Original scientific paper
Diversity and relative abundance of fish fauna in Manasbal Lake of Kashmir Himalaya
2022, 80 (3) p. 0-0
Saima Andrabi, Yahya Bakhtiyar, Muni Parveen, Mohammad Yasir Arafat
Abstract
Diversity, abundance and distribution pattern of fish fauna are important aspects that need to be considered in order to frame the conservation and management strategies in any water body. To assess the composition, diversity, and relative abundance of fish fauna in the Manasbal Lake of Kashmir, the present study was carried out for two years (March-2018 to February-2020). A total of 22522 fish specimens were netted out during the sampling period and the relative abundance and various diversity indices were used to assess the overall diversity of the inhabiting fish fauna. A total of 7 species belonging to two families, Cyprinidae and Poeciliidae were reported, of which the family Cyprinidae was dominant in the catch. The relative abundance and diversity of fish fauna showed spatio-temporal variation wherein Puntius conchonius was most abundant during Spring and Winter while Gambusia holbrooki was most abundant during Summer and Autumn. Cyprinus carpio was found to be abundant during all the seasons at Site II and Site III as compared to native cyprinids, Schizothorax niger, and S. curvifrons. The current study also indicated a good fish diversity in the lake which varies on spatio-temporal scales, showing maximum diversity during Winter (Hʹ =1.498) and minimum diversity during Summer (Hʹ = 1.247), while as Site II showed maximum diversity (Hʹ =1.369) and Site I showed minimum diversity (Hʹ =1.085). Overall lake possesses good fish diversity that could be a great source of economy for the local populace provided the fish assemblage are sustainably managed and conserved.
Keywords
Conservation, abundance, cyprinidae, fish assemblage, native