5 months ago
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A latest survey of odonate habitats on the Meenachil stream has revealed alarming levels of pollution, with the objection of the river’s root astatine Meladukkam.
Conducted connected Sunday by the Social Forestry Division of the Kerala Forest section successful collaboration with the Tropical Institute of Ecological Sciences, the survey recovered that the colonisation and diverseness of odonates successful the portion person remained mostly unchanged. This year, researchers identified 44 odonate species, including 24 dragonflies and 20 damselflies. The findings item clime alteration and contamination arsenic large factors contributing to the diminution successful odonate diversity.
Over the past 10 years, survey results person shown that the diverseness of commonly observed dragonflies is importantly little compared to damselflies. While dragonflies were abundant astatine astir locations on the river, they were little communal adjacent Meladukkam, the river’s root point.
Species specified arsenic the Pied Paddy Skimmer, Blue Grass Dart, and Trumpet-tail were observed on the full agelong of the Meenachil riverbanks. Relatively uncommon species, including the Black and Yellow Bambootail and Little Blue Marsh Hawk, were recorded astatine sites specified arsenic Kidangoor and Illickal. At the precocious reaches of the river, freshwater indicator taxon similar the Black Torrent Dart and Stream Ruby were besides found.
“The expanding degradation of aquatic ecosystems poses a superior menace not lone to odonates but besides to quality wellness and the well-being of different carnal populations,” said Assistant Conservator K.B. Subash of the Social Forestry department, who led the survey.
