การประเมินผลกระทบกิจกรรมของปางช้างต่อคุณภาพน้ำและความหลากหลายของแมลงน้ำในลำน้ำแม่วางและลำน้ำแม่แตง จังหวัดเชียงใหม่

Abstract

Most of the elephant camps are located near the rivers to avoid water shortages. However, the elephant camps have continued activities without monitoring environmental impacts that might affect the wellness of water resources and elephants. This study aims to assess the water quality affected by elephant camp activities on the Mae Taeng and Mae Wang rivers in Mae Taeng and Mae Wang districts, Chiang Mai province. Physical and chemical factors of water quality assessments were conducted. The results show the statistics testing of physical and chemical factors at each study site almost were significant differences (p < 0.05) in every study except turbidity values in the summer and rainy, Ammonia nitrogen values in the rainy and winter seasons, as well as orthophosphate and BOD in all three seasons of the Mae Taeng River. Mae Wang River, the statistics testing of physical and chemical factors at each study site almost were significant differences (p < 0.05) in every study except ammonia nitrogen values in all three seasons, DO in the rainy and winter seasons, Nitrate nitrogen, Orthophosphate and BOD5 in the rainy season, but under the standard quality type 3 of PCD surface water sources standard. The biological factors (Aquatic insects) of water quality assessments were collected using kick-sampling with a D-frame net in all three seasons: summer (March and April 2021), rainy season (September 2021), and winter (December 2021 and January 2022). The water quality assessment using the ASPT score revealed that the Mae Taeng River's water quality is moderate to good across all three seasons. In the summer, the water quality is moderate to good, while in the rainy and winter, it ranges from moderate to very good. Long-term monitoring and assessment are needed to clarify the impact of elephant camp activities on water quality.