Sindh, Pakistan

Research Journal of Fisheries and Hydrobiology, 3(1): 1-10, 2008 © 2008, INSInet Publication Fish diversity in relation to physcio-chemical properties of Keenjhar Lake (District, Thatta), Sindh, Pakistan A.L. Korai, G.A. Sahato and K.H. Lashari. Department of Fresh Water Biology and Fisheries, University of Sindh Jamshoro, Sindh, Pakistan. Abstract: Present study deals with fish diversity and physico-chemical properties of Keenjhar Lake. 51 species were recorded during, January to December 2005 higher than that of previous observations. Various physico-chemical properties such as (Temperature, pH, Alkanity, D.O, Salinity, Conductivity, T.D.S, Chloride, Transparency and Hardness) were recorded on monthly basis from Keenjhar Lake, district, Thatta, Sindh, Pakistan which ranged between 31±0.82 to 22±0.82ºC, 8.73±0.09 to 7.63±0.17, 256.6±25.32 to 177.3±11.14 mgL-1, 9.16±0.24 to 7.2±0.14 mgL-1, 0.23±0.047 to 0.01±0.04 ‰, 302.33±13.57 to 172.3±10.84 µscm-1, 358.33±23.21 to 218.33±11.78 mgL-1, 187.23±19.69 to 114.73±18.5 mgL-1, 73.33±11.89 to 42.33±6.34 cm and 338.33±8.49 to 130±8.16 mgL-1, respectively which were suitable for growth of flora and stocking of fish species. Key words: Fish diversity, Keenjhar Lake, Physico-chemical properties INTRODUCTION body of water that generate residential wastes, untreated or partially treated sewage, agricultural Keenjhar Lake was created by providing a link runoff, urban pollutants, and so forth. Sewage or between two natural lakes “Keenjhar” and “Sunheri” residential wastes, consisting largely of chemical ‘Green; and ‘Golden’. Keenjhar and Sunheri were two containing detergents, which may change entire smaller depressions which were joined in 1958 by physico-chemical properties of water. The flow of dynamiting the separating hills to make one lake, the excessive nutrients in the water may over stimulate the “Kalri Lake”. Again in 1972 was renamed as growth of algae, these create condition that “Keenjhar Lake” an artificial and tropical lake[15]. It is interference with the recreational use of lakes and situated nearly 120 km from Karachi, between 24° adversely affect the aquatic biota[25]. Estimation of 47N. Lat. and 68° 2, E. Long [5]. This Lake is 17 miles water quality is among frequently conducted research long (Fig. 1). It receives water from river Indus by the activities in Sindh[21,3,4,18,10,20,12,14,13] however less attempts canal called “Kalri Baghar Feeder”, originating from have been noticed on Keenjhar Lake. Ghulam Muhammad Barrage. The minimum depth of Keenjhar Lake is important for different aspects the Lake is 4 meters and maximum depth is 9 meters such as, the source of drinking water, irrigation and and average depth of Lake is 7 meters. wild life purpose and a potential source of cheap diet The study of fish and their stability is important. rich in protein. Fish population of any given aquatic habitat can vary There fore present study have been conducted for significantly from year to year. Consequently, it exploration of fish diversity and physico-chemical would be necessary for this experiment was carried out properties of Keenjhar Lake district, Thatta, Sindh, for several consecutive years if it is to be truly useful. Pakistan. The stability of fish is of profound importance due to urgent need of environmental management to know MATERIAL AND METHODS how much fish population naturally change over time[25]. Water and fish samples were collected from three Modest numbers of research activity have been stations of Keenjhar Lake 1. Sunheri, Inlet water conducted on the fishes of Keenjhar Lake[22,1,21,3]. One source from by canal Kalri Bhaggar feeder 2. Helaya, of the most important crises of 21st century is the main boat basin, middle of Lake 3. Khumbo, out let of scarcity of drinking water. Most of the fresh water Lake, during January to December 2005 on monthly bodies the world over are becoming polluted, thus basis. Samples were collected from catch of fisher-men decreasing the portability of water. Pollution is from three stations of Keenjhar Lake, by gill netting of accelerated as a result of human activities near or in a Corresponding Author: Abdul Latif Korai., Mailing add: Department of Fresh Water Biology and Fisheries, University of Sindh Jamshoro. Sindh Pakistan. E-mail: [email protected] Phone #: +92 (0)22-2771681-90 Ex: 2025. 1 Res. J. Fish. & Hydrobiol., 3(1): 1-10, 2008 Fig. 1: Showing selected station from Keejhar Lake. small mesh size (2.0-2.5 cm). Samples were preserved RESULTS AND DISCUSSION in 10% formalin; 5 cc of formalin was injected in the belly of fish with disposable syringe (BD), packed in Results: In present observation 51 species among them polythene bags and brought into laboratory, Department 30 species were most popular as food as well as game of Fresh Water Biology and Fisheries, University fishes and posse’s high economical value. Identified of Sindh Jamshoro. Fish samples were identified fishes including 2 exotic, 19 species belonging to with[6,16,17,9]. family Cyprinidae., 6 species belonging to family Bagridae., 4 species belonging to family Channidae., 3 For determination of physico-chemical properties of species belonging to family Mastacembelidae., 2 Lake one liter of surface water was collected from [2] belonging to each family Clupeidae, family each station, standard method was followed to Notopteridae, family Siluridae, family Schilbeidae, determine physico-chemical properties mostly the family Chandidae, family Nandidae and family samples were collected in morning time, from selected Belontidae., 1 specie belonging to family Gobidae, three stations. family Claridae, family Heteropneusitidae, family Temperature was measured by mercury Belonidae and family Cichlidae. thermometer; pH was measured by Orion model 420 pH meter, sample for determination of Dissolve oxygen Physico-Chemical Properties: (D.O) was collected in color bottles and was Temperature: Recorded temperature during study determined by Winkler’s method adopted from[24], period January-December 2005, ranged between 22- Conductivity and T.D.S. was determined by WTW LF 31<C from station no: 1 in January and July < 320 conductivity meter, Salinity was estimated by respectively, 21-30 C was recorded from station no: 2 Mohr’s method[23]. Transparency was determined with in January and July respectively, form station no: 3 maximum temperature was 32<C in July and minimum Secchi depth. The water samples collected from each temperature 21<C in January (Fig. 2). station were analyzed for alkanity, hardness and chloride by the process of titration with standard silver Transparency: Station no: 1 inlet by canal Kalri nitrate, hydrochloric acid and EDTA respectively. The Bhaggar Feeder was found turbid through out year [7,2] analysis was carried out by standard methods . as compare to rest of selected stations, which 2 Res. J. Fish. & Hydrobiol., 3(1): 1-10, 2008 Fig. 2: Showing monthly variation of Temperature from Keenjhar Lake. Fig. 3: Showing monthly variation of Transparency from Keenjhar Lake. Fig. 4: Showing monthly variation of Dissolve Oxygen from Keenjhar Lake. ranged between 36 cm up to 67 cm in month of from 7.8 mg L-1 in September till December January and September respectively. Station no: 2 8.9 mg L-1. Form station no: 2 in January and February which ranged between 38 to 78 cm in months of were 8.5 and 8.3 mg L-1 respectively, slight increase February and August respectively, station no: 3 ranged after decreasing in March 7.1 up to 7.7 mg L-1 in May, between 51 to 85 cm in months of January to August 7.6 and 7.1 mg L-1 in June and July respectively starts respectively (Fig. 3). increasing up to December from 8.1 to 9.1 mg L-1. From station no: 3 starts decreasing from 8.9 to Dissolve Oxygen (DO): Concentration of dissolve 7.4 mg L-1 from January to April, in May concentration oxygen from station no: 1 was 8.6 mg L-1 in the month of D.O. was 7.5 mg L-1 starts decreasing to July 7.3 of January decreased to 7.2 mg L-1 in April than slight mg L-1, in August was 7.4 increases up to December increase has shown in May 7.8 mg L-1 than continues 9.5 mg L-1 (Fig. 4). decreasing up to August 7.4 mg L-1, starts increasing 3 Res. J. Fish. & Hydrobiol., 3(1): 1-10, 2008 Fig. 5: Showing monthly variation of Conductivity from Keenjhar Lake. Fig. 6: Showing monthly variation of Salinity from Keenjhar Lake. Fig. 7: Showing monthly variation of Total Dissolves Solids from Keenjhar Lake. Conductivity: In station no: 1 conductivity starts 180 µs cm-1 in month of September, 240 µs cm-1 was decreasing from January 320 µs cm-1 up to July 142 µs observed in October, continues increasing till December cm-1, increases in August 190 µs cm-1, continues 290 µs cm-1. The seasonal fluctuation of conductivity increasing from September 157 µs cm-1 up to from station no: 3 were continuously decreased from December 270 µs cm-1. From station no: 2 in January January 300 µs cm-1 up to September 180 µs cm-1, than conductivity was 287 µs cm-1, slight increase 298 µs increase in October 185 µs cm-1 to December 280 µs cm-1, starts decreasing from 298 µs cm-1 in April up to cm-1 (Fig.

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