CHIRONOMIDAE (DIPTERA) ASSEMBLAGES IN TROPICAL RIVERS OF PENINSULAR MALAYSIA: ADAPTATION TOWARD DIFFERENT ALTITUDES

Ahmad Abas kutty, Siti Hafizah Ahmad, Wan Mohd Hafezul Wan Abdul Ghani, Zalela Abdul Aziz

Abstract


Chironomidae (Order: Diptera) known to have wide distribution worldwide. However, their distribution in Malaysian ecosystem is not well studied, especially at different altitude. A preliminary survey on chironomid diversity between highland and lowland was undertaken. Chironomids from both ecosystems were recorded and their adaptation to water quality were examined. Seven streams from Janda Baik Pahang and four streams from Cameron Highland represent highland streams and nine streams from Hulu Langat Selangor represent lowland streams. Sampling was undertaken using Surber net and chironomids were identified to lowest taxonomy level possible. The Malaysian water quality index (WQI) was measured for both catchmens.  A total of 7361 chironomids consists of three sub-families and 38 genera were recorded from both study areas. Highland ecosystem exhibits higher chironomid density, but low in diversity compared to the lowland ecosystem. However, the turnover rate of the midges (β-diversity) was higher in lowland ecosystem. Sixteen genera found to inhabitants in both ecosystems. Even most of water quality parameters were not differ significantly except water temperature, the genus still exhibits habitat preferences and twenty-two genus were not sharing the ecosystems. Tvetenia, Cricotopus and Rheocricotopus (subfamily: Orthocladiinae) dominating highland ecosystem, and in contra Polypedilum, Cryptochironomus, and Chironomus (Subfamily:Chironominae) dominating lowland ecosystem. The species indicator analysis identified one genus that was significant indicator species for the lowland ecosystem, Nanocladius (subfamily: Orthocladiinae). This study significantly important in providing a checklist for chironomids in tropical rivers of Peninsular Malaysia.

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