An integrated study on the biodiversity and ecology of mayflies (Insecta: Ephemeroptera) in Arunachal Pradesh, India

Marimuthu, Muthukatturaja; Kubendran, Thangavel; Vasanth, Malaisamy; Saheli, Basak; Subramanian, Kumarapuram Apadodharanan

doi:10.48311/jibs.12.03.491

An integrated study on the biodiversity and ecology of mayflies (Insecta: Ephemeroptera) in Arunachal Pradesh, India

Articles in Press

Document Type : Full-length Research Article

Authors

Muthukatturaja Marimuthu ¹

Thangavel Kubendran ²

Malaisamy Vasanth ³

Basak Saheli ²

Kumarapuram Apadodharanan Subramanian ³

¹ Miscellaneous Insect Order Section, Zoological Survey of India, Prani Vigyan Bhawan, M- Block, New Alipore, Kolkata–700053, West Bengal, India.

² Miscellaneous Insect Order Section, Zoological Survey of India, Prani Vigyan Bhawan, 535, M- Block, New Alipore, Kolkata–700053, West Bengal, India.

³ Southern Regional Centre, Zoological Survey of India, Santhome High Road, Chennai 600 028, Tamil Nadu, India.

10.48311/jibs.12.03.491

Abstract

The Indian Eastern Himalaya (Arunachal Pradesh) remains poorly explored for the diversity and ecology of mayflies (Ephemeroptera). The present study provides a comprehensive assessment of mayfly diversity, community structure, and species-environment relationships across 15 selected streams in Arunachal Pradesh. A total of 2,014 individuals belonging to 46 species, 25 genera, and seven families were recorded from the region. Baetidae was the dominant family, followed by Heptageniidae, whereas Caenidae and Vietnamellidae were the least represented. Diversity indices revealed considerable spatial variation, with the highest Shannon diversity, richness, and evenness observed in mid-elevation, fast-flowing streams, and the lowest values recorded at the sites with fewer individuals. Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) exhibited that environmental variables such as pH, stream width, elevation, water current, canopy cover, and temperature influenced species distribution.

Graphical Abstract

An integrated study on the biodiversity and ecology of mayflies (Insecta: Ephemeroptera) in Arunachal Pradesh, India

Keywords

CCA

Diversity indices

Eastern Himalaya

Ephemeroptera

FFGs

Subjects

Biodiversity

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