Sains Malaysiana 43(5)(2014): 667–674

Seasonal Abundance and Diversity of Aquatic Insects in Rivers in Gunung Jerai

Forest Reserve, Malaysia

(Kelimpahan Bermusim dan Kepelbagaian Serangga Akuatik di Sungai-Sungai di Hutan Simpan Gunung Jerai, Malaysia)

SUHAILA A.H.*, CHE SALMAH M.R. & NURUL HUDA A.

School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Penang, Malaysia

Received: 6 December 2012/Received: 9 September 2013

ABSTRACT

Seasonal changes in Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera (EPT) community was studied at rivers in Gunung Jerai Forest Reserve, Kedah, Malaysia. The rivers were visited monthly from September 2007 to August 2008 to sample aquatic insects using D-pond nets. More EPT were found in the wet season (10664 individuals) compared with the dry season (6599 individuals). In all rivers, ephemeropteran populations was highest during the wet season (z=-2.465, p=0.014). Meanwhile, the plecopteran population was low and almost constant throughout seasons in all rivers (z=-2.280, p=0.023). Trichopterans exhibited the highest peak of abundance in the dry season (z=-6.096, p=0.00). Concomitantly, higher diversity was recorded in the dry season (29 taxa) compared with 25 taxa recorded in wet season from all rivers. Tupah River had the most diverse EPT assemblage during the dry season. In wet season, the abundance of ephemeropterans genera such as Baetis, Platybaetis, Campsoneuria and Thalerosphyrus increased tremendously especially in Teroi River.

Keywords: EPT; seasonal fluctuation; temporal distribution

ABSTRAK

Kelimpahan bermusim bagi komuniti Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera dan Trichoptera (EPT) telah dikaji di sungai-sungai di Hutan Simpan Gunung Jerai, Kedah, Malaysia. Sungai yang dipilih telah dilawati setiap bulan dari September 2007 hingga Ogos 2008 untuk menyampel serangga akuatik menggunakan jaring akuatik berbentuk D. Lebih banyak EPT ditemui pada musim hujan (10664 individu) berbanding pada musim kering (6599 individu). Di dalam semua sungai, bilangan Ephemeroptera adalah tertinggi semasa musim hujan (z=-2,465, p=0,014). Sementara itu, bilangan Plecoptera adalah rendah dan hampir malar sepanjang musim di semua sungai (z=-2,280, p=0,023). Trichoptera menunjukkan bilangan tertinggi pada musim kering (z=-6,096, p=0.00). Kepelbagaian spesies yang lebih tinggi dicatatkan pada musim kemarau (29 taksa) berbanding hanya 25 taksa yang dicatatkan pada musim hujan di semua sungai. Sungai Tupah mempunyai himpunan EPT yang pelbagai semasa musim kering. Pada musim hujan, terdapat banyak genus Ephemeroptera seperti Baetis, Platybaetis, Campsoneuria dan Thalerosphyrus dengan bilangan yang meningkat terutamanya di Sungai Teroi.

Kata kunci: EPT; fluktuasi bermusim; kelimpahan mengikut masa

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*Corresponding author; email: ahsuhaila@usm.my