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Composition and abundance of benthic macro invertebrates in floodplain lakes (chaurs) of North Bihar, India

Dashendra Kumara, Jai Nandan Prasad Yadava & Arun Kumarb
aDepartment of Zoology, K.P. College, Murliganj, B. N. Mandal University, Madhepura, Bihar, India
bUniversity Department of Zoology, B.N. Mandal University, Madhepura, Bihar, India
Received : 15th February, 2022 ; Revised : 16th March, 2022

Abstract– Floodplain wetlands in North Bihar, India are common features of river Gandak and Koshi river basins which have been used for a number of activities such as fisheries, agriculture and other human activities. Species composition and abundance of macro-invertebrates were studied in the floodplain lakes (chaurs). This study was conducted from July, 2019 to June, 2020. Samples were collected monthly at two floodplain lakes of Madhepura district of North Bihar. Macro-invertebrates of the lakes consist of 5 groups, viz., Oligocheata, Hirudinea, Insecta, Gastropoda and Pelecypoda. In total, 21 species of benthic macro-invertebrates were recorded, of these, 19 species were recorded at Ambhobasa chaur and 15 species at Doura chaur. The density of benthos was higher in poor-water condition at Doura chaur varied from 105 individuals/m2 to 1922 individuals/m2 with mean of 973.74±122.42 individuals/m2, however lower in clean-water environment at Ambhobasa chaur ranged from 85 individuals/m2 to 1443 individuals/m2 with mean of 713.08±87.96 individuals/m2. Species composition and abundance of the benthic fauna were almost same not differ much between the studied lakes, however minor differences could be due to heterogeneity of the habitat. Gastropoda was the most dominant group of zoo-benthos contributing of 42.65% and 43.18% followed by Oligochata 21.24% and 30.89%, Insecta 19.84% and 21.37%, Bivalvia 14.46% and 3.29% of total benthic fauna at Ambhobasa chaur and Doura chaur respectively. Benthic fauna abundance shows seasonal variation, higher in winter followed by summer and lower during monsoon. The results of this study will help to update information on benthic invertebrate resources of North Bihar.

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