Aquatic Invertebrates of the Ganga River System (Mollusca, Annelida, Crustacea [in part])

Authors:

Hasko Nesemann, Subodh Sharma, Gopal Sharma, Sanjay Nath Khanal, Bandana Pradhan, Deep Narayan Shah, Ram Devi Tachamo

The book contains 227 species which were collected and studied by the authors during the last decade. They are illustrated with 748 figures from freshwater, brackish water and semiaquatic habitats with 76 plates including 12 colored plates. The Mollusca are altogether represented with 108 species, 49 Bivalvia and 59 Gastropoda.  The Annelida were recorded with 6 Polychaeta, 70 Oligochaeta and 33 Hirudinida. The Crustacea are included with 10 examples of Branchiopoda, Mysidacea, Amphipoda, Isopoda and few Decapoda crabs. 19 new invertebrate species are described. The work may be used for identification of species with the help of figures. Instead of using only text descriptions, one can simply compare the invertebrates with the figures to get a first result with the pictorial catalogue. Ecological assessment approach is described with the application of different indices.

The book covers the territory of Nepal, northern India, Bangladesh and Bhutan.

ISBN 978-99946-2-674-8, Hardcover, 263 pp. A4-size,
published 10th July 2007, Kathmandu, Nepal.

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Water Quality Assessment and Associated Stressing Factors of the Seti River Basin, Pokhara Sub Metropolitan City

The ASSESS-HKH Field Screening Methodology was carried out to assess the ecological river water quality status of nineteen small to medium sized rivers of the Seti River basin within Pokhara sub-metropolitan city during the lean flow period in March 2007. Multi habitat qualitative samplings for forty-six sites were conducted with 100 m stretch in each study river section. Five river water quality classes; class I (high), class II (good), class III (moderate), class IV (poor) and class V (bad) have been used to describe the effect of organic degradable pollution (saprobic approach). The response of benthic macroinvertebrates varied with organic pollution, sediment extraction and river crossings. The Harpan and Orlan (inlets) and Boksira (outlet) rivers of Phewa lake have water quality class III (moderately polluted) except Phirke river (outlet) which has class V. Most of the rivers outside the municipal boundaries have been identified as Class II indicating good water quality. The whole stretches of the Phusre and the Seti Rivers are still in good ecological condition. A total of 19 stressing factors have been identified along the river stretches, which have been grouped into five broad groups i.e., solid waste, effluent factors, activities and facilities, hydro-morphological degradation and ecological disturbances, and sanitation activity. The results are visualized by a colored water quality map which indicates the present ecological status of the Seti River basin. This map serves as an easy readable tool to identify hot spots and to show where immediate action is required. It also attracts the attention of the decision makers and enables timely measures to be taken for improving the deteriorating water quality of the rivers.

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ABSTRACT

MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERS OF EPIOPHLEBIA LAIDLAWI TILLYARD LARVAE, WITH NOTES ON THE HABITAT AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE SPECIES IN NEPAL (“ANISOZYGOPTERA”: EPIOPHLEBIIDAE)

Based on 78 specimens recorded from 14 forest streams at the elevations between 1800 and 2850 m a.s.l. in central Nepal, 9 larval instars are described and illustrated. E. laidlawi is for the first time documented from the Sim and Indrawati watersheds. The habitats are described and clearly indicated that the sp. is widespread but has a restricted range. The protection of the habitats is essential for its conservation.

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Cite this article as:

Nesemann, H., R.D. Tachamo Shah, D.N. Shah and S. SHARMA, 2011. MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERS OF EPIOPHLEBIA LAIDLAWI TILLYARD LARVAE, WITH NOTES ON THE HABITAT AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE SPECIES IN NEPAL (“ANISOZYGOPTERA”: EPIOPHLEBIIDAE). Odontologica 40: 191-202.