Aquatic Insect Diversity of Baitarani Estuary of Odisha - Aquatic Ecosystem: Biodiversity, Ecology and Conservation - page 90

7

Aquatic Insect Diversity
of Baitarani Estuary of Odisha

Swetapadma Dash

Abstract
Studies on the aquatic Hemiptera of northern estuaries of Odisha were
made during a period of 12 months in 2008-2009. Results revealed that
insect population of Baitarani estuary mainly comprised of Hemiptera,
Diptera, Coleoptera and Odonata. Some Hemipterans were surface dwell-
ers (Gerridae, Nepidae, Hydrometridae). Notonectidae were middle
dweller and Belostomatidae were bottom dweller. Coleopteran group has
been identifi ed as Dytiscidae and Gyrinidae. The diversity of the estuarine
Hemiptera and Coleopteran found to be very much low in comparison to
freshwater Hemipteran and Coleopteran community. The ecological fac-
tors were also evaluated and showed their affi nity with salinity and water
current. The objective of this paper is to summarize the occurrence, diver-
sity and specifi c adaptations of Hemiptera and Coleopteran in Baitarani
estuary of Odisha for the fi rst time.

Keywords
Estuary ￿ Aquatic ￿ Hemiptera ￿ Coleoptera ￿ Salinity

Introduction

direction after that it changes its path suddenly
by 90º and fl ows eastward. The beginning portion
of Baitarani acts as the boundary between
Odisha and Jharkhand. The river enters to the
plains at Anandpur and creates a deltaic zone at
Akhuapada. The river travels a distance of
360 km to drain into the Bay of Bengal after the
joining of the Brahmani at Dhamra mouth near
Chandbali. The river has 65 tributaries out of
which 35 join from the left side and 30 join from
the right side. The river basin is spread in 42
blocks of eight districts.

The Baitarani river is one of six major rivers of
Odisha, India. The Baitarani originates from the
Guptaganga hills in Gonasika of Keonjhar district
in Odisha state of India at an elevation of 900 m
above sea level. The uppermost part of the river is
about 80 km in length and fl ows in a northern