mitchell, S.A., ... & Robarts, R.D. (2013). Current state of knowledge regarding the world’s wetlands and their future under global climate change: a synthesis. Aquatic sciences, 75, 151-167. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00027-012-0278-z
- Koumba, M., Mipounga, H.K., Koumba, A.A., Koumba, C.R.Z., Mboye, B.R., Liwouwou, J.F., Mbega, J.D., & Mavoungou, J.F. (2017). Diversitéfamiliale des macroinvertébrésetqualité des coursd’eau du Parc National de MoukalabaDoudou (sud-ouest du Gabon). EntomologieFaunistique – Faunistic Entomology.
- Madomguia, D., Togouet, S.Z., & Fomena, A. (2016). Macroinvertebrates functional feeding groups, Hilsenhoff biotic index, percentage of tolerant taxa, and intolerant taxa as major indices of biological assessment in ephemeral streams in the Sudano-Sahelian zone (Far-North, Cameroon). International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences, 5(10), 792-806. https://doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2016.510.086
- McLaughlin, D.L., & Cohen, M.J. (2013). Realising Ecosystem Services: Wetland Hydrologic Function Along a Gradient of Ecosystem Condition Ecological Applications, 23(7), 1619-1631. https://doi.org/10.1890/12-1489.1
- Prasad, S. N., Ramachandra, T. V., Ahalya, N., Sengupta, T., Alok, K. S., Tiwari, A. K., & Vijayan, V. S. (2002). Conservation of wetlands of India–A review. Tropical Ecology, 43(1), 173-186.
- Rico-Sánchez, A. E., Rodríguez-Romero, A. J., Sedeño-Díaz, J. E., López-López, E., & Sundermann, A. (2021). Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Assemblages in Rivers under the Influence of Mining Activities. Scientific Reports, 12, 3209. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-568053/v1
- Sharma, S., Rawat, U.S., & Pathak, R.K. (2009). Bioindicator species of river water quality in Uttarakhand. Indian Journal of Environmental Protection, 29(2), 136-140.
- Sheergojri, H.S., Ansari, A.A., & Rasool, Z. (2024). Assessing the ecosystem services of wetlands for sustainable development. Journal of Wetland Studies, 33(1), 45-58.
- Shrestha, S., & Kazama, F. (2007). Assessment of surface water quality using multivariate statistical techniques: A case study of the Fuji river basin, Japan. Environmental Modelling & Software, 22(4), 464–475. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsoft.2006.02.001
- Singh, J.S., Singh, S.P., & Gupta, S.R. (2006). Ecology, environment, and resource conservation. Anamaya Publishers.
- Thorp, J.H., & Covich, A.P. (Eds.). (2009). Ecology and classification of North American freshwater invertebrates. Academic Press.
- Xu, T., Weng, B., Yan, D., Wang, K., Li, X., Bi, W.,...& Liu, Y. (2019). Wetlands of international importance: Status, threats, and future protection. International journal of environmental research and public health, 16(10), 1818. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16101818
- Zeybek, M., Kalyoncu, H., & Ertan, Ö.O. (2012). Species composition and distribution of Mollusca in relation to water quality. Turkish Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 12(3), 255-263. https://doi.org/10.4194/1303-2712-v12_3_21
There are 22 citations in total.
Details
| Primary Language | English |
|---|---|
| Subjects | Aquatic Toxicology |
| Journal Section | Research Articles |
| Authors | |
| Early Pub Date | June 24, 2025 |
| Publication Date | |
| Submission Date | December 19, 2024 |
| Acceptance Date | March 13, 2025 |
| Published in Issue | Year 2025Volume: 8 Issue: 3 |
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