Limnological Insights from Aquatic Insect Assemblages at Sina Dam, India

Ramesh N. Abdar

Abstract: Insects are the most ecologically diverse and numerically dominant group of animals on Earth, occupying nearly all habitats from aerial and terrestrial to aquatic and parasitic. Their remarkable adaptive radiation enables them to thrive in extreme environments ranging from deserts to deep seas. Aquatic insects, in particular, are crucial indicators of water quality and ecosystem health. Globally, around 45,000 species of aquatic insects are reported, with approximately 5,000 species inhabiting inland wetlands in India. Despite India?s rich biodiversity, ranked 9th globally in terms of megadiversity, the aquatic entomofauna of many freshwater systems remains poorly documented. The present study was conducted at Sina Dam in Karjat Tehsil, Ahmednagar district, Maharashtra, from January to May 2022. A total of 849 aquatic insect specimens were collected from five locations using standard pond nets (WP2 pattern, 60 ?m mesh size). Specimens were preserved in alcohol and identified under a stereo zoom microscope using standard taxonomic keys. The collected insects represented 6 orders and 15 families, with the most abundant orders being Odonata (14.99%) and Coleoptera (7.77%). Dominant families included Nepidae (137 individuals, 20.45%), Culicidae (260 individuals, 13.09%), Libellulidae (66 individuals, 10.80%), and Corixidae (90 individuals, 14.75%). The findings provide baseline data on insect diversity in the Sina Dam region and contribute to broader limnological studies by highlighting the importance of aquatic insects as ecological indicators and components of freshwater biodiversity.

Keywords: Aquatic Insects, Biodiversity, Sina Dam, Ecological Indicators, Entomofauna

How to Cite?: Ramesh N. Abdar, "Limnological Insights from Aquatic Insect Assemblages at Sina Dam, India", Volume 14 Issue 7, July 2025, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 1604-1606, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR25725101943, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR25725101943