LIMNOLOGY OF RIVER JHELUM WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO ENTOMOFAUNAL DIVERSITY AND PHYSICO-CHEMICAL PARAMETERS

The current study was undertaken to investigate the Entomofaunal diversity and physico-chemical features of River Jhelum in Kashmir valley. Entomofauna was collected by using a handmade D-frame net, while as physico-chemical analysis of water was conducted according the standardmethods of the APHA (2004). A total of 17 insect taxa were recorded, whichbelong to 7 orders and 13 families. The average population density of entomofauna was estimated 457 ind./m2 with order Diptera as most dominant group. Physico-chemical analysis of River waters revealed alkaline, and had hard water nature of River waters. The upper courses of River Jhelum witnessed higher Entomofaunal diversity due to less anthropogenic stress as compared to middle courses, which face higher anthropogenic stress.