Water Quality Analysis and Biomonitoring Potential of Aquatic Insects in the Selected Streams of Munnar, Kerala

A total of 2,565 individuals of aquatic macroinvertebrates belonging to 27 genera, 18 families and seven orders were recorded from four streams of Munnar. Ephemeroptera was found to be the most dominant and diverse order. The Shannon and Simpson diversity indices were high in Suryanelli and low in Sivanmalai streams. The Evenness and Margalef indices were maximum in Periyavarai and Suryanelli streams and minimum in Sivanmalai stream. Water quality of the selected streams were analyzed with regard to the biotic indices. The functional feeding group (FFG) analysis revealed filter feeders as dominant group among FFGs in Munnar streams. The relationship between the water chemistry variables and aquatic macroinvertebrate community were discussed with canonical correspondence analysis (CCA).