EFFECTS OF CHECK DAMS ON WATER QUALITY AND MACROINVERTEBRATE DIVERSITY OF HOM JOM STREAM, LAMPHUN PROVINCE, THAILAND

Todsapon  Kositpon; Chitchol  Phalaraksh

Authors

Todsapon Kositpon Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand.
Chitchol Phalaraksh Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand.

Keywords:

Check dam, macroinvertebrate, aquatic insect, water quality, biodiversity, stream ecosystem

Abstract

The research was aimed at investigating the effects of check dams on the water quality and the macroinvertebrate diversity in a temporary stream. The study was conducted in the area of MaeTha District, Lamphun Province, at 11 study sites and the data collection was done during2 seasons; the dry season (November 2007 - April 2008) and the wet season (May - October 2008).The study of the physical and chemical factors of the water was done and the macroinvertebrates present at each study site were collected in order to study and analyze the biodiversity. All data obtained were used to analyze the relationship and consequences of the aquatic ecosystem and the check dams. The study found that check dams did not hold water at some study sites or did not contain aquatic ecosystems, but it was found that check dams can still result in some irregular factors in the water in terms of DO, turbidity, TDS, conductivity and nutrients. A total of 11macroinvertebrate orders with 42 families was found, with a greater number found to be present in the wet season than in the dry season. According to the diversity and similarity analysis from the statistics, the results reveal that different types of macroinvertebrates present in the same stream may exist close to one another. The results of this study could conclude that check dams affect the physical and chemical factors of the water and impact on the number and characteristics of the macroinvertebrate communities that live in stream ecosystems.

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