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

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
fizikokimia 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

INTRODUCTION
from agricultural lands, laundering into streams and mining
Aquatic insects are a group of arthropods that live or spend activities. Most water bodies have consequently been
part of their life cycle in water bodies (Arimoro & Ikomi subjected to increasing pollution loads, affecting greatly
2008; Pennak 1978). They are of great importance to the their quality and health status. This undoubtedly alters
aquatic habitat where they are found, hence, their presence the physicochemical properties of water e.g. temperature,
in water bodies serve various purposes: Serve as food for dissolved oxygen, alkalinity, phosphates, nitrates and metal
fish and other invertebrates, others act as vectors through concentrations. Variations in these water properties greatly
which disease pathogens can be transmitted to both humans influence the distribution patterns of aquatic insects in the
and animals (Chae et al. 2000). Most importantly, aquatic water since some of them are highly sensitive to pollution
insects are very good indicators of water quality since they while others are somewhat tolerant or completely tolerant
have various environmental disturbance tolerance levels to pollution and environmental disturbances (Hepp et al.
(Arimoro & Ikomi 2008). Some are very vulnerable and 2013).
sensitive to pollution, while others can live and proliferate Many methods have been developed to analyze
in disturbed and extremely polluted waters (Hepp et al. impairments to water quality. Amongst these, physical
2013; Merritt & Cummins 1996). Anthropogenic activities parameters (such as stream bank erosion, turbidity,
of humans such as releases from domestic sewage, run-off sedimentation, siltation, flow patterns, water temperature,
708

riparian cover and debris) and chemical parameters MATERIALS AND METHODS
(such as dissolved oxygen, biochemical oxygen demand,
pH, alkalinity, hardness, nutrients, metals and organic STUDY AREA AND SAMPLING STATION
compounds) analyses have been investigated to assess
Mae Tao and Mae Ku watersheds are located in northern
the quality of water (Aweng et al. 2011; Zarei & Bilondi
Thailand. The area is surrounded by agricultural activities,
2013). Unfortunately, because sampling and analysis are
community settlements and mining areas. The stream water
expensive and because concentrations of pollutants vary
is primarily used as a source of water for the communities.
greatly with time and location, physical and chemical
It also provides a daily source of fish and therefore income
monitoring alone often cannot detect non point source
to the surrounding villagers. The five sampling sites are
pollution problems. In contrast, biological monitoring
located along Mae Tao watershed and two are located in
gives an indication of past conditions as well as current Mae Ku watershed, Mae Sot District, Tak Province (Figure
conditions (Resh et al. 1996; Suhaila et al. 2014). 1). The locality information of each sampling site is shown
The additional integration of biological parameters to in Table 1.
physicochemical assessments has proven to be a more
complete method to fully assess pollutant effects in aquatic
AQUATIC INSECTS SAMPLING
ecosystems most particularly in lotic systems (Oliveira &
Cortes 2006). Bioassessment provides more reliability in Aquatic insects were sampled using aquatic D-hand net with
evaluating the presence and impact of pollutants because a dimension of 30 × 30 cm frame, 250 μm mesh, 50 cm
lotic systems are subjected to flushing during storm events length was used throughout the sampling. At each sampling
and contaminants may be swept away without any apparent locality, a stretch of approximately 50 m was chosen for
effect (Borisko et al. 2007; Buss & Vitorino 2010). The collection of samples from the three target habitats - riparian
most important biota used for bioassessment studies are vegetation, leaf litter, low gradient riffles and pools. The
benthic macroinvertebrates. Benthic macroinvertebrates sampling time at each habitat was 3 min. In each sampling
have been used in numerous bioassessment studies period, three replicate samples were collected at each station,
indicated their importance as bioindicators and the endless considering all possible microhabitats over representative
advantages they offer in evaluating the presence and extent sections of the stream. Samples were placed in white trays
of environmental pollutants (Rosenberg & Resh 1993; Xu for sorting and screening of the aquatic insects. The aquatic
et al. 2014). insects were handpicked from the tray. Any non-aquatic
Among benthic macroinvertebrates, aquatic insects insects caught were immediately returned to the stream. The
are one of the most common groups of organism used to content of each sample (net) was transferred into properly-
assess the health status of aquatic ecosystems (Rosenberg labelled plastic containers, preserved in 80% ethanol and
& Resh 1993; Xu et al. 2014). They are useful indicators, taken back to the laboratory for analysis. In the laboratory,
because they represent a diverse group of long living aquatic insects were sorted on a Petri dish and identified to
sedentary species that react strongly and often predictably the family level using taxonomic keys by several authors
to human influences on aquatic systems (Cairns & Prall (Dudgeon 1999; Wiggins 1996; Yule & Sen 2004). Large
aquatic insects were sorted by the naked eye whereas the
1993). Some aquatic insects respond to specific changes in
sorting of the smaller ones was done under a dissecting
water conditions and have become indicators of river health
microscope. All the sorted samples were kept in properly-
condition to aquatic ecologists. The presence and absence
labelled vials containing 80% ethanol.
of some particular aquatic insect indicate the degree of
pollution, though the specific causative physicochemical
pollutant may be identified by physicochemical methods WATER QUALITY PARAMETERS
(Gupta & Paliwal 2010). For a variety of reasons, aquatic The samples of water were collected from each sampling
insects are extremely important to the vitality of rivers and site immediately before the sampling of aquatic insects.
streams and thus can be viewed as surrogates for river and Three replicates of selected physicochemical water quality
stream wealth. First, from a logistic standpoint they make parameters were recorded directly at the sampling site
good study specimens because they are abundant, readily including; pH, measured by a pH-meter Waterproof Model
surveyed and taxonomically rich. Since diversity and Testr30; water temperature measured by a hand-held
abundance of aquatic insects provides an indication of the thermometer; dissolved oxygen (DO), measured by a HACH®
overall health of the water body. Identifying the diversity Model sensION 6 DO meter and total dissolved solids (TDS)
and community composition of a sample of aquatic and conductivity were measured by a EURECH CyberScan
insect in a selected water bodies will help to determine CON110 conductivity/TDS meter. Water samples from each
the overall richness and abundance of the aquatic insect collecting period were stored in polyethylene bottles (500
fauna within that stream. The aims of this study were: To mL). The ammonia-nitrogen (NH4-N), sulfate (SO42-) and
categorise the aquatic insect diversity in Mae Tao and Mae nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N) were determined in accordance
Ku watersheds; and to assess the water quality status of with the standard method procedures (APHA AWWA WPCF
Mae Tao and Mae Ku watersheds and how this influences 1992). Alkalinity was measured by titration (APHA AWWA
aquatic insect diversity and richness. WPCF 1992).
 709

FIGURE 1. Map showing the sampling sites along Mae Tao (MT1-MT5) and Ame Ku (MK2, MK8)
watersheds, Mae Sot District, Tak Province, northern Thailand

TABLE 1. Collection data for samples from Mae Tao and Mae Ku watersheds

Site Location Elevation Description of substrates Land use and surrounding environment
code (°N, °E) (m a.s.l.)
MT1 40.55, 40.71 442 Man made concrete, gravel, woody Forest and highland, Village both side
debris and other stable substrates
MT2 39.90, 40.28 409 Boulders predominant, deep pool in the Mining area on side and forest other
middle, cobble, gravel and sand side, cultivation on both side
MT3 40.29, 37.73 234 Cobble predominant, deep pool in the Village and cultivation on both side
middle, gravel and sand
MT4 40.12, 36.60 230 Cobble predominant, deep pool in the Village and cultivation on both side
middle, gravel and sand
MT5 40.09, 35.93 224 Muddy predominant, gravel and sand Cultivation on both side
MT2 37.18, 39.22 366 Lime stone, gravel, woody debris Forest and highland, Village both side
MT8 38.93, 37.96 291 Cobble, gravel, sand, woody debris Forest and highland, Village both side
710

DATA ANALYSES abundance), Lepidoptera (10 individuals; 0.11% of total

abundance), Plecoptera (6 individuals; 0.07% of total
Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to test for statistical
abundance) (Figure 2; Table 3). The total number of taxa and
differences between the means of the physicochemical
individual recorded at MT1 to MT5, MK2 and MK8 were 38
water quality parameters of the seven sampling sites.
(975), 35 (1507), 45 (1618), 39 (1371), 39 (2522), 22 (332)
Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (DMRT) was also used for
and 30 (657), respectively (Table 3). Hydropsychidae were
multiple comparisons of the means of the physicochemical
presented at all sampling stations in high numbers (3082
parameters in order to measure similarities of the sampling
individuals). Chironomidae was present at all sampling
points. Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient was used to
stations, but the high individual count (440) was present
determine the magnitude of the significance and nature of
in the downstream area (MT5). Also, families Baetidae,
the relationship between variables. Diversity was computed
Caenidae, Heptageiidae, Hydrophilidae, Gerridae, Nepidae,
using the Shannon- Wiener Index. The number of taxa (taxa
Libellulidae, Gomphidae, Platycnemididae, Corduliidae,
richness or Taxa S) was measured by counting the number
Leptoceridae, Philopotamidae and Odontoceridae were
of aquatic insects families found in the samples. The
present at all sampling stations.
aquatic insect taxonomic composition and physicochemical
parameters were compared using the one-way Analysis of
Variance (ANOVA). Spearman’s correlation analysis was TAXA RICHNESS AND DIVERSITY
used to determine the magnitude of the significance and Table 4 shows the significant variability in taxa richness
nature of the relationship between parameters. (Taxa S) or number of families present (F=2.348, p<0.05).
MT3 showed the highest recorded Taxa S of 33 families,
whilst MK2 and MK8 had the lowest with 2 families (Table
RESULTS
4). Taxa richness calculations for Mae Tao and Mae Ku
watersheds showed a range of 6.67 (MK2) to 23.00 (MT3)
WATER QUALITY PARAMETERS (Table 4). The results in Table 4 also showed that there was
Mean values of selected physicochemical parameters of a significant difference in taxa richness between stations
water quality at Mae Tao and Mae Ku watershed from (F= 2.348, p<0.05). The Shannon-Wiener diversity index
this study are presented in Table 2. Water temperature, (H’) showed a range of 1.01 (MK2) to 2.36 (MT3) (Table
dissolved oxygen and ammonia-nitrogen were not notably 4). These results also displayed a significant difference
different during the period of study (p>0.05) using ANOVA. in Shannon-Wiener Index among sampling stations (F=
Temperatures varied from 24.31 (MK2) to 27.25Cº (MK8). 3.293, p<0.05) (Table 4).
The lowest mean value of dissolved oxygen (3.93 mg/L) Table 5 shows that taxa richness (taxa S) had a
was found in the downstream station (MT5) and the highest considerable negative relationship with dissolved oxygen
values were observed in upper stream station (≥4.13 mg/L). (r=-0.347, p<0.05), nitrate-nitrogen (r=-0.644, p<0.01)
Regarding the pH, the water of Mae Tao and Mae Ku and ammonia-nitrogen (r=-0.340, p<0.05) on the other
watersheds were slightly basic with low variation of the hand it positively correlated with sulfate (r=0.380,
recorded figures ((8.03 (MT1)-8.75 (MK2)). The highest p<0.05). Meanwhile, Shannon-Wiener diversity index had
mean value of conductivity and total dissolved solids a negative relationship with nitrate-nitrogen (r=-0.497,
(587.71 μS/cm, 315.10 mg/L) was observed at MK8 and p<0.01).
lowest was observed at MT1 (297.05 μS/cm, 163.30 mg/L),
respectively. The mean concentration value of sulfate
DISCUSSION
ranged from 15.33 (MT1) to 38.17 mg/L (MT5). The mean
dissolved nutrients, nitrate-nitrogen and ammonia-nitrogen The physicochemical water quality parameters of Mae Tao
concentrations varied from 1.80 (MT1) to 2.98 mg/L (MK2, and Mae Ku watersheds in the seven sampling stations
MK8) and 0.23 (MT1-MT3, MK8) to 0.29 mg/L (MT5), were significantly different, except for water temperature,
respectively. The mean alkalinity values ranged from 51.17 dissolved oxygen and ammonia-nitrogen level (Table
(MT1) to 82.73 mg/L (MT3). 2). In a lotic ecosystem, especially streams, biological
condition is strongly influenced by water chemistry and
AQUATIC INSECT COMPOSITION AND ABUNDANCE
habitat quality (Bio et al. 2011). Low dissolved oxygen,
high nitrate or phosphorous concentrations and low pH can
A total of 8982 individual aquatic insects were recorded, cause reduced water quality. A desirable habitat quality is
distributed among 59 families with 9 orders belonging generally characterized by a heterogeneous habitat with
to Trichoptera (4108 individuals; 45.75% of total both slow and fast moving water, woody debris, substrate
abundance), Ephemeroptera (1622 individuals; 18.06% variety, and well-vegetated, stable banks (Galuppo et al.
of total abundance), Hemiptera (1208 individuals; 13.45% 2007). Impairment of habitat and water chemistry can
of total abundance), Odonata (864 individuals; 9.62% of lead to the reduced diversity of aquatic macroinvertebrates
total abundance), Diptera (736 individuals; 8.17% of total (Hepp et al. 2013).
abundance), Coleoptera (413 individuals; 4.60% of total Trichoptera was the most abundant insect order in Mae
abundance), Megaloptera (15 individuals; 0.17% of total Tao and Mae Ku watersheds (Figure 2). The immature


TABLE 2. The mean±SD of the physicochemical variable in Mae Tao and Mae Ku watersheds, Mae Sot district, Tak Province during February 2011 to February 2012

Parameter/site MT1 MT2 MT3 MT4 MT5 MT2 MT8 F-value

a a a a a a a
Water temperature (°C) 26.46±2.14 25.41±1.84 25.48±2.16 24.75±2.77 25.65± 2.47 24.31± 1.91 27.25± 2.68 1.084
a a a a a a a
Dissolved oxygen (mg/L) 4.13±0.90 5.03±0.95 5.09±0.71 5.04±0.91 3.93±1.63 5.02±0.85 4.84±0.73 1.304
pH 8.03±0.18a 8.56±0.11bc 8.64±0.13cd 8.62±0.16c 8.37±0.24b 8.75±0.08d 8.50±0.09bc 14.012*
Conductivity (μS/cm) 297.05±85.51a 506.83±119.26b 500.92±114.48b 420.86±112.70ab 513.52±132.41b 550.86±127.39b 587.71±207.77b 3.033*
a b b ab bc bc c
Total dissolved solids (mg/L) 163.30±31.63 235.88±18.58 237.66±51.47 207.80±55.05 251.66±50.61 272.16±64.43 315.10±101.03 3.911*
Sulfate (mg/L) 15.33±2.07a 24.67±6.89b 34.33±5.16cd 35.00±6.04cd 38.17±6.67d 23.00±5.89b 27.00±12.43bc 8.099*
Nitrate- nitrogen (mg/L) 1.80±0.61a 1.87±0.45a 2.00±0.50a 2.70±1.42ab 2.10±0.74ab 2.98±0.35b 2.98±0.68b 2.990*
a a a a a a a
Ammonia- nitrogen (mg/L) 0.23±0.15 0.23±0.16 0.23±0.15 0.27±0.22 0.29±0.16 0.24±0.18 0.23±0.15 0.169
a ab b ab ab ab b
Alkalinity (mg/L) 51.17±11.57 70.83±13.42 82.73±29.28 67.72±12.97 69.50±9.03 71.50±22.57 81.00±22.16 1.879*
* The mean difference is significant at p <0.05 level (One-Way ANOVA)
711
712

FIGURE 2. Relative abundance of aquatic insects per order, Mae Tao and Mae Ku watersheds,
Mae Sot district, Tak Province during February 2011 to February 2012

TABLE 3. Aquatic insect abundance and richness in Mae Tao and Mae Ku watersheds, Mae Sot district,
Tak Province during February 2011 to February 2012

Taxa/site MT1 MT2 MT3 MT4 MT5 MT2 MT8 Total

Ephemeroptera
Baetidae 117 49 13 34 94 6 18 331
Caenidae 51 35 47 21 37 6 59 256
Ephemerellidae 25 7 23 4 59
Ephemeridae 5 1 96 5 7 114
Heptageniidae 52 103 137 143 43 5 7 490
Leptophelebiidae 9 148 76 114 9 16 372
Odonata
Aeshnidae 3 3
Calopterygidae 2 4 15 2 23
Chlorocyphidae 2 6 17 11 1 4 41
Coenagrionidae 5 2 14 10 1 6 38
Corduliidae 2 7 19 4 5 2 2 41
Euphaeidae 6 127 7 7 147
Gomphidae 1 25 223 14 30 1 10 304
Libellulidae 2 76 15 33 17 6 8 157
Platycnemididae 4 3 10 27 31 3 21 99
Platystictidae 1 10 11
Plecoptera
Perlidae 5 1 6
Hemiptera
Aphelocheiridae 47 47
Corixidae 1 5 2 8
Gerridae 8 4 135 129 171 90 77 614
Helotrephidae 2 3 5
Hydrometridae 1 1 19 40 11 3 75
Continued.
 713

TABLE 3. Continued.

Taxa/site MT1 MT2 MT3 MT4 MT5 MT2 MT8 Total

Mesoveliidae 12 2 14
Naucoridae 3 2 195 90 290
Nepidae 4 8 21 25 7 6 16 87
Notonectidae 1 1 1 3
Veliidae 15 2 20 18 9 1 65
Megaloptera
Corydalidae 5 8 1 1 15
Coleoptera
Dryopidae 2 2
Dytiscidae 1 13 1 4 1 20
Elmidae 52 17 14 3 86
Gyrinidae 71 52 123
Hydraenidae 69 31 2 9 111
Hydrophilidae 6 6 26 20 1 1 1 61
Psephenidae 1 1
Scirtidae 1 1 1 2 2 1 8
Staphylinidae 1 1
Diptera
Athericidae 4 1 1 1 3 10
Ceratopogonidae 1 8 1 10
Chironomidae 39 14 21 11 440 5 12 542
Culicidae 20 4 7 31
Dixidae 1 4 5
Empididae 4 4
Muscidae 1 10 11
Sciomyzidae 2 2
Simuliidae 13 7 1 1 7 29
Stratiomyidae 2 1 2 5
Tanyderidae 1 1
Tipulidae 16 20 28 11 6 5 86
Lepidoptera
Crambidae 1 8 1 10
Trichoptera
Calamoceratidae 26 4 30
Glossosomatidae 91 23 5 2 24 145
Helicopsychidae 2 2
Hydropsychidae 269 596 108 285 1354 131 339 3082
Hydroptilidae 1 1 2
Lepidostomatidae 20 1 4 25
Leptoceridae 53 4 10 28 2 29 3 129
Odontoceridae 117 3 27 56 7 1 26 237
Philopotamidae 21 187 35 63 134 15 1 456

Total number of individual 975 1507 1618 1371 2522 332 657 8982
Number of families 38 35 45 39 39 22 30
714

stages of Trichoptera all live in freshwater and flourish typical of cooler, more northern latitudes (Sivec & Yule
in running waters (i.e. rivers) greater than in any other 2004).
freshwater body (Daly et al. 1998; Wiggins 1996). pH is the measure of the intensity of acidity or
The family Hydropsychidae was the most persistent alkalinity and the concentration of hydrogen ions in
and the most abundant (Table 3). This was followed in water. pH affects the dissolved oxygen level of the water,
abundance by Gerridae, Chironomidae, Heptageniidae photosynthesis of aquatic organisms (phytoplankton) and
and Philopotamidae. In the present study the parameters the sensitivity of these organisms to pollution, parasites
like dissolved oxygen, sulfate and nutrient have direct and diseases (Ngodhe et al. 2014). A change in pH also
impact on the growth of biotic communities. However affects aquatic life indirectly by altering other aspects of
the other physicochemical variables have a direct as water chemistry. In this study, the pH showed a variation
well as an indirect effect on the biological diversity among sampling stations, however, displayed a direct
(Roland et al. 2012). The physicochemical parameters correlation to richness and diversity (Table 5) which
are useful in detecting the effect of pollution on the water implies that many species favored slightly alkaline pH in
quality, but changes in trophic conditions of water are basic habitat. The USEPA (1986) indicated that a pH range
reflected in the biological community structure including of 6.5 to 9.0 provides adequate protection for the life of
species pattern, distribution and diversity (Ishas & Khan freshwater fish and bottom-dwelling macroinvertebrates.
2013). The most common physical assessment of water Scheibler et al. (2014) reported that taxa richness, density
quality is the measurement of temperature. Temperature of invertebrates and diversity increased along a river
impacts both the chemical and biological characteristics continuum with increases in pH, hardness and nutrients.
of surface water. In the present study there was only a The concentration of dissolved oxygen (DO) is one
slight temperature variation in Mae Tao and Mae Ku of the most important parameter to indicate water purity
watershed. Water temperature was not indirect correlation and to determine the distribution of various aquatic insect
with taxa richness and diversity in this study. The higher groups (Wahizatul et al. 2011). In this study, dissolved
water temperatures probably favored the densities and oxygen concentration negatively affected taxa richness.
diversity of Hydropsychidae in the Mae Tao and Mae Paaijmans et al. (2008) noted that suspended particles
Ku watersheds. Temperature is one of the major factors in the water absorb heat thus they could increase water
determining the distribution of Hydropsychidae, where temperatures. This, in turn, could reduce the oxygen
most of the species exhibit higher densities in warmer content of the water since warm water holds less dissolved
waters (Kimura et al. 2008). Trichopterans are especially oxygen than cold (Mandal 2014). Aquatic insects,
sensitive to decrease in water quality (Dohet 2002; especially the bottom-dwellers, are sensitive to temperature
Guilpart et al. 2012). Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and and will move to areas in stream where they find their
Trichoptera are often used as indicators of good water optimal temperature (Hering et al. 2009). If temperatures
quality (Crisci-Bispo et al. 2007; Qu et al. 2010). One are outside their optimal range for a prolonged period of
family in order Plecoptera was recorded in this study. time, organisms can become stressed and die. A study of
Diversity of Plecoptera families is generally low in the diversity and abundance of aquatic macroinvertebrates
tropical Asian streams (Hamid & Rawi 2011). However, in a stream in Brazil reports that the sampling station with
studies of rivers in Thailand and the Philippines have the lowest temperature and highest dissolved oxygen level
showed the presence of Perlidae, Nemouridae, Leuctridae had the highest Shannon-Weiner diversity index (Silva et
and Peltoperlidae (Boonsoong & Sangpradub 2008). The al. 2009). Stoyanova et al. (2014) found that gill-breathing
absence of the families in Mae Tao and Mae Ku watershed aquatic insects (e.g. caddisflies, mayflies and stoneflies) are
could be due to unfavorable conditions (i.e. temperature) affected by conditions that reduce the dissolved oxygen
for its growth and reproduction. The Plecopteran order is of the water, like pollution; therefore the presence of

TABLE 4. Summary of the biological indices at the study sites of Mae Tao and Mae Ku watersheds, Mae
Sot district, Tak Province during February 2011 to February 2012. Values are Mean ± SD
(minimum and maximum values in parentheses)

Sites Taxa richness (Taxa S) H’

MT1 15.17±6.55 (8.00-22.00)
abc
1.83±0.61 (1.19-2.47)
bc

MT2 15.83±7.19abc (8.00-23.00) 1.73±0.46abc (1.25-2.21)

MT3 23.00±9.47c (13.00-33.00) 2.36±0.45c (1.90-2.83)
MT4 17.67±11.67bc (5.00-30.00) 1.96±0.99bc (0.93-2.99)
MT5 16.00±8.22abc (7.00-25.00) 1.53±0.17ab (1.36-1.71)
MK2 6.67±4.18a (2.00-11.00) 1.01±0.75a (0.23-1.80)
MK8 11.17±8.28ab (2.00-20.00) 1.21±0.59ab (0.58-1.82)
F-value 2.348* 3.293*
* The mean difference is significant at p<0.05 level (One-Way ANOVA); H’ = Shannon-Weaver diversity index
 715

TABLE 5. Spearman’s correlation coefficient between selected physicochemical factors and aquatic
insect diversity and richness in Mae Tao and Mae Ku watersheds, Mae Sot district,
Tak Province during February 2011 to February 2012

Parameter Taxa S H’
Water temperature (°C) -0.124 -0.105
Dissolved oxygen (mg l-1) -0.347* -0.138
pH -0.201 -0.059
Conductivity (μs cm-1) 0.121 -0.068
Total dissolved solids (mg l-1) 0.128 -0.023
Sulfate (mg l-1) 0.380* 0.285
Nitrate Nitrogen (mg l-1) -0.644** -0.497**
Ammonia nitrogen (mg l-1) -0.340* -0.292
Alkalinity (mg l-1) -0.120 -0.111
*. Correlation is significant at the 0.05 level (2-tailed).
**. Correlation is significant at the 0.01 level (2-tailed).

caddisflies, mayflies and stoneflies indicates high stream trace amounts. The nitrate concentration depends on the
quality. activity of nitrifying bacteria which in turn gets influenced
Electrical conductivity is a function of total dissolved by the presence of dissolved oxygen. The taxa richness and
solids known as ion concentration, which determines the diversity of aquatic insects dwelling the Mae Tao and Mae
quality of water (Tariq et al. 2006). Electrical conductivity Ku watersheds correlated negatively with nitrate-nitrogen.
or total dissolved solids measure how much total salt The concentration of ammonia-nitrogen also negatively
(inorganic ions such as sodium, chloride, magnesium and correlated with diversity of aquatic insects (Table 5).
calcium) is present in the water. Electrical conductivity The diversity values for real communities are often
itself is not a human or aquatic health concern, but because found to fall between 1.0 and 6.0 (Stiling 1996), this means
it is easily measured, it can serve as an indicator of other that diversity at all the sampling stations of Mae Tao and
water quality problems. If the conductivity of a stream Mae Ku watersheds were relatively low since none had
suddenly increases, it indicates that there is a source of an H’ value higher than 2.5 (Table 4). Wilhm and Dorris
dissolved ions in the vicinity. Therefore, conductivity (1968) set the diversity index of less than 1 for highly
measurements can be used as an efficient way to locate polluted, 1-3 for moderately polluted and greater than 4
potential water quality problems (Siddaramu & Puttaiah for unpolluted water bodies. All sampling stations in this
2013). All natural waters contain some dissolved solids study (Table 4) were shown as moderately polluted using
due to the dissolution and weathering of rock and soil. this scale. Aquatic insect diversity in Mae Tao and Mae
Some but not all dissolved solids act as conductors and Ku watersheds could have been affected by the presence
can contribute to conductance. Waters with high total of pollution in the river.
dissolved solids are unpalatable and potentially unhealthy.
In this study, electrical conductivity and total dissolved
CONCLUSION
solids showed little variation between sampling stations.
Electrical conductivity and total dissolved solids did not From the results throughout this study period, a total
correlated with taxa richness (taxa S) nor the Shannon- of 59 families representing 9 orders were recorded.
Weiner diversity index in this study. Hydropsychidae were present at all sampling stations in the
Sulfate is widely distributed in nature and may be high number of individual. Chironomidae was present at all
present in natural waters at concentrations ranging from a sampling stations, but the high individual count was present
few to several hundred milligrams per liter. Anthropogenic in the downstream area. Also, families Baetidae, Caenidae,
sources of sulfate may come from mine drainage wastes. Heptageiidae, Hydrophilidae, Gerridae, Nepidae,
In coalfield streams, total dissolved solids are most often Libellulidae, Gomphidae, Platycnemididae, Corduliidae,
dominated by the dissolved ions SO42- and HCO3- (Pond Leptoceridae, Philopotamidae and Odontoceridae were
et al. 2008). In this study, the sulfate content varied in present at all sampling stations. This indicates the richness
all sampling stations and positively correlated with taxa and diverse group of aquatic insects in the study area.
richness. Alkalinity is measured to determine the ability It reinforces to the fact that the habitat quality is most
of river to resist changes in pH. Alkalinity values of suitable for insects to breed and multiply under the natural
20-200 mg/L are common in fresh water ecosystems. ecosystem. Furthermore, the river’s environmental factors
Alkalinity below 10 mg/L indicates poorly buffered rivers. had directly and/or indirectly affected aquatic insect
These rivers are least capable of resisting changes in pH, assemblages, showing that aquatic insects were useful
therefore they are more susceptible to problems which indicators of water quality in the Mae Tao and Mae Ku
occur as a result of acidic pollutants (Biggs 1995). The watershed. All sampling stations in this study came out
concentration of nitrate-nitrogen at all the sites was in as moderately polluted by indication of diversity index.
716

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS transitional water ecosystem: Alimini Grande (Puglia, Italy).

Financial support for this research was given through a Transitional Waters Bulletin 4: 9-19.
scholarship and grants of the Graduate School, Kasetsart Guilpart, A., Roussel, J.M., Aubin, J., Caquet, T., Marle, M. &
Bris, H.L. 2012. The use of benthic invertebrate community
University year 2012 to Ampon Payakka. In addition, this
and water quality analyses to assess ecological consequences
research was supported by the Thailand Research Fund of fish farm effluents in rivers. Ecological Indicators 23:
(MRG5480221). 356-365.
Gupta, M. & Paliwal, A. 2010. Role of aquatic insects of water
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