River Ecosystems of the Central Highland Ecoregion: Spatial
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River ecosystems of the Central Highland ecoregion: Spatial distribution of benthic flora and fauna in the Plateau rivers (tributaries of the Yamuna and Ganga) in Central India Prakash Nautiyal , 1,* Asheesh Shivam Mishra,1 Jyoti Verma,2 and Asha Agrawal3 1Aquatic Biodiversity Unit, Department of Zoology and Biotechnology, HNB Garhwal University, Srinagar 246174, Uttarakhand, India 2Department of Zoology, University of Allahabad, Allahabad 211002, Uttar Pradesh, India 3Department of Zoology, Sri Sathya Sai College for Women, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India *Corresponding author: [email protected] This study reveals the relationship of biotic assemblages to their environments in the Central Highland Ecoregion rivers (Ken, Paisuni and Tons). Such knowledge will enhance our predictive abilities in the ecological studies and resource management in the concerned region. Rivers of an ecoregion are expected to harbour similar flora, fauna, and communities. This hypothesis was examined by tracking the spatial variation in richness, density, and taxonomic composition of benthic diatom and macroinvertebrate assemblages in three Plateau rivers whose course lay within 3N latitude. Taxonomic richness and density decreased with the reduction of substrate size from the headwaters to the lowlands. Cluster and ordination analyses indicate prevalence of intrabasin rather than interbasin gradients of abundance. In both assemblages, the most abundant taxon is rarely similar longitudinally or across the river sections in the ecoregion. Hence, proximate factors govern the assemblages rather than ecoregional properties (latitude, altitude). This, and the high richness of diatom flora, points to diverse assemblages from the headwater to the lowland section in each river and among the rivers of the ecoregion. Keywords: benthic assemblages, richness, ordination, river-link, trophic state Introduction linkages. Ecoregions may poorly classify compo- nents of the biota that are strongly regulated by local Correspondence between ecoregional classifica- factors. Algae, macroinvertebrate and fish assemb- tion and the biota should depend on the strength of lages each respond to environmental changes at Color versions of one or more of the figures in the article can be found online at www.tandfonline.com/uaem. 43 Aquatic Ecosystem Health & Management, 20(1–2):43–58, 2017. Copyright Ó 2017 AEHMS. ISSN: 1463-4988 print / 1539-4077 online DOI: 10.1080/14634988.2017.1296324 Downloaded from http://read.dukeupress.edu/aehm/article-pdf/20/1-2/43/888961/43nautiyal.pdf by guest on 23 September 2021 44 Nautiyal et al./Aquatic Ecosystem Health and Management 20 (2017) 43–58 different temporal and spatial scales because of their communities of the Ken, Paisuni, and Tons Rivers different life histories, physiologies, and mobilities. during the last decade help predict ecoregional fea- Thus, changes in each assemblage may reflect local tures of the Central Highlands (Nautiyal and Mishra, conditions of stream habitats including microhabi- 2012, 2013; Mishra and Nautiyal, 2013a; 2013b). tats, channel unit, reach, and watersheds (Frissel The benthic diatoms and macroinvertebrates et al., 1986). Diatom assemblages often respond to (usually insect larvae) account for the majority of land use, especially agricultural activities (Pan species among the producers and consumers. A et al., 2000). Thus, diatom assemblages not specific profitable fishery depends on healthy food webs to bioregions may be ideal as unbiased indicators of that involve lower trophic levels within benthic stream water quality (Charles et al., 2006). The dis- communities. Fishing is a commercial activity that tribution of benthic macroinvertebrates also varies generates considerable employment along the riv- within and among the rivers (Hawkins and Sedell, ers, from those manufacturing fishing nets, to fish- 1981; Milesi et al., 2009; Mesa, 2010; Ezekiel ing vessels, fishermen, and traders. This study et al., 2011). Macroinvertebrate compositions are primarily examines the richness and composition known to exhibit much stronger relationships to of benthic diatom and macroinvertebrate commu- local environmental conditions (at reach scale) than nities and the factors governing them in the Cen- to catchment variables (Carter et al., 1996). The fac- tral Highlands ecoregion. The focus of this study tors influencing freshwater biodiversity at local and was to generate information on the spatial distribu- regional scales in India (Rodgers et al., 2002) tion of benthic biota along the length of the rivers. remains poorly understood. Our study area is within the Central Highlands subdivision of the major physiographic region the Materials and methods Peninsular Plateau, synonymous with the 6th biogeo- graphic region—Deccan Peninsula. The Central Study area Highlands alongside Chota Nagpur are the north- ernmost biotic provinces of this biogeographic region The Ken, Paisuni, and Tons drainages in the (Source: wiienvis.nic.in/database/htmlpages/biopro- northeastern Central Highlands are the subject of vincemap.htm WII, 2000). The Central Highlands this study. The Central Highlands consist of the province has an east–west orientation and continental Malwa, Bundelkhand and Chota Nagpur Plateaus climate, with rainfall decreasing westwards. The that form the northern subdivision of the ancient Gangetic drainage primarily descends from the (Gondwana) triangular-shaped tableland—the Himalayas as the Yamuna and Ganga Rivers. The Peninsular Plateau. This geographical region is Plateau Rivers, descending from the western and cen- bound by the Gangetic Plains to the north and east, tral Vindhya Ranges, join the Yamuna, while those and the Deccan Peninisula to the south. The Vind- arising from the eastern ranges join the Ganga. The hya Ranges give rise to northward flowing Central Highlands is an important region for the tributaries of the Yamuna (Chambal, Kali, Sindh, freshwater biodiversity of hill streams of the Indian Parbati, Betwa, Dhasan, Ken, Paisuni) and Ganga subcontinent. This ecoregion represents a vital junc- (Tons, Sone) Rivers. These rivers are important tion of mountain streams and rivers. for irrigation, domestic supply, and power genera- Agenda 21 (1992) emphasizes the role of biodi- tion including proposed river linking projects on versity in the sustainable development of the uplands. the Indian Peninsula (NWDA, 2006). The rivers Only recently has biodiversity been documented for also have high religious significance. These drain- the Central Highlands ecoregion (Nautiyal and ages lie within 24 to 26N latitude, 79 to 82E lon- Verma, 2009a; Verma and Nautiyal, 2010; Nautiyal gitude, and altitude 360 to 72 m above sea level and Mishra, 2012, 2013; Kulshrestha, 2009; Lakra from source to confluence. The examined length et al., 2010; Dwivedi and Nautiyal, 2012; Nautiyal of rivers Ken, Paisuni, and Tons are ca. 340 km, et al., 2011). Stable native food webs are the key to 100 km, and 305 km long, respectively. Locations health of the ecosystem. Lower trophic levels in wild sampled on the Ken are labelled K1 to K4, Paisuni rivers, especially grazers, require pristine conditions. P1 to P4, and Tons T1 to T4 (Figure 1), dividing It is imperative to document the baseline conditions the river into four gross sections: upper (K1, P1, of benthic biota and assemblages (diatom, macroin- T1), middle (K2, P2, T2), and lower plateau (K3, vertebrates). Recent studies of the benthic P3, T3), and a lowland section (K4, P4, T4). The Downloaded from http://read.dukeupress.edu/aehm/article-pdf/20/1-2/43/888961/43nautiyal.pdf by guest on 23 September 2021 Nautiyal et al./Aquatic Ecosystem Health and Management 20 (2017) 43–58 45 Figure 1. Central highlands drainage. The rectangular marked area is the location of study area in the Gangetic basin. The map on left top displays terrain and main course of the Central Highlands rivers, primarily the Betwa, Ken, Paisuni and Tons. The terrain map depicts Vindhyan ranges as dark broken patches from where rivers and streams descend first into the Plateau and then the Gangetic Plains. The large box in the centre of the terrain map encompasses the location of the rivers Ken, Paisuni, and Tons and the smaller box to left displays the course of the Betwa River in respect to the Ken. The map on right shows the sampling stations selected to represent various sections: Headwater section (K1, P1, T1), M: Middle section (K2, P2, T2), L: lower section (K3, P3, T3), Mo: Lowland section (K4, P4, T4). Acronyms: K: Ken, P: Paisuni, T: Tons. The map (left below) depicts the position of the Betwa in respect to the Ken and location of the proposed Ken–Betwa link. course of these rivers from upper to lower sections June) was considered appropriate. The river’s flora moves through the Plateau, which constitutes the and fauna diversify after monsoon floods (July to highland sections, while the mouths fall in the September). The dry period extends from October to lowland section, which stretches for approxi- June but sampling was restricted to December 2003 mately 80 km in the Ken and Tons, and 30 km in to March 2004 because long stretches of the rivers the Paisuni. The highland stretch of the Ken and tendtodryupduringthesummerseason(Marchto Tons Rivers consists of short headwater sections June), forming pools of various sizes that disrupt the up to 50 km, and 100–120 km long middle and continuum. lower sections. In contrast, the Paisuni headwater Water temperature and pH were analyzed with section is approximately