Fauna of a small temporary quary pond from Pune University Campus, Pune, Maharashtra, India

Study Extent

temporary pond situated within the campus of the Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune

Sampling

Samples were collected from the 2009 to 2014 and identified using updated keys/descriptions for each group (see Appendix 1 for references). Whenever necessary, international experts were contacted for verifying the identities of the species. Collection methods for individual taxa are as follows: Porifera and Bryozoa Porifera and Bryozoa were visually located and collected from peripheral shallow margins of the pond. Aquatic vegetation and submerged rocks were screened for their occurrence and surveys in the dry season were also carried out for a thorough search of sponges. Observed sponges were photographed in the field and then small pieces with gemmules were scraped off from the substrata with a scalpel and were preserved dry. Spicules were isolated and permanent slides were prepared as per Annandale (1911) and Jakhalekar & Ghate (2013). Porifera species were identified following Annandale (1911), and Penney & Racek (1968). Bryozoan colonies were fixed and preserved in 4% formaldehyde. For identification of bryozoans, colony and polypide characters were studied and permanent preparations of statoblasts were also made to confirm the species. Identification was based on Annandale (1911) and revised nomenclature was verified with the experts. Rotifera, Cladocera, Copepoda and Ostracoda Horizontal sampling was done for Rotifera using a 53μm mesh size Nytex nylon Plankton Tow Net (Wildco, USA). Sampling for Cladocera, Copepoda and Ostracoda was done using Nylon Net (150μm). For benthic forms the littoral sediment was scraped using a hand net. Samples were immediately preserved in 4–5% formalin. Specimens were identified in the laboratory, following standard procedures and updated taxonomic keys for each taxa, as given here: Rotifera (Koste 1978; Segers 2002, 2007); Cladocera (Goulden 1968; Smirnov 1971, 1992, 1996; Berner 1985; Michael & Sharma 1988; Korovchinsky 1992; Dumont & Silva-Briano 2000; Orlova-Bienkowskaja 2001; Sinev et al. 2005); Copepoda (Reddy 1994; Dussart & Defaye 2001; Holynska et al. 2003); Ostracoda (Victor & Fernando 1979; Savatenalinton & Martens 2009, 2010). Heteroptera, Coleoptera and Odonata Aquatic Heteroptera and Coleoptera were collected using different hand held nets (25x25 cm, mesh size—1mm and 500μm, respectively) by sweeping the net through submerged and emergent aquatic vegetation as well as by disturbing the substratum. The specimens were preserved in absolute ethanol. Coleoptera were identified following keys given in recent as well as older references (Vazirani 1968, 1970a,b, 1984; Biström 1982; Brancucci 1983; Schödl, 1992; Pederzani 1995; Vondel 1998, 2011; Komarek 2003). Heteroptera identification was based on many available papers (Anderson et al. 2005; Brooks 1951; Chen 1960; Lansbury 1968; Cheng & Fernando 1969; Thirumalai 1994; Cheng et al. 2001; Nieser 2002, 2004; Yang & Zettel 2005; Nieser et al. 2009; Polhemus & Polhemus 2013). Odonata were sampled randomly with a nylon net (ring diameter 30cm and rod length 100cm). Common species of odonates were identified on the field and unidentified species were collected and brought to the laboratory for identification. Odonata were identified following Fraser (1933, 1934, 1936) and Subramanian (2009). Araneae Spiders in the vicinity of the pond were collected by visually searching for them in the aquatic vegetation and the area around the pond. Spiders were identified using the following literature (Tikader 1980, 1982; Tanikawa 1999; Jose et al. 2003; Gajbe 2008; Yoshida 2009; Alvarez-Padilla & Hormiga 2011). Mollusca Snails were handpicked from the aquatic vegetation and the margins of the pond and identified following Rao (1989). Amphibia Anurans were collected by searching for them on the margins of the pond and also located by their calls, identified and released immediately. As these are fairly common species and well known, none were preserved. Identification was done following Daniels (1997 I–III parts), Gururaja (2012). Aves Birds were observed with binoculars (Olympus 10X50) and identified following Grimett et al. (1999). A handheld probe (Eutech, Singapore) was used for measuring pH, Temperature and Salinity of the water. Dissolved Oxygen (DO) was estimated using Winkler titration (Anonymous 1992). Other factors like vegetation, depth, etc. were also noted on the field (see Table 1).

Method steps

1. List was prepared compiling the data from each expert.

1. Gerridae
   rank: family
2. Trichocercidae
   rank: family
3. Arthropoda
   rank: phylum
4. Lycosidae
   rank: family
5. Bulinidae
   rank: family
6. Asplanchnidae
   rank: family
7. Gyrinidae
   rank: family
8. Lepadellidae
   rank: family
9. Suliformes
   rank: order
10. Calanoida
    rank: order
11. Ostracoda
    rank: class
12. Aeshnidae
    rank: family
13. Haliplidae
    rank: family
14. Hemiptera
    rank: order
15. Thomisidae
    rank: family
16. Rotifera
    rank: phylum
17. Anseriformes
    rank: order
18. Passeriformes
    rank: order
19. Spongillidae
    rank: family
20. Chariidridae
    rank: family
21. Moinidae
    rank: family
22. Podocopida
    rank: order
23. Pelicaniformes
    rank: order
24. Arachnida
    rank: class
25. Chordata
    rank: phylum
26. Gruiformes
    rank: order
27. Alcedinidae
    rank: family
28. Aves
    rank: class
29. Synchaetidae
    rank: family
30. Hexarthridae
    rank: family
31. Nepidae
    rank: family
32. Euchlanidae
    rank: family
33. Corixidae
    rank: family
34. Epiphanidae
    rank: family
35. Daphniidae
    rank: family
36. Plumatellida
    rank: order
37. Hydrophilidae
    rank: family
38. Testudinellidae
    rank: family
39. Dytiscidae
    rank: family
40. Gomphidae
    rank: family
41. Cyclopidae
    rank: family
42. Uloboridae
    rank: family
43. Gastrotricha
    rank: phylum
44. Phylactolaemata
    rank: class
45. Araneae
    rank: order
46. Micronectidae
    rank: family
47. Colubridae
    rank: family
48. Lecanidae
    rank: family
49. Squamata
    rank: class
50. Ardeidae
    rank: family
51. Araneidae
    rank: family
52. Gastropoda
    rank: class
53. Amphibia
    rank: class
54. Anatidae
    rank: family
55. Mytilinidae
    rank: family
56. Flosculariidae
    rank: family
57. Chydoridae
    rank: family
58. Coenagrionidae
    rank: family
59. Hydrometridae
    rank: family
60. Notommatidae
    rank: family
61. Mollusca
    rank: phylum
62. Demospongiae
    rank: class
63. Leptestheriidae
    rank: family
64. Bufonidae
    rank: family
65. Porifera
    rank: phylum
66. Lymnaeidae
    rank: family
67. Eurotatoria
    rank: class
68. Diaptomidae
    rank: family
69. Ploima
    rank: order
70. Motacillidae
    rank: family
71. Animalia
    rank: kingdom
72. Phalacrocoracidae
    rank: family
73. Sididae
    rank: family
74. Podicipedidae
    rank: family
75. Tetragnathidae
    rank: family
76. Anura
    rank: order
77. Spongillida
    rank: order
78. Velidae
    rank: family
79. Libellulidae
    rank: family
80. Belostomatidae
    rank: family
81. Dicroglossidae
    rank: family
82. Lophopodidae
    rank: family
83. Salticidae
    rank: family
84. Trichotriidae
    rank: family
85. Coleoptera
    rank: order
86. Odonata
    rank: order
87. Insecta
    rank: class
88. Pleidae
    rank: family
89. Pisauridae
    rank: family
90. Charadriiformes
    rank: order
91. Chaetonotidae
    rank: family
92. Microhylidae
    rank: family
93. Copepoda
    rank: class
94. Podicipediformes
    rank: order
95. Gastropodidae
    rank: family
96. Flosculariaceae
    rank: order
97. Brachionidae
    rank: family
98. Diplostraca
    rank: order
99. Cyprididae
    rank: family
100. Rallidae
     rank: family
101. Macrothricidae
     rank: family
102. Notonectidae
     rank: family
103. Coraciiformes
     rank: order
104. Noteridae
     rank: family
105. Oxyopidae
     rank: family
106. Cyclopoida
     rank: order
107. Branchiopoda
     rank: class
108. Bryozoa
     rank: phylum

A temporary pond situated within the campus of the Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, Maharashtra, India.