by Sreeletha Kumar ADEM Field Operations, Montgomery, AL 36110 SWPBA, November 14, 2012

1. A Preliminary Survey of Aquatic Insects from Southern Western Ghats, Kerala, a Tropical  Biodiversity Hotspot of India by Sreeletha Kumar ADEM Field Operations, Montgomery, AL 36110 SWPBA, November 14, 2012

4. Facts about Kerala Kerala State is located on the western side of the southernmost tip of India.  The State has the highest literacy rate (97.5%) in India  and perhaps in South Asia. Infant mortality is very low, the health sector is strong, and the standard of living is high. It lies close to the equator but has a pleasant and equable climate throughout the year.  This is because of the land's proximity to the Arabian sea on the west and the presence of the mountainous Western Ghats on the east.  The Western Ghats of Kerala are formed mainly of pre-Cambrian shield and basaltic lava of the Deccan Trap (northern part of Kerala). The climate is hot and humid tropical, with about 300 cm rainfall a year and temperatures ranging from 28°C to 32°C on the plains to 20°C in the highlands. There are four seasons: summer (pre-monsoon), south-west monsoon, north-east monsoon and mild winter (post-monsoon).  Heavy precipitation from the south-west monsoon and favorable edaphic factors create ideal conditions for luxuriant growth of plant life.

5. Facts contd. • Kerala has 44 rivers, of which 41 are west-flowing and 3 east-flowing. • These rivers originate from the Western Ghats. • The rivers are clean in their headwaters and also in the upland forests and they are important biodiversity hotspots for a rich flora and fauna. • Once the rivers reach the plains, the water in some places has become contaminated mainly due to anthropogenic interventions. • The rivers of the uphill region and to some extent the plains are colonized by many species of aquatic insects and other invertebrates and vertebrates.  • This region has a vast tropical flora and fauna, many species of which are new to science. • A clear picture about the number of species of Invertebrates does not exist and information on aquatic insects is meager.  • The clean and clear water, luxurious vegetation cover, ideal climatic conditions and minimal interference by humans make the Western Ghats of Kerala a likely hotspot for diveristy of aquatic insects. • An initial survey in the rivers of this region is a primary step towards a detailed investigation of this group, whose diversity is potentially valuable in biomonitoring of water quality.

6. Total No. of Rivers in Kerala : 44 No. of west flowing Rivers : 41 No. of east flowing Rivers : 3 Longest River in Kerala : Periyar-151.62 miles No. of Lakes : 34 Freshwater lakes :2 Backwater lakes:32 Largest Freshwater Lake in Kerala : Shasthankotta Lake-1.44 sq m (3.73 sq km²) Largest Backwater Lake in Kerala: VembanadLake-784.9 sq miles (2,033 km²) Kerala – Rivers and Lakes

7. Western Ghats • In the top 34 biodiversity hotspots worldwide; • Many endemic and threatened spp. of flora and fauna; • These hills cover 62,000 sq mi and form the catchment area for complex riverine drainage systems that drain almost 40% of India.; • Home of 4 Eco-regions: tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests and rain forests. • Development Projects in the area: • River valley projects; -led to the submersion of large extent of forests; • Industrial establishments; • Expansion of agricultural activities; -large extent of natural forest cover was destroyed and degraded.

8. Beautiful view of Western Ghats

9. Tea plantation - Munnar

10. Traditional log pulling by an elephant

11. Sampling of Macroinvertebrates • In July, 2007, a workshop on Aquatic Insects and their role in water quality was conducted at the University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram in collaboration with Clemson University, South Carolina. • Following the course a week-long exploratory expedition was carried out in the southern half of the Western Ghats of Kerala. • Larval specimens were captured with benthic nets and examination of stones and other substrates. • Adults were captured mainly by attraction to an ultraviolet light trap (15-watt) powered by a 12-volt automobile battery.

12. Workshop participants taking off for the expedition

13. Collection sites • Total collection sites : 17 • Nature of collection sites • Protected reserve forests : 4 • Unprotected rural areas : 6 • Water falls and cascades : 5 • Dam : 2 • Polluted sites : 2

14. Kallar – the first expedition site where participants are in action

15. Participants busy in their work in one of the unprotected areas

16. One of the participants very serious in business

17. Participants examining their collection materials

18. She got want she wanted

19. Ohhhhh ……………there is something which is very unique

20. Laboratory set up

21. Branch of Kallada River, one of the sites

22. Adimaali-another collection site in N.Kerala

23. Kallar upper reach – one of the collection sites

24. Dr. Morse in action near a cascade

25. Orders Represented in Reference sites: • Ephemeroptera • Plecoptera • Trichoptera • Odonata • Hemiptera • Coleoptera • Diptera • Lepidoptera • Megaloptera

26. The following families were collected from different reference sites: • Baetidae • Caenidae • Ephemeridae • Leptophlebidae • Perlidae • Calamoceratidae • Dipseudopsidae • Ecnomidae • Helicopsychidae • Hydropsychidae • Lepidostomatidae • Leptoceridae • Philopotamidae • Polycentropodidae • Psychomyidae • Ryacophilidae

27. Families contd. • Calopterygidae • Gomphidae • Libellulidae • Platystictidae • Gerridae • Hebridae • Naucoridae • Vallidae • Corydalidae • Dytiscidae • Elmidae • Gyrinidae • Hydrophilidae • Culicidae • Simulidae • Tabanidae • Crambidae

28. Diversity of Aquatic insects in polluted sites: • Orders: • Ephemeroptera • Trichoptera • Odonata • Hemiptera • Coleoptera • Diptera

29. Families representing Polluted sites: • Caenidae • Heptageniidae • Hydropsychidae • Stenopsychidae • Coenagrionidae • Platycnemididae • Chlorocyphidae • Belostomatidae • Nepidae • Gyrinidae • Chironomidae • Tipulidae

30. Genera of caddisflies from Ref sites: Rhyacophilidae Rhyacophila sp. Philopotamidae Chimarra n. sp. nr. chiangmaiensisChantaramongkol & Malicky Chimarra n. sp. nr. alleniChantaramongkol & Malicky Polycentropodidae Nyctiophylax sp. Dipseudopsidae Dipseudopsis sp. Ecnomidae Ecnomus n. sp. nr. silenoMalicky & Prommi Ecnomus n. sp. 2 Ecnomus n. sp. 3 Ecnomus n. sp. 4 Psychomyiidae Paduniella n. sp. nr. dendrobiaMalicky & Chantaramongkol

31. Genera Contd. • Hydropsychidae • Cheumatopsyche n. sp. • Hydropsyche n. sp. nr. augeiasMalicky & Chantaramongkol • Macrostemum n. sp. nr. punctatum (Betten) • Leptoceridae • Ceraclea n. sp. nr. yangiMosely • Triaenodes sp. • Oecetis (O.) n. sp. • Oecetis (Pleurograpta) hayagrivaSchmid • SetodessubhachitaSchmid

32. Future Plans • Finish identification of mayflies and stoneflies to the lowest level. • To continue working toward a Center of Excellence for Freshwater Biology and Biomonitoring at University of Kerala. • Establishment of an active Indian Benthological Society. • Continuing the collaborative effort to document the EPT fauna of India.

33. Conclusion • Western Ghats is considered as one of the 34 biodiversity hotspots of the world. • With its complex, heterogeneous landscapes and high levels of biodiversity, it forms an ideal ground for testing and developing a biomonitoring methodology using aquatic macroinvertebrates for Kerala. • Hill agro ecosystem in the southern Western Ghats today is dominated by estates, chiefly of tea, coffee, rubber, coconut, teak, and cardamom. • The indiscriminate use of agricultural fertilizers and pesticides in this pristine ecosystem is degrading its biodiversity in an alarming rate.

34. Acknowledgements Dr. John C. Morse, Professor Emeritus, Clemson University, USA, and Dr. V. Sobha, former Head, Dept. of Environmental Science, University of Kerala, India are gratefully acknowledged for conducting the workshop and reporting the new bugs to the scientific world.