Assessment of Ichthyofaunal Diversity in Sasihithlu Estuary of Dakshina Kannada, Karnataka, India

Source:
By:Abhishek Bharadwaj R, Devi Prasad A.G

DOI: https://doi.org/10.30564/jfsr.v3i1.3270

Abstract:

The ichthyofaunal diversity is an excellent bio indicator of the status and health of aquatic ecosystems. The present study elucidates the ichthyofaunal diversity of Sasihithlu estuary in the west coast of Karnataka, India. The study was conducted from January 2019 to January 2020. Field explorations in estuary were undertaken on a monthly basis. A detailed analysis of piscine diversity revealed a total of 63 species of fresh water, estuary and marine fish belonging to 13 orders and 37 families. Perciformes was found to be a predominant order with 20 families and 31 species. Of the recorded species, one is Vulnerable and two are Near Threatened species. The greater diversity of fish was recorded during monsoon and the lesser diversity was recorded during winter.

References:

[1]Kathiresan, K. How do mangrove forests induce sedimentation? Revista de biologia tropical. 2003, 51(2): 355-360. [2]Roshith, C. M., Sharma, A. P., Manna, R. K., Satpathy, B. B. and Bhaumik, U. Ichthyofaunal diversity, assemblage structure and seasonal dynamics in the freshwater tidal stretch of Hooghly estuary along the Gangetic delta. Aquatic Ecosystem Health & Management. 2013, 16(4): 445-453. [3]Bijukumar, A. and Sushama, S. Ichthyofauna of Ponnani estuary, Kerala. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of India. 2000, 42(1-2): 182-189. [4]Mohammad, Z. A. Status of Biodiversity at Wetland Ecosystem of Mohangonj Upazila in Netrakona District. 2014, Advances in Ecology. DOI: 10.1155/2014/642450. [5]Abhishek Bharadwaj, R. and Devi Prasad, A.G. Studies of Avifaunal Diversity in Sasihithlu Estuary of Dakshina Kannada, Karnataka, India. Applied Ecology and Environmental Sciences. 2020, 9(1): 1-7. DOI: 10.12691/aees-9-1-1. [6]Valiente Banuet, A., Aizen, M. A., Alcantara, J. M., Arroyo, J., Cocucci, A. et al. Beyond species loss: the extinction of ecological interactions in a changing world. Functional Ecology. 2015, 29(3): 299-307. [7]Mourao, K. R. M., Thierry, F. and Flavia, L. F. Spatial and seasonal variation of the ichthyofauna and habitat use in the inner portion of the Brazilian Amazon estuary. Boletim do Instituto de Pesca. 2015, 41(3): 529-545. [8]Freire, A. G. and Agostinho, A. A. Spatial and temporal distribution of 8 dominant species of the upper Parana River basin. Acta Limnologica Brasiliensia, Botucatu. 2000, 12: 105-120. [9]Teixeira, H., Salas, F., Borja, A., Neto, J. M. and Marques, J. C. A benthic perspective in assessing the ecological status of estuaries: the case of the Mondego estuary (Portugal). Ecological Indicators. 2008, 8(4): 404-416. [10]Mourao, K. R. M. and Lucena Fredou, F. Composition of functional ecological guilds of the fish fauna of the internal sector of the Amazon Estuary, Pará, Brazil. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências. 2014, 86(4): 1783-1800. [11]Sugunan, V. and Sinha, M. Sustainable capture and culture-based fisheries in freshwaters of India. Sustainable Indian Fisheries. 2001, 43-70. [12]Paterson, A. W. and Whitfield, A. K. The ichthyofauna associated with an intertidal creek and adjacent eelgrass beds in the Kariega Estuary, South Africa. Environmental Biology of Fishes. 2000, 58(2): 145- 156. [13]Oliva-Paterna, F., Asuncion, A. S., Minano, P. A. and David, V. C. Y-O-Y fish species richness in the littoral shallows of the meso-saline coastal lagoon (Mar Menor, Mediterranean coast of the Iberian Peninsula). Journal of Applied Ichthyology. 2006, 22(3): 235-237. [14]Blaber, S. J. M., Digby, P. C., Albaret, J. J. and Ving, C. C. Effects of fishing on the structure and functioning of estuarine and nearshore ecosystems. ICES Journal of Marine Science. 2000, 57(3): 590-602. [15]Pérez-Ruzafa, A., Julia, Q., Garcia-Charton, J. A. and Concepcion, M. Composition, structure and distribution of the ichthyoplankton in a Mediterranean coastal lagoon. Journal of Fish Biology. 2004, 64(1): 202- 218. [16]Brinda, S., Srinivasan, M. and Srinivasan, B. Studies on diversity of fin fish larvae in Vellar estuary, Southeast coast of India. World Journal of Fish and Marine Sciences. 2010, 2:44-50. [17]Sandilyan, S. and Kathiresan, K. Mangrove conservation: a global perspective. Biodiversity Conservation. 2012, 21: 3523-3542. [18]Madhusudhana, R. K., Krishna, P. V and Hemanth, K. Mangrove floral diversity and necessity for conservation of Interu mangrove swamp of River Krishna estuarine region Andhra Pradesh, India. International Journal of Advanced Research. 2015, 3(6): 829-839. [19]Adeel, Z. and Robert, P. Assessment and Management of Mangrove in Developing Countries. Trees. 2002, 16: 235-238. [20]Madhusudhana, R. K. and Krishna, P. V. Checklist of Fishes from Interu Mangrove Swamp of River Krishna Estuarine Region Andhra Pradesh, India. International Journal of Advanced Research. 2014, 2(8): 301-306. [21]Blaber, S. Fish communities of south east African coastal lakes. Peuplements ichtyologiques des lagunes du sud est de l’Afrique. Biologie et écologie des poissons d’eau douce Africains. 1988, 216: 351- 362. [22]Dineshbabu, A., Durgekar, R. N. and Zacharia, P. U. Estuarine and marine decapods of Karnataka inventory. Fishing Chimes. 2011, 30(10 & 11): 20-24. [23]Mariappan, N., Ahamed, B. K. and Srinivasagam, K. Assessment of bird population in different habitats of agricultural ecosystem. International Journal of Scientific Research in Environmental Sciences. 2013, 1, 306. [24]Kumaran, B., Sowjanya, N. K. and Jayaraman, N. Assessment of ichthyofaunal diversity in Giriyampeta Estuary, Yanam (UT of Puducherry). Bulletin of Environment, Pharmacology and Life Sciences. 2012, 1(9): 17-25. [25]Ralph, C. J., Sauer, J. R. and Droege, S. Monitoring Bird Populations by Point Counts. Gen Tech Rep PSW-GTR-149 Albany, CA. US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station. 1995, 187 pages. [26]Day, F. The fishes of India; being a natural history of the fishes known to inhabit the seas an fresh waters of India, Burma, and Ceylon. Today and Tomorrow's Book Agency, New Delhi. 1878. [27]Day, F. The fishes of India; being a natural history of the fishes known to inhabit the seas and fresh waters of India, Burma, and Ceylon. Vol. 1. Jagmander Book Agency, New Delhi. 1994, Pages: 778. [28]Smith, J. L. B. The Seas Fishes of Southern Africa. Central News Agency Ltd., South Africa. 1950, Pages: 1-546. [29]Munro, I. S. The marine and freshwater fishes of Ceylon. Department of External Affairs. Canberra. 1955, I-VIII: 1-349. [30]Misra, K. An aid to the identification of the common commercial fishes of India and Pakistan. Zoological Survey of India. 1962. [31]Fischer, W. and Bianchi, G. FAO species identification sheets for fishery purposes: Western Indian Ocean (Fishing Area 51). Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations. 1984. [32]Talwar, P. K. and Kacker, R. Commercial sea fishes of India. The Director, Zoological Survey of India, Calcutta. 1984, Pages: 997. [33]Talwar, P. and Jhingran, A. G. Inland fisheries of India and adjacent countries. 1991. Vol. I & II: 1-1158. [34]Jayaram, K. The freshwater fishes of the Indian region. Narendra Publishing House Delhi, India. 1999, Pages: 551. [35]Munro, I. S. R. The marine and fresh water fishes of Ceylon. Biotech Books, Delhi. 2000, Pages: 349. [36]Plafken, J., Babour, M. T., Porter, K. D., Gross, S. K. and Hughes, R. M. Rapid bioassessment protocols for use in streams and rivers. US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Water. 1989, EPA/440/4-89-001. [37]Sinha, M., Mukhopadhyay, M. K. and Karmakar, H. C. Impact of Farakka barrage on the hydrology and fishery of Hoogly estuary. Estuaries. 1996, 19(3): 710-722. [38]Barletta, M., Barletta-Bergan, A., Saint-Paul, U. and Hubold, G. Seasonal changes in density, biomass and diversity of estuarine fishes in tidal mangrove creeks of the lower Caeté Estuary (northern Brazilian coast, east Amazon). Marine Ecology Progress Series. 2003, 256: 217-228. [39] Nordlie, F. G. Fish communities of estuarine salt marshes of eastern North America, and comparisons with temperate estuaries of other continents. Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries. 2003, 13(3): 281-325. [40] Huh, S. H. and Kitting, C. L. Trophic relationships among concentrated populations of small fishes in seagrass meadows. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. 1985, 92(1): 29-43. [41] Keskin, E. and Nsal, N. The fish fauna of Gokceada Island, NE Aegean sea, Turkey. Italian Journal of Zoology. 1998, 65: 299-302.