Wanwisa Chinnasote. Colonization of benthic macroinvertebrates on artificial substrates in relation to the Raphiphat main canal water quality. Master's Degree(Environmental Sanitation). Mahidol University. : Mahidol University, 2009-07-24.
Colonization of benthic macroinvertebrates on artificial substrates in relation to the Raphiphat main canal water quality
Abstract:
The objective of the study was to determine the colonization of benthic macroinvertebrates on
artificial substrates and their relationship to the Raphiphat Main Canal water quality from August 2004
to January 2005. Benthic macroinvertebrates were collected monthly using basket samplers separately
filled with artificial substrates: namely, attached ring, helix media, cross flow media, and stone. Eleven
physicochemical parameters of water: velocity, depth, temperature, transparency, total suspended solids
(TSS), turbidity, dissolved oxygen (DO), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), nitrate-nitrogen
(NO3-N), total phosphorus (TP), and pH, were collected twice a month. Data analysis was carried out
by using Spearman Rank Correlation.
Results revealed that water quality varied throughout the experimental periods. Most of the
water quality samples met class 3 of the surface water quality standard except for DO and BOD in some
months. Three phyla of benthic macroinvertebrates: Arthropoda, Mollusca, and Annelida, containing 5
classes, 15 orders, and 32 families were found. The total number of benthic macroinvertebrates was
5,186. The highest density and taxa richness of benthic macroinvertebrates were both found in January
2005 and the lowest density and taxa richness were both found in September 2004. The highest mean
diversity of benthic macroinvertebrates was found in August 2004, and the lowest mean diversity was
found in December 2004. Stone showed the highest efficient substrate in terms of density and diversity
of benthic macroinvertebrates. Cross flow media showed the highest efficient substrate in terms of taxa
richness. Family Palaemonidae, Caenidae, Chironomidae, Ecnomidae, Baetidae, Gammaridae,
Viviparidae, Cirolanidae, Parathelphusidae, and Hydropsychidae were found in every type of artificial
substrates and every month of experimental periods.
The determination of significant relationship between colonization of benthic
macroinvertebrates and the Raphiphat Main Canal water qualities indicated that Palaemonidae had
correlation with transparency (r = 0.640, p < 0.001), DO (r = 0.539, p = 0.001), velocity (r = -0.343,
p = 0.041), depth (r = -0.340, p = 0.042), temperature (r = -0.608, p < 0.001), TSS (r = -0.588,
p < 0.001), turbidity (r = -0.672, p < 0.001),BOD (r = -0.620, p < 0.001), NO3-N (r = -0.442, p = 0.007),
and TP (r = -0.677, p < 0.001). Mytilidae had correlation with transparency (r = 0.610, p < 0.001), DO
(r = 0.567, p < 0.001), depth (r = -0.516, p = 0.001), temperature (r = -0.472, p = 0.004), TSS
(r = -0.686, p < 0.001), turbidity (r = -0.679, p < 0.001), BOD (r = -0.623, p < 0.001), and TP
(r = -0.617, p < 0.001). Considering the pollution tolerance, Elmidae had higher tolerance than
Palaemonidae and Mytilidae because Elmidae had positive correlation with BOD (r = 0.395, p = 0.017)
and NO3-N (r = 0.359, p = 0.032). This finding suggests that Palaemonidae and Mytilidae could
probably be used to indicate the good water quality of the Raphiphat Main Canal