Aquatic Biodiversity Assessment -A Pilot Study in Bumthang, Bhutan Ugyen Wangchuck Institute for Conservation and Environment Aquatic Biodiversity Assessment- A pilot study in Bumthang, Bhutan I © UWICE 2013 Citation: Wangchuk, J. & Eby, L., (2013). Aquatic Biodiversity Assessment –A pilot study in Bumthang, Bhutan. Royal Government of Bhutan, UWICE Press, Bumthang. Disclaimer: Any views or opinion interpreted in this publication are solely those of the authors. They are not attributable to UWICE and the Royal Government of Bhutan; do not imply the expression of UWICE on any opinion concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area of its authorities. Layout and Design: Norbu Wangdi & Tshering Wangdi ISBN: 978-99936-678-3-4 II Aquatic Biodiversity Assessment- A pilot study in Bumthang, Bhutan Aquatic Biodiversity Assessment - A pilot study in Bumthang, Bhutan Ugyen Wangchuck Institute for Conservation and Environment Aquatic Biodiversity Assessment- A pilot study in Bumthang, Bhutan III IV Aquatic Biodiversity Assessment- A pilot study in Bumthang, Bhutan Table of Contents Executive Summary ................................................................................................................................ v Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................................vi CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND .................................................................... 1 1.1Significance of aquatic macroinvertebrates and vertebrates ................................................... 1 1.2 Status of freshwater biodiversity in the world ....................................................................... 2 1.3 Status of vertebrates and macroinvertebrates in Bhutan ........................................................ 3 1.4 Study Objectives: ................................................................................................................... 4 CHAPTER 2: STUDY AREA: METHODOLOGY AND DATA ANALYSIS ....................................... 5 2.1 Study area ............................................................................................................................... 5 2.2 Methodology .......................................................................................................................... 6 2.3 Data Analysis .......................................................................................................................... 7 CHAPTER 3: RESULTS: MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF MAJOR TAXONOMIC GROUPS OF AQUATIC MACROINVERTEBRATES ......................................................................... 8 3.1 Coleoptera .............................................................................................................................. 8 3.2 Diptera .................................................................................................................................... 8 3.3 Ephemeroptera ....................................................................................................................... 9 3.4 Odonata ................................................................................................................................ 10 3.5 Plecoptera ............................................................................................................................. 11 3.6 Trichoptera ........................................................................................................................... 11 3.7 Sampling sites ...................................................................................................................... 12 3.7.1 Khekhartechhu_Tang (TK_1) ..................................................................................... 13 3.7.2 Gengaeergangchhu_Tang (TT_2) ............................................................................... 14 3.7.3 Shingkharchhu_Ura (SC-3) ......................................................................................... 16 3.7.4 Dhurchhu_Chokhor (DC_4) ....................................................................................... 18 3.7.5 Urukchhu_Chumme (URC-5) ..................................................................................... 20 3.7.6 Chummechhu_Chumey (CC_6) .................................................................................. 22 3.8 Synthesis of results ............................................................................................................... 23 3.8.1 Diversity of macroinvertebrates at different sampling sites. ...................................... 24 CHAPTER 4: WAYFORWARD AND CONCLUSION ....................................................................... 26 4.1 Wayforward .......................................................................................................................... 26 4.2 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................ 26 Reference .................................................................................................................................... 27 Annexure I Sampling Protocol for Diversity of Stream Macroinvertebrates ............................. 29 Annexure II. Data sheet .............................................................................................................. 32 Checklist of identified taxa from the sample plots ..................................................................... 40 Pictorial guide to Aquatic Macroinvetebrates. ........................................................................... 43 Appendix ................................................................................................................................... 54 Aquatic Biodiversity Assessment- A pilot study in Bumthang, Bhutan V List of Figures Figure 1. Map showing the study area and permanent plot .................................................................... 5 Figure 2. Morphological view of Coleoptera .......................................................................................... 8 Figure 3. Morphological view of Diptera ............................................................................................... 9 Figure 4. Morphological view of Ephemeroptera ................................................................................. 10 Figure 5. Morphological view of Odonata ............................................................................................ 10 Figure 6. Morphological view of Plecoptera ........................................................................................ 11 Figure 7. Lateral view of Trichoptera ................................................................................................... 12 Figure 8. Number of morphotypes detected in different Orders (TK_1) .............................................. 13 Figure 9. Number of morphotypes detected in each Order (TK_1) ...................................................... 14 Figure 10. Number of individual morphotypes detected within the different Orders (TT_2) .............. 15 Figure 11. Number individual macroinvertebrates detected within the different Orders (SC_3) ......... 17 Figure12. Number of species diversity in different orders SC_3 ......................................................... 17 Figure 13. Number of individuals found in different habitats by Order for SC_3 ............................... 18 Figure 14. Number of different morphotypes detected in each Order (DC_4) ..................................... 20 Figure 15. Number of individuals captured in each Order at URC_5. ................................................. 21 Figure 16. Number of morphotypes detected in each Order at URC_5. ............................................... 21 Figure 17. Diversity in different Orders................................................................................................ 23 Figure 18. Number of morphotypes identified at each sampling site. .................................................. 24 Figure 19. Diversity of species at different sampling sites. .................................................................. 25 List of Tables Table 1. Number of families and morphotypes in each Orders(TK_1 ) ............................................... 13 Table 2. Number of families and morphotypes by different orders TT-2 ............................................. 15 Table 3. Number of families and morphotypes by orders (SC_3) ........................................................ 17 Table 4. Number of families and morphotypes by order (DC_4) ......................................................... 19 Table 5. Summary of the resolution of identification for taxa. ............................................................. 24 List of Plates Plate 1. Sampling site TK_1 ................................................................................................................. 12 Plate 2. Sampling site TT_2 .................................................................................................................. 14 Plate 3. Sampling site SC_3 .................................................................................................................. 16 Plate 4. Sampling site DC_4 ................................................................................................................. 18 Plate 5. Sampling site URC_5 .............................................................................................................