Habitat ecology of zygopteran (Odonata) nymphs in certain water bodies of Madhya Pradesh

6 Pages·1991·3.2 MB·

by  S Kaushik

,
HABITAT ECOLOGY OF ZYGOPTERAN (ODONATA) NYMPHS IN CERTAIN
WATER BODIES OF MADHYA PRADESH 1
S. Kaushik, S. Sharma, M.N. Saxena and D.N. Saksena2
The distribution ofzygopteran (Odonata) nymphs and theirassociation with macrophytes in certain clean
and polluted water bodies of Madhya Pradesh have been described. 16 species of zygopteran insects were
identified on the basis of last instar nymphal stages. Neurobasis chinensis chinensis andPseudagrion spencei
m
were found at higher altitude (1067 above msl) and Copera marginipes, Ischnura delicata, /. rufostigma
m
Pseudagrion laidlawi and Rhodischnura nursei were observed at lower altitudes (205 to 318 above msl).
Copera marginipes Ischnura rufostigma, Lestes praemorsa, Neurobasis chinensis chinensis, Pseudagrion
,
laidlawi P. spencei, Rhinocypha unimaculata and Rhodischnura nursei preferred lotic waters. Neurobasis
,
chinensis chinensis and Pseudagrion spencei inhabited acidic waters. Copera marginipes and Rhinocypha
unimaculata were found in association with Vallisneria spiralis and Eichhornia crassipes respectively and
Ischnura rufostigma along with decaying vegetation. Other species had no specific preference for the macro-
phytes. Thezygopteran nymphs thus were found from clear to polluted waters atvarious altitudes in association
with a variety of habitats.
Introduction MaterialandMethods
Various lentic and loticwaterbodies.atPach-
Most of the lakes in the world and many
marhi, Reewa, Morena and Gwalior, situated at
other aquatic systems are shallow and thus likely m
altitudes of 1067, 318, 300 and 205 above msl
to offer sites for submerged macrophylic com- respectively inMadhya Pradesh, were selected for
munities (Wetzel 1975). Such aquatic macro-
the study.
phytes may contribute considerably to the produc-
Zygopteran nymphs were collected with the
tivity of the water body and provide suitable help of ‘D’ frame net made of nylon cloth (mesh
places for hiding, breeding, egg laying,
size 80/sq. cm). The nymphs after segregation
anchorage, rich oxygen supply and also the food were preserved in 90% alcohol with a few drops
supply for all groups of aquatic insects (Krcekcr of glycerin. Identification of these nymphs was
1939, Andrews and Hasler 1943, Cover and Har-
based on the characteristics oflast instar nymphal
rel 1978, Das and Bisht 1979 and Pandit et al. stages as suggested by Fraser (1957). Water
1985). temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH and chloride
The insect and macrophyte communities in
were also recorded immediately after collection
an aquatic ecosystem remain interdependent
of water samples at the sites as per the standard
ecologically (Pandit et al. 1985) and therefore, a methods ofAPHA(1975). Macrophytes were also
great interest inaquatic insects with regard to their
collected along the sampling station and
habit and habitat in relation to the environment 5%
preserved in formalin.
has been shown during recent years (McGaha
The range of physico-chemical charac-
1952, Krull 1970, Soszka 1975a, Rosenberg 1986
teristics, distribution of zygopteran nymphs and
and Kaushik et al 1990). Observations on the
their association with macrophytes have been
distribution, habit and habitat of zygopteran
given in Tables 1, 2 and 3 respectively.
(Odonata) nymphs from various water bodies of
Madhya Pradesh in relation to their physico- Results and Discussion
chemical characteristics are presented here.
The physico-chemical characteristics and
abundance of macrophytes influence the distribu-
Accepted September 1989.
tion of aquatic communities including insects
2
School of Studies in Zoology, Jiwaji University,
(Pandit et al. 1985, Kaushik et al. 1990). Out of
Gwalior 474 Oil.
1
HABITAT ECOLOGY OF ZYGOPTERAN NYMPHS
401
Table 1
RANGE OFTOLERANCE OFPHYSICO-CHEMICALCHARACTERISTICS INVARIOUS ZYGOPTERANNYMPHS
Name ofthe species Altitude (m) Water colour Water Dissolved pH Chloride
above mean temperature oxygen (mg/1)
sea level (°C) (mg/1)
Neurobasis chinensis 1067 Clear 16-24 8.1-11.9 6.0-6.7 19-23
Rhinocypha unimaculata 318-1067 Clear-greenish 24-29 9.5-11.2 6.7-8.0 20-75
Agriocnemispygmaea 205-1067 Clear-blackish 16-24 5.7-11.9 6.0-8.3 23-120
Ceriagrion coromandelianum 205-1067 Clear-greenish 16-29 8.1-11.9 6.0-8.3 23-114
Enallagmaparvum 205-1067 Greenish-blackish 22-26 5.7-10.1 6.0-8. 69-120
Ischnura delicata 205-318 Greenish 21-29 7.4-10.1 7.2-8.2 30-114
I. senegalensis 205-1067 Greenish-blackish 24-30 5.1-10.0 6.0-8.2 74-597
I. rufostigma 300 Greenish 22-24 7.4-10.1 1.2-1.5 69-74
Pseudagrion rubriceps 205-1067 Clear-blackish 16-30 5.1-11.9 6.0-8.3 23-597
P. laidlawi 300-318 Greenish 22-29 8.4-11.2 7.2-8.0 69-88
P. spencei 1067 Clear 24 8.1-9.5 6.5-6.7 19-20
Rhodischnura nursei 300 Greenish 22-24 7.4-10.1 1.2-1.5 69-74
Lestespraemorsapraemorsa 300-1067 Clear-greenish 16-24 8.4-11.9 6.0-7.8 23-74
Copera marginipes 300-318 Greenish 23-29 9.5-11.2 7.9-8.0 75-88
—
the water bodies selected Big fall, A—psara and thus decreased pH. These findings are in
vihar, Patthar chata and Matsya sarovar the agreement with Irwin and Stevenson (1951). The
waterwas comparatively cleanand clearwhilethe alkaline nature (pH 7.2 to 8.3) of water bodies at
water in Beehar, Bichhiya, Saank, Asaun, Kuari Rewa, Morena, and Gwalior may be due to ionic
rivers and Ganga sagar tank was turbid and light composition and greater photosynthetic activity
green in colour due to the growth of of algae (Goel et al. 1986).
phytoplankton. Lotus pool, Vivek nagar pond, Chlorides occur naturally in all types of
Chandanpura pond and Moti mahal tank were waters. The most important sources ofchloride in
pollutedby domestic and municipal wastes, while natural waters are from sewage discharge and
J.C. Mill pond received cotton mill effluents. industrial waste and the salts of sodium, potas-
Temperature and dissolved oxygen in en- sium and calcium. The lowest chloride value (19
vironments have great bearing on both terrestrial mg/1) was recorded in Patthar chata while the
and aquatic communities. Water temperature and highest (597 mg/1) was found in J.C. Mill pond,
dissolved oxygen were found to show a wide indicating organic pollution (Table 1). Sharma et
range ofvariation in the waterbodies selected for al. (1978) have also reported that increased
the study. Highest water temperature and lowest chloride concentration of water is indicative of
dissolved oxygenwas measured inJ.C. Mill pond pollution.
while lowest temperature and highest dissolved 16 species of zygoptera were identified, out
oxygen was observed in Big fall waters. of which 12 species belonging to Coenagriidae
Hydrogen ion concentration of natural and 1 species each to Lestidae, Agriidae, Platyc-
waters is another important environmental factor. nemididae and Chlorocyphidae were recorded
Itsvariations are linked, among othercauses, with from various water bodies in Madhya Pradesh
the species compositionand life processes ofcon- (Table 2). The distribution of zygopteran insects
stituent biological communities (Jhingran 1982). with regard to altitude indicates that Neurobasis
The nature of all water bodies at Pachmarhi was chinensis chinensis and Pseudagrion spencei
found to be slightly acidic. It may be due to the were recorded in hilly areas ofPachmarhi located
presence of decaying vegetation. This decaying at an altitude of 1067 m, while Copera mar-
CO
vegetation increased the concentration of 2 ginipes Ischnura delicata I. rufostigma
, , ,
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404 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST SOCIETY, Vol. 88
Pseudagiron laidlawi and Rhodischnura nursei teran nymphs with different species of macro-
m m
were observed at an altitude of 205 to 318 phytes has been shown in Table 3. Ceriagrion
only. coromandelianum Ischnura senegalensis and
,
Agriocnemis pygmaea, Ceriagrion Pseudagrion rubriceps have been found in as-
coromandelianum Enallagmaparvum Ischnura sociation with at least 10 species of macrophytes
, ,
senegalensis Lestes praemorsa praemorsa without any specific preference. Copera mar-
, ,
Pseudagrion rubriceps and Rhinocypha ginipes andRhinocypha unimaculata have strong
unimaculata were widely distributed from higher affinity for Vallisneria spiralis and Eichhornia
to lower altitudes. crassipes respectively, whileIschnura rufostigma
Copera marginipes Ischnura rufostigma was always found along with decaying vegeta-
, ,
Lestes praemorsa praemorsa Neurobasis tion. However, Rhinocypha unimaculata and
,
chinensis chinensis Pseudagrion laidlawi P. Ceriagrioncoromandelianum were also observed
, ,
spencei Rhinocypha unimaculata and clingingto rocks andalgal growthinwaterrespec-
,
Rhodischnura nursei indicated their preference tively.
for lotic water, while other species were present Odonatan nymphs are believed to inhabit
in both lotic as well as lentic waters. clean waters with sufficient oxygen (Tonapi
Pseudagrion rubricepswas observed inboth 1980). This is, however, not true in the present
clean and polluted waters and thus accepted a study. The zygopteran nymphs have been ob-
wide range of water temperature and chloride served from clean to polluted waters and were
concentration (Table 1). Ischnura senegalensis found to prefera variety ofmacrophytic habitat as
was found in waters with high concentration of has been suggested by Roback (1974), Hynes
chloride. Hynes (1974), Roback (1974) and Perry (1974) and Perry (1981).
(1981) have also reported similar observations
Acknowledgements
regarding the tolerance for a wide range of
physico-chemical characteristics of water by This article is dedicated to the late Prof. J.
speciesofIschnura.Neurobasischinensischinen- B__ahadur, the then Head of S•chool of Studies in
sis andPseudagrion spencei were collected from Zoology, and Rector, Jiwaji University, Gwalior.
hilly lotic waters with slightly acidic pH and low We are grateful to him for providing necessary
We
concentration of chlorides (Table 1). laboratory facilities. are also thankful to the
Since macrophytes provide food and shelter U.G.C. for financial assistance and to Dr J.P.
to many macroinvertebrate communities inwater, Kaushik, School of Studies in Botany, for iden-
the formerhavebeen found to harbourzygopteran tification of macrophytes.
nymphs also. The association of various zygop-
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