Journal article
Health assessment using aqua-equality indicators of alpine streams ( Khunjerab National Park), Gilgit, Pakistan
Environmental science and pollution research international, Vol.24, pp.4685-4698
02/2017
PMID: 27975201
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Abstract
This preliminary research was conducted to evaluate the alpine stream health by using water quality as an indicator in Khunjerab National park of the Karakoram ranges located in Pak-China boarder Pakistan having altitude of 3660 m. This study investigated the stream health in the context of the presence or absence of sensitive species, their diversity, and their taxa richness. The water and macroinvertebrate samples were collected from 17 different locations from upstream and downstream of the river by using random sampling method. Macroinvertebrate samples were obtained using kick net (500-mu m mesh size) and hand-picking method (NYSDEC). A total of 710 counts including 41 families of macroinvertebrates were recorded comprising of 7 orders including: Ephemeroptera (46%) being the most dominant group, Plecoptera (33%), Trichoptera (5%), Chironomidae (Diptera) (14%), Heteroptera (1%), and Coleoptera (1%). Ephemeroptera, Trichoptera, and Plecoptera (EPT) were found in abundance at the main source, Qarchanai, Dhee, and Tourqeen Nullah, as compared to the other locations of the stream. The most dominant macroinvertebrate was Ephemeroptera whose relative abundance is Pi = 0.49 by using the Shannon index. However, different statistical tools, including principal component analysis (PCA), cluster analysis (CA), ANOVA, and linear regression model, show a strong correlation between water quality and macroinvertebrates. The overall results of the biological indicators showed better ecological health at downstream compared to upstream. This study will provide basic information and understanding about the macroinvertebrates for future researchers, and the data will be helpful for upcoming research programs on alpine streams for the discovery and occurrences of macroinvertebrates and associated fauna.
Details
- Title
- Health assessment using aqua-equality indicators of alpine streams ( Khunjerab National Park), Gilgit, Pakistan
- Creators
- Salar Ali - University of Chinese Academy of SciencesJunfeng Gao - Nanjing Institute of Geography and LimnologyFarida Begum - Karakoram International UniversityAtta Rasool - Institute of GeochemistryMuhammad Ismail - International Centre for Integrated Mountain DevelopmentYongjiu Cai - Nanjing Institute of Geography and LimnologyShaukat Ali - Karakoram International UniversityShujaat Ali - Karakoram International University
- Publication Details
- Environmental science and pollution research international, Vol.24, pp.4685-4698
- Publisher
- Springer Nature
- Number of pages
- 14
- Identifiers
- 991013092524802368
- Copyright
- (c) Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2016
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Science and Engineering
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article