Temporal distribution of Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera (EPT) adults at a tropical forest stream: response to seasonal variations

Abstract

Temporal changes in Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera (EPT) abundance were investigated monthly from January to December 2008 at a tropical forest stream of Tupah River (TR) at Gunung Jerai Forest Reserve, Malaysia. A total of 1,689 adult individuals belong to 16 families of EPT were collected from TR. EPT populations peaked in May, June and December. Mean EPT abundance was significantly different among months (Kruskal-Wallis test, P \ 0.05). Among the three orders, Trichoptera had the most diverse community with eight families reported, followed by Ephemeroptera (six families) and Plecoptera (two families). The family Baetidae was the most abundant ephemeropteran. Meanwhile, caddisfly families Hydropsychidae, Leptoceridae and Lepidostomatidae were abundant at TR. However, plecopterans were mainly represented by Perlidae. There was significant difference in abundance (t = 4.863, P \ 0.05) and diversity (t = 7.857, P \ 0.05) of EPT adults between dry and wet seasons. Interestingly, abundance of EPT adults was higher in the dry season compared to the wet season. Consequently, seasonality impact on abundance of EPT adults at TR was obvious. The adult population of Trichoptera was dominant during the dry season. However, adults of Ephemeroptera were abundant during the wet season.

Temporal Distribution of Benthic Macroinvertebrate Communities from Tropical Forest Stream in Gunung Pulai Recreational Forest, Johor, Peninsular Malaysia

“…Similarly, the highest mean value of diversity found in the dry season (5 taxa) compared with three taxa were recorded in the rainy season. This study is in line with the findings by Suhaila et al (2012). The study led in Tupah River discovered that abundance and diversity of adult EPT assemblage changed seasonally.…”

Integrated Approaches in Water Quality Monitoring for River Health Assessment: Scenario of Malaysian River

“…Several studies have analyzed the changes of benthic community dictated by seasonal rainfall [36][37][38], including those in Peninsular Malaysia [39][40][41]. In general, rainfall pattern in Malaysia is much influenced by wind flow pattern during the seasonal period.…”

Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera (Insecta) Abundance, Diversity and Role in Leaf Litter Breakdown in Tropical Headwater River

“…The study was carried out at the Tupah River at N5°45.008′ E100°26.526′, located in a protected forest catchment of Gunung Jerai Forest Reserve in Kuala Muda district, state of Kedah, northern peninsular Malaysia. Image of the map can be found elsewhere ( Suhaila et al 2012 ). The river is 5.6 km long, with a mean depth of 0.32±0.05 meter and mean width of 4.14±0.28 meter.…”