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VOL. 11, ISSUE 3 (2026)
Monsoon-driven community assembly and diversity structure of aquatic insects in the Chaliyar River, Western Ghats, India
Authors
Shamiyath Arayilakath, Karumampoyil Sakthidas Anoop Das
Abstract
Aquatic insects are key bioindicators of freshwater ecosystem health,
yet their dynamics in tropical monsoon-fed rivers remain poorly understood.
This study investigated spatio-temporal variation in aquatic insect assemblages
in the Chaliyar River, Kerala, India, across seven sites during pre-monsoon,
monsoon, and post-monsoon seasons of 2023. A total of 994 individuals
representing 29 families and six orders were recorded, with Odonata dominating
the assemblage (37.42%), particularly Gomphidae. Significant seasonal
differences were observed in abundance (H = 15.52, p < 0.001) and community
composition (χ² = 477.13, p < 0.001). Abundance was lowest during the
monsoon (n = 211), likely due to hydrological disturbance, whereas taxonomic
richness peaked during this period (Margalef H = 7.56, p = 0.023). Beta
diversity analysis indicated that seasonal variation was primarily driven by
taxonomic turnover rather than nestedness. These results highlight the role of
monsoon-driven hydrological dynamics in shaping community structure and
maintaining biodiversity in tropical river ecosystems. This underscores the
necessity of considering seasonal flow regimes when evaluating the ecological
integrity of such systems.
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Pages:572-580
How to cite this article:
Shamiyath Arayilakath, Karumampoyil Sakthidas Anoop Das "Monsoon-driven community assembly and diversity structure of aquatic insects in the Chaliyar River, Western Ghats, India". International Journal of Entomology Research, Vol 11, Issue 3, 2026, Pages 572-580
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