A Survey on the Fish Diversity with Special Reference …thesciprobe.com/files/documents/4-A-Survey-on-the-Fish-Diversity... · A Survey on the Fish Diversity with Special Reference

The Science Probe Vol. 1 No. 2 (August 2012) Page No- 12-21 ISSN: 2277 – 9566

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Available online at http://www.thesciprobe.com/

A Survey on the Fish Diversity with Special Reference to the

Classified Ornamental Fishes and their Prospects in the Kapla Beel of Barpeta District.

Pranjal Chakravartty 1, Mitali Chakravartty 2 and

Subrata Sharma3

1Research Scholar, Gauhati University, Guwahati Email. - [email protected]

2 M.Sc. Gauhati University, Guwahati Email. - [email protected]

3 HOD & Associate Professor, Department of Zoology,

Cotton College, Guwahati, Assam, India. Email. - [email protected]

ABSTRACT

The “KAPLA BEEL” is a very famous beel situated near “Sarthebari” in the district of Barpeta, Assam. It is supposed to be the 3rd largest beel of Brahmaputra valley. The fishery potentiality of the Kapla Beel is very high. The beel directly acts as the perspective spawning ground for the large growing riverine fishes along with a large number of ornamental fishes. All the fishes of Kapla Beel belong to the class Teleostomi with the six important Indian Major Carps (IMCs) species, two feather backs, three species of murrels and six cat fish species. It is also supplemented by 20 species of intermediate group and 30 minor groups of fish species belonging to six major orders Cypriniformes, Siluriformes, Channiformes, Perciformes, Clupeiformes, Mastacembeliformes etc. Of these the Cyprinidae family belonging to the order Cypriniformes dominating the beel with about 23 species which is followed by another family Begridae belonging to the order Siluriformes with 6 species. Most of the intermediate and minor group fish species are of good ornamental value.

KEY WORDS: Kapla beel, Ornamental fishes, Conservation, Diversity.


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INTRODUCTION

Fishes are invariable living components of water bodies. These organisms are important food resources and good indicators of the ecological health of the waters they inhabit. However, the rich biodiversity of the freshwater fish of Assam has been rapidly dwindling because of increasing degradation of inland water. Assam is gifted with many extensive water bodies commonly known as Beels (Jhingran, A.G. and Pathak. 1987) that are the only source of fish for the poor people in the surrounding villages. Beels are major fishery resources contributing to about 25 % of the fish production in Assam. However, major portions have been rendered unproductive due to excessive siltation and growth of weeds and only about 33 % of the potential is being utilized for fisheries. Out of a total of 2,500 species of fish in India, 930 are in fresh waters and belong to 326 genera, 99 families and 20 orders (Talwar, P. K. and A. G. Jhingran. 1991). Ornamental fishes are attractive colourful fishes of various characteristics, which are kept as pets in confined space of an aquarium or a garden pool for fun and fancy. Ornamental fishes are popularly known as ‘’Aquarium Fishes’’ as they are usually kept in glass aquarium. These living jewels need not always have bright colours, sometimes their peculiar characteristics such as body colour, morphology, mode of taking food etc. may also add to their attractiveness. Classified ornamental fishes are those which can be used for ornamental purpose through out their life cycle.

ABOUT THE STUDY AREA

The “KAPLA BEEL” which is the site of our study is a very famous Beel situated near “Sarthebari” in the district of Barpeta, Assam. It is supposed to be the 3rd largest Beel of Brahmaputra valley. It is a beautiful

perennial Beel of Assam which harbours varieties of piscean and avian fauna. This beel is the nerve centre for the local fishermen to earn money for their daily life. The beel directly acts as the perspective spawning ground of the large growing river fishes particularly the Indian Major Carps (IMCs). Location of the Bill The “Kapla Beel” is located in and around the village “Baniakuchi” near “Sarthebari” under Barpeta district of Assam. The total area of the “Kapla Beel” is about 642 Bigha (91 hectors) (Fig- 1). The dag no. is 193. It

extends between latitude of 26018/12// to

26025/7// N and between longitude

91008/42// to 91014/50// E. It is almost 2 KM far in southern side from Sarthebari [Anon. 1997]. The Boundary of the Beel is as follows: - East: Haldhibari and Kaldipathar. West: Barkapla Gaon. North: Kamarpara Gaon. South: Mara Sawal Khowa River and Salmara Gaon.

Fig- 1: Map of Kapla Beel


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Fig: - 2

AIM & OBJECTIVE OF THE WORK

The Kapla Beel is a major habitat for the aquatic fauna including varied type of Fish species which form the principal economic source for the fishermen of the concerned area. It harbours a wide variety of indigenous ornamental fishes. But, now a day, the production of the fish species is declined and according to the fishermen communities living in and around Kapla Beel are of the opinion that this is because of the degradation of the Beel.

So, it is very important to list out the fish species available in the beel along with the ornamental fishes. Only a detailed study of fish population of the Kapla Beel can help us to determine the present productivity or the status of the beel. We may then, able to propose some valuable measures for the better productivity of the beel, if necessary.

MATERIALS AND METHOD OF STUDY

Fishes were collected from different sites of the Beel and also from the landing sites and

markets in the vicinity of the Beel. Some data were also collected from the fishermen and the local people totally involved in the Beel and also from the concerned authority of the same.

The fishes were collected for observation during the period of October 2009 to July 2010.

The fishes were collected from the Beel in different seasons by using different types of ‘Nets and Gears’ commonly used in Beel fisheries. Fishes were caught by using gill nets of different mesh size, rods and lines with different baits according to the food of choice. Cast nets, scoop nets, bamboo traps, angling were also used in some cases. Fishes caught alive or in fresh condition had been preserved in 9-10% formalin solution (Jayaram, K. C. 1999). For fishes of medium ranges (10 - 13 cm) an incision on the abdominal wall top one size of the mid-ventral line is made. For the observation and measurement mainly the works of P. K. Talwar and A. G. Jhingran, 1991, K. C. Jayaram, 1999 , and P. Nath and S. C. Dey, 2000 were followed. Fishes were identified following the guide book of W. Vishwanath, 2002 [8] and A. G. K. Menon.

RESULT AND DISCUSSION

During the study a total of 75 species were studied. Of which, 67 species are identified, 8 species are left unidentified due to their indistinct morphology. So, it is found that it harbours a great variety of species comprising both the small and big fishes. For the better convenience of the study about the fishes available, it is very essential to place them into some groups. The identified species are grouped as follows –


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TABLE: 1 – Fishes of Major Group

TABLE: 2- Fishes of Intermediate Group

1. Ailia coila (Hamilton, 1822)**#

2. Ailia punctata (Dey, 1872)*#

3. Anabas testudineus (Bloch,1792)

Das,1966***

4. Cirrhinus reba Valenciennes, 1842**

5. Clarias magur (Hamilton, 1822)**#

6. Channa gachua (Hamilton, 1822)**

7. Channa punctata (Bloch, 1793)***

8. Chaca chaca (Hamilton, 1822)*#

9. Clupisoma garua (Hamilton, 1822)**

10. Glossogobius giuris (Hamilton, 1822)*

11. Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch, 1794)**#

12. Labeo bata (Hamilton,1822)***

13. Mystus cavasius (Hamilton, 1822)*#

14. Monopterus cuchia (Hamilton, 1822)

15. Nandus nandus (Hamilton, 1822)***#

16. Notopterus notopterus (Pallas, 1769)**

17. Ompok pabo (Hamilton, 1822)*

18. Ompok bimaculatus (Bloch, 1794)**#

19. Puntius sarana (Hamilton, 1822)**

20. Xenentodon cancila (Hamilton, 1822)**#

1. Catla catla (Hamilton, 1822)***

2. Cirrhinus cirrhosus (Hamilton, 1822)***

3. Channa striata (Bloch, 1793)**

4. Channa marulius (Hamilton,1822)*

5. Cyprinus carpio carpio Hankó, 1925***

6. Ctenopharyngodon idella (Valenciennes,

1844)**

7. Chitala chitala (Hamilton, 1822)**

8. Hypopthalmichthys molitrix

(Valenciennes, 1844)***

9. Labeo rohita (Hamilton, 1822)***

10. Labeo calbasu (Hamilton, 1822)**

11. Labeo gonius (Hamilton, 1822)***

12. Labeo nandina (Hamilton, 1822)*

13. Mastacembalus armatus (Lacepède,

1800)*

14. Pangasius pangasius (Hamilton, 1822)*

15. Sperata seenghala (Sykes,1839)**

16. Sperata aor (Mystus aor ) (Hamilton,

1822)*

17. Wallago attu (Bloch & Schneider,

1801)**


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TABLE: 3- Fishes of Small Group 1. Acanthocobitis botia, (Hamilton, 1822)***#

2. Amblypharyngodon mola (Hamilton,1822)***#

3. Aspidoparia morar (Hamilton,1822)**#

4. Aspidoparia joya (Hamilton,1822)**#

5. Batasio batasio (Hamilton, 1822)**

6. Botia derio (Hamilton, 1822)***#

7. Badis badis (Hamilton, 1822)**

8. Chanda nama Hamilton, 1822***#

9. Colisha lalia, (Hamilton, 1822)**#

10. Colisha labius (Hamilton, 1822)***#

11. Chela laubuca, (Hamilton, 1822)*** #

12. Chela cachius, (Hamilton, 1822)**#

13. Devario devario (Hamilton, 1822)***#

14. Danio rario (Hamilton, 1822)**#

15. Esomus danricus Rao & Sharma, 1972.***#

16. Gadusia chapra (Hamilton, 1822)**#

17. Mystus tengara (Hamilton, 1822)***#

18. Mystus bleekeri (Day, 1877)*#

19. Macrognathus aculeatus (Bloch, 1786)***#

20. Macrognathus pancalus (Hamilton, 1822)**#

21. Osteobrama cotio cotio, (Hamilton, 1822)**#

22. Puntius sophore (Hamilton, 1822)***#

23. Puntius ticto (Hamilton, 1822)***#

24. Puntius phutunio (Hamilton, 1822)**#

25. Puntius gelius (Hamilton, 1822)**#

16. Parambassis ranga (Hamilton, 1822)***#

27. Rasbora rasbora (Hamilton, 1822)***#

28.Rasbora deniconius (Hamilton, 1822)***#

29. Trichogaster fasciatus (Bloch &

Schneider,1801)***#

30. Tetraodon cutcutia Hamilton, 1822.**#

*** = Abundantly found ** = Moderately found

* = Rarely found / Endangered species. # = Classified ornamental species

TABLE: 4 - Production of Fishes in Kapla Beel (IN TERMS OF PERCENTAGE)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

PAST PRESENT

MAJOR GROUP

INTERMEDIATE GROUP

MINOR GROUP


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PHOTOGRAPHS CAPTURED DURING THE SURVEY PERIOD AT KA PLA BEEL

Fig: - 3

Fig: - 4

Fig: - 5. Anabas testudineus

Fig: - 6. Nandas nandas

Fig: - 7. Clarius magur

Fig: - 8. Puntius sarana


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Fig: - 9. Labeo calbasu

Fig: - 10. Cyprinus carpio carpio

After completion of the study it was seen that the Kapla Beel harbours about 75 different species of fishes belonging to 6 major orders like – Cypriniformes, Siluriformes, Channiformes, Perciformes, Clupeiformes, Mastacembeliformes. Of these, the Cyprinidae family belonging to the order Cypriniformes dominating the beel which is followed by another family Begridae belong to the order Siluriformes. Similar works were conducted by A.K. Bhagowati , B.C. Borah, U.K.Baruah, S.R. Baroova and P.K. Gogoi, 1997, S.C. Dey, 1981. P.N. Dutta, B. Lahon, 1987 and Y.S. Yadava,1987 in the Beel fisheries of Assam.

It is seen that, among the Indian Major Carps, the Labeo gonius, Cirrhinus cirrhosus and exotic carps Cyprinus carpio carpio and Hypopthalmichthys molitrix are the dominant species. Other species are not found up to their expectation level. Like wise production of large cat fishes like Wallago attu, Pangassius pangassius, Mystus seenghala are also depleting rapidly. Of these W. attu is to some extent found abundantly but not up to its expectation level. Pangassius and Seenghala are found in a very less amount than the earlier years.

Of the Murrels; the large sized Murrels like Channa marulias is very rarely found. If the extraction persist, it is quite possible that the C. marulius would extinct in a very short period of time. C. striata is also not found abundantly of course C. punctata is found up to their expectation level which is one of the most abundant fishes dominating the Beel.

Out of the two feather backs, the most important Chitala chitala which once dominated the water body, now decreasing in a very high speed. N.notopterus is found moderately.

The perches are more or less available in the Kapla Beel. The most dominant species of the perch is Anabas testudineus which is followed by another species Trychogaster fasciatus, Glossogobius giuris is depleting gradually.

Among the Eels, the most important large species Mastacembelus armatus is rarely found, Monopterus cuchia and Macrognathus aculeatus are also decreasing than the earlier.


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TABLE: 5 - Different orders of fishes in Kapla Beel

REASON FOR DEPLETION OF FISH

POPULATION

The Kapla Beel is not free from problems. More to this, some are of serious proportions necessitating most immediate attention of the concerned authority to help to save this prospective fishery beel of the region from gradual extinction. Following are some of the reasons for depletion of fish production-

1. Growth of marginal macrophytes, emergent, sub emergent and floating vegetation cause silting of the beel. About ¾ of the Kapla Beel is now covered by water hyacinth.

2. Paddy cultivation in the Kapla beel is an age old practice. Though restricted marginal cultivation may enrich beel fertilization, cultivation in the beel will cause organic pollution and gradual filling in these productive beds.

3. The feeding canal of the beel which form the only avenue for fish migration from adjacent river is dangerously blocked and all the fishes trapped en route are sieved out causing serious impediment to the fish population of the concerned beel. In addition to this problem, the feeding canals are heavily silted in some beels due to

various intrinsic factors. As a result, the movement of the fish denizens of this beel is impeded with during the dry months.

4. Overexploitation compelled with uncontrolled fishing without strictly enforcing the limit of mesh size of the nest is observed with greets concern. Seeds of IMC (Indian Major Carp) are found captured from the vicinity of the beel.

MEASURES TO BE TAKEN FOR THE

BETTER PRODUCTION OF FISH

POPULATION

1. To make a plan for sustainable development, the Kapla Beel which is a closed beel can be made available for capture fishery. However considering the nature of flood and durability of stagnancy for 5-7 month of year, released fingerlings into the beel can lead to better production.

2. The major Development of ornamental fisheries requires measures involving sustainable exploitation of the existing natural resources and breeding of native and exotic varieties under controlled conditions. Stocking of large varieties of ornamental fish in adequate quantities

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Cypriniformes

Siluriformes

perciformes

Channiformes

Clupeiformes

Mastacembeliformes


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throughout the year is a prerequisite for exporting directly to the potential destination markets.

3. In order to take advantage of the availability of a large number of varieties, a strong supply chain needs to be established starting from fish collectors, agents, dealers and exporters.

4. Appropriate steps are necessary for the protection of breeding ground like, free migration of the breeders, control of overfishing by optimizing the gears and nets and stock assessment of the populations in the capture fishing improvement.

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Boruah, S. (1999). Investigation on certain aspects of hydrobiology in relation to fisheries in the upper stretches of the river Brahmaputra. Ph.D. Thesis, Dibrugarh University, Assam, India.

Biswas, S.P. and Boruah, S. (2002). Ecohydrology and fisheries of the upper Brahmaputra basin. The Environmentalist, 22, 119-131.

Bhagowati, A.K, B.C. Borah, U.K.Baruah, S.R. Baroova and P.K. Gogoi.1997. Potentials for different rice-fish farming systems for sustainableresource management in Assam, pp. 65. In International Symposium on Rainfed Rice Production Strategy for 21st Das, B. (2009). Study of habitat and fish biodiversity of river Kopili in Assam. M.Phil Dissertation, Assam University, Silchar.

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A Survey on the Fish Diversity with Special Reference …thesciprobe.com/files/documents/4-A-Survey-on-the-Fish-Diversity... · A Survey on the Fish Diversity with Special Reference