Impact of Urbanisation and Industrial Effluents on Aquatic Insect Communities of the Ramganga River, Moradabad, India
Ramnikant Kumar *
Zoology Department, MJPRU (Bareilly College), India.
Sunil Kumar
Zoology Department, MJPRU (Bareilly College), India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Freshwater ecosystems are crucial for biodiversity and human well-being, yet they are increasingly threatened by pollution, industrial effluents, and urban pressures. Aquatic insects, owing to their ecological sensitivity, provide reliable and cost-effective bioindicators for monitoring water quality. This study evaluated aquatic insect biodiversity in the Ramganga River at Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, India, a region heavily impacted by sewage and industrial discharge. Seasonal sampling was undertaken at three sites upstream, midstream, and downstream using kick nets, Surber samplers, and hand collection, with specimens identified to family or genus level. Physico-chemical parameters such as dissolved oxygen (DO), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), total dissolved solids (TDS), nitrates, and phosphates were measured following APHA protocols. Biometric analyses were conducted on BOD, 5-day method, TDS, nitrate-nitrogen (NO 3 -N), and phosphate-phosphorus (PO 4 -P) according to the standard procedures of the American Public Health Association (APHA, 2005). Results revealed a distinct ecological gradient: upstream stretches with higher DO and lower BOD supported diverse assemblages dominated by Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera taxa, while downstream sections exhibited reduced diversity and dominance of tolerant Diptera and Hemiptera under nutrient enrichment and organic load. Diversity indices and biotic scores consistently indicated deteriorating ecological quality downstream, while PCA and cluster analysis separated unpolluted from polluted sites. Overall, the findings confirm that aquatic insects are robust bioindicators of water quality, and integrating their assessment into routine monitoring can strengthen river management, conservation, and policy frameworks. In conclusion, the biodiversity of aquatic insects provides not only a lens into the current health of the Ramganga River but also a foundation for sustainable conservation and adaptive management in the face of ongoing anthropogenic and climatic pressures.
Keywords: Aquatic insects, bioindicators, water quality, Ramganga river, biodiversity