Diversity and abundance of mayflies (Insecta: Ephemeroptera) in Achenkovil River, southern Western Ghats, Kerala, India.

Freshwater insects like Ephemeroptera are more comprehensive and direct indicators of the biological impacts of pollution. During the study period (2018-2020), a total of 4,374 individuals of mayflies were collected and categorized under nine families, 27 genera, and 36 species. The family Leptophlebiidae was found dominant with 13 species. In the post-monsoon season, a higher species diversity of Ephemeroptera was noticed in the river's upstream section with a Shannon-Wiener index value of H' = 1.814. ANOVA revealed a significant difference (p <0.05) except for Ephemeridae (p >0.05). Protecting rivers requires a holistic approach and collaboration among stakeholders is essential for successful implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]