Ecology of macrozoobenthos community of river Sindh in Kashmir Himalayas, India

The present study reports on the ecology of macrozoobenthos community along the longitudinal gradient of River Sindh, an important tributary of River Jhelum in Kashmir valley. A total of 32 taxa of macrozoobenthos were recorded from the same. In the present paper various physico-chemical parameters and their relationship with macrozoobenthos has been discussed. Sampling was done in a stretch of 56 km. On comparing the upper reaches with that of lower reaches, it was recorded that the slow flowing calm water reach of the river recorded highest density of some pollution indicator species. These results suggest that 1) macro invertebrate community structure in Sindh stream is influenced substantially by sediment characteristics, and 2) anthropogenic practices that affect the deposition of organic sediment in it (e.g., eutrophication and hydrologic manipulation) will likely affect macro invertebrate community structure.