Rainfall intensity impact on biodiversity of benthic macroinvertebrate fauna in stream of Abbottabad district, Pakistan

The present study was designed to observe effect of intensity of rainfall on biodiversity of
benthic macroinvertebrate diversity in mountain streams of Abbottabad District, Pakistan. The
macroinvertebrates were collected from the River Dorr from March 2019 to April 2019. For
sample collection, D-frame kick net and hand search method were used. Standard identification
keys,  Stereomicroscope  and  Magnifying  glass  tools  were  used  for  further  laboratory  analysis. 
The first three visits were held in March while the last three visits were held in April. A total
number  of  748  benthic  macroinvertebrates  belonging  to  three  orders  and  eight  families  were 
recorded. The present study showed that increased rainfall (42.7%) this year in the months of
January and February, the river banks were totally eroded due to expansion of river channel as a
result of increased flow of water. The flow remained high with changing course of the river Dorr 
till the end of sampling months. Therefore, there wasn’t much diversity encountered.