Seasonal biodiversity of black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) and evaluation of ecological factors influencing species distribution at Doi Pha Hom Pok National Park, Thailand

• Published in: Acta tropica Vol. 149; pp. 212 - 219
• Main Authors: Srisuka, Wichai, Takaoka, Hiroyuki, Otsuka, Yasushi, Fukuda, Masako, Thongsahuan, Sorawat, Taai, Kritsana, Choochote, Wej, Saeung, Atiporn
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.09.2015
• Subjects: Altitude; Animals; Biodiversity; Black fly; Doi Pha Hom Pok National Park; Ecological factor; Ecology; Larva; Parks, Recreational; Rivers; Seasons; Shannon diversity index; Simuliidae; Simuliidae - classification; Simulium; Thailand; Thailand; Simulium; Black fly; Shannon diversity index; Simuliidae; Ecological factor; Doi Pha Hom Pok National Park
• ISSN: 0001-706X; 1873-6254
• DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2015.05.024

[Display omitted] The three most abundant species; S. maeaiense, S. chiangdaoense and S. asakoae, were collected from stream sites located in Doi Pha Hom Pok National Park, northern Thailand. •The seasonal biodiversity of black flies associated with altitudes was investigated.•The ecological factors influencing distribution of black flies were determined.•The 5475 mature larvae, belonging to 29 black fly species were collected totally.•High species diversity of black flies were found during the cold season.•Data obtained are useful for future plans to protect and manage natural environments. This is the first study on the seasonal biodiversity of black flies and evaluation of ecological factors influencing their distribution at Doi Pha Hom Pok National Park, northern Thailand. Larvae were collected from six fixed-stream sites in relation to altitude gradients from May 2011 to April 2013. The water temperature, water pH, conductivity, total dissolved solids (TDS), salt, water velocity, stream width and depth, streambed particle sizes, riparian vegetation, and canopy cover were recorded from each site. Monthly collections from the six sites yielded 5475 last-instar larvae, belonging to 29 black fly species. The most frequently found species from all sites were Simulium asakoae (100%) followed by Simulium yuphae (83.3%), and Simulium chiangdaoense, Simulium gombakense, Simulium phahompokense, Simulium fruticosum, Simulium maeaiense and Simulium fenestratum (66.6%). Of the 5475 last-instar larvae, S. maeaiense (19.3%), S. chiangdaoense (15.8%) and S. asakoae (14.8%), were the three most abundant species. The Shannon diversity index (H) at the six sites with different altitudes of 2100m, 2000m, 1500m, 1400m, 700m, and 500m above mean sea level, were 2.042, 1.832, 2.158, 2.123, 1.821 and 1.822, respectively. The Shannon index and number of taxa in the cold season were higher than those in the rainy and hot seasons. Principal component analysis (PCA) indicated that at least three principal components have eigen values >1.0 and accounted for 93.5% of the total variability of ecological factors among sampling sites. The Canonical correspondence analyses (CCA) showed that most species had a trend towards altitude, canopy cover, riparian vegetation and water velocity.