Baseline biodiversity and physiochemical survey in Parvati Kunda and surrounding area in Rasuwa, Nepal

Jessie Anna Moravek,Mohan Bikram Shrestha,Sanjeevani Yonzon

doi:10.11609/jott.4481.11.6.13734-13747

Abstract

Parvati Kunda, a small, alpine wetland located near the village of Gatlang in Rasuwa, Nepal, is a major source of drinking water for the village, possesses spiritual significance, and is a reservoir of local biodiversity. This study presents the first scientifically conducted biodiversity survey of the wetland. Here, biodiversity data (wetland plants, birds, mammals, aquatic insects), basic water chemistry (nutrients, pH, dissolved oxygen, conductivity), and basic bacterial tests (total coliform, Escherichia coli, Giardia, Salmonella, Shigella) for the Parvati Kunda wetland is presented from November 2016 and February and May 2017. Parvati Kunda, two of three alternate village water sources, and several village taps were found to be contaminated with E. coli bacteria. Within and around the wetland, 25 species of wetland plants, nine tree species, 10 macroinvertebrate taxa, 37 bird species, and at least six mammal species were documented. Acorus calamus was the dominant wetland plant and the rapid proliferation of this species over the past twenty years has been reported by community members. Future studies that further document and monitor wetland biodiversity are necessary. This study provides a valuable baseline for future research in this culturally and ecologically important wetland.

Highlights

The Himalaya, often considered the “water towers of Asia”, provide water for almost 1.3 billion people living downstream (Xu et al 2007)
Twenty-five species of plants were identified from surveys of wetland vegetation (Fig. 3b; Table 2)
Surveys identified a large population of Sphagnum palustre, a type of peat moss that is rare in Rasuwa District

Summary

Introduction

The Himalaya, often considered the “water towers of Asia”, provide water for almost 1.3 billion people living downstream (Xu et al 2007). Climate change already causes rapid glacial reduction in many areas and the ongoing rise in temperature will likely impact rain patterns, wetland thermal regimes, and habitat for flora and fauna, jeopardizing sensitive wetland ecosystems and threatening critical water sources (Yao et al 2004; IPCC 2007; Tse-ring et al 2010; Gerlitz et al 2015). Another major threat to the Himalayan wetlands is eutrophication. Multiple studies in Himalayan wetlands identified eutrophication from human-generated pollution as a major threat to regional wetland ecosystem health (Khan et al 2004; Romshoo & Rashid 2014)

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion