Drifting-Density and Diversity of Aquatic Mites in the Spring- Fed Stream Heval from Garhwal Himalaya

Abstract

Drift is a major feature in the continuous distribution of macroinvertebrates. In the current study, the density and variety of mites that float in the spring-fed stream Heval are observed and evaluated. During the evaluation period from December 2021 to February 2022, a maximum of 15 species from six families were recorded. The Dobriyal-Bahuguna Drifting Index (DBDI) gives insight into the relationship between the population that is in the environment at a given time and the population that chooses to drift or is forced to drift. The findings of DBDI revealed that the maximum drifting value (0.2886) for all mite populations was observed in February in the spring-fed stream Heval. In contrast, it was at its lowest (0.2513) in December