Jagannath University Journal of Life and Earth Sciences, 4(1): 12 – 24, 2018 ISSN 2414-1402

STATUS AND DIVERSITY OF ICHTHYOFAUNA OF JAMUNA RIVER, BANGLADESH Mst. Nahida Easmin, AHM Shafiullah Habib*, Shimu Akter and Keya Majumder Department of Zoology, Jagannath University, Dhaka-1100, Bangladesh Abstract An investigation was made in Jamuna River of Pabna district from May 2016 to April 2017 to assess the diversity of ichthyofauna. A total of 77 were recorded under 10 orders 25 families and 54 genera. was recorded as dominant order comprising 36% of the total, followed by Siluriformes (27%), Perciformes (17%) and Clupeiformes (7%). The lowest species composition was less than 1% belonging 3 orders, Anguiliformes, Synbranchiformes and Tetraodontiformes. According to IUCN (2015) status 23% of found species was threatened, comprising 1% Critically Endangered (CR), 12% Endangered (EN) and 10% Vulnerable (VU) in nature. However only 3% were found Vulnerable (VU) globally during the study period. Annual values of Shannon diversity index (H), Simpson index (), Margalef’s richness index (D) and Pielou’s evenness index (E) were 3.35, 0.053, 6.931 and 0.772 respectively. Considering all findings this study emphasized the establishment of proper management strategy for the improvement of biodiversity and retaining good environment of the river. Key words: Jamuna River, fish fauna, diversity status, diversity indices. Introduction In Bangladesh, more than 700 rivers and their tributaries bear the 24,140 km of water ways and opens huge scope for fisheries. The Jamuna River is one of the three main rivers of Bangladesh. It is the main distributary channel of the Brahmaputra River as it flows from into Bangladesh. The river flows towards south and joins the Padma River near Goalando Ghat, before meeting the Meghna River near Chandpur. It further flows to the Bay of Bengal as the Meghna River. The diverse aquatic habitats in Bangladesh support a wide variety of fishes. The total number of freshwater fish species occurring in Bangladesh compiled as 265 species (Rahman 2005). Bangladesh is the third freshwater fish producing country in the world (FAO, 2018). About 3793 metric tons of fish are obtained from Jamuna River during 2016-2017 (DoF, 2017). Throughout the last century, riverine ecosystems have suffered from intense human intervention resulting in habitat loss and degradation and as a consequence, many fish species have become highly endangered, particularly in rivers where heavy demand is placed on fresh-waters (Rahman et al., 2012). However, according to IUCN (2015) a total 64 species have been found threatened, comprising 25.3% of 253 fish species were assessed. Among them 9 species assessed as Critically

* Corresponding author, Email: [email protected]

12

Easmin et al

Endangered (CR) 30 species as Endangered (EN) and 25 species as Vulnerable (VU). A total of 27 species were assessed as Near Threatened (NT), 122 species as Least Concern (LC) and the rest 40 species were considered as data deficient (DD). No fish was found as extinct or regionally Extinct. There are also different works on status of freshwater fish and diversity of fishes in Bangladesh as like Galib et al. (2009), Azadi et al. (2013), Galib et al. (2013), Hossain et al. (2013), Islam et al. (2016), Joadder et al. (2015), Gain et al. (2015), Habib et al. (2016). All of these works, made checklist of fish, shown conservation status of fish and diversity of fishes. But all of these are lacking analyses of diversity indices except Galib et al. (2013) and Hossain et al. (2013). In order to conserve biodiversity in a given area, we need to be able to understand how diversity is affected by different management strategies. Because diversity indices provide more information than simply the number of species present (that is, they account for some species being rare and others being common), they serve as valuable tools that provide important information on rarity and commonness of species in a community. The ability to quantify the diversity in this way is an important tool for biologists trying to understand community structure (Beals et al., 2000). In this study, Jamuna River had been selected for addressing its contribution in fisheries resources in Bangladesh. This work was done to quantify the status and diversity of fishes of the Jamuna River of Bangladesh. Material and Methods Two sites of Jamuna River at Bera Upazila under Pabna District have been selected for collecting fish specimens. The two points were the Kazirhat Launch Ghat (23.88288° N and 89.6708° E) and the Nagarbari Ghat (23.947208° N, 89.652662° E) (Figure 1). The present study was conducted for one year from May 2016 and continued to April 2017. Data were collected once in each month usually in the last week from 6 am to 10 am. Some of the fishes were identified during the field visit. The unidentified fishes were collected and preserved in 4-6 % buffered formalin solution for further laboratory study at the Fisheries Laboratory Department of Zoology at the Jagannath University. For determination of species composition, the following formula was used for counting small fish which were very easy to count: 푁푠 × 푊푡 푁 = 푊푠 Where, Wt = Total weight of small fish found, Ws = Weight of subsample, and Ns = Number of individual small fish in each subsample. These specimens were identified according their morphometric and meristic characteristics following Bhuiyan (1964), Rahman (2005) and Talwar and Jhingran (1991). After identification,

13

Status and diversity of ichthyofauna of Jamuna River

Figure 1. Two points of Jamuna River alongside of the Pabna district. fish were systematically arranged according to Nelson (2006). Threatened status of the fishes was evaluated in accordance with the Red List of IUCN Bangladesh (2015). Three criteria were considered as threatened viz. Critically Endangered (CR), Endangered (EN) and Vulnerable (VU). To understand the seasonal diversity of fish month wise data were collected and preserved properly. In this study, the diversity, richness and evenness were estimated for understanding the status of diversity of fish in Jamuna River. As a measure of diversity, the most popular and widely used Shannon’s diversity index (H) and Simpson’s index () were used. On the other hand, Margalef’s richness index (D) and Pielou’s evenness index (E) were used for investigating richness and evenness of fish. The using formulas were: Shannon-Weaver diversity index, H = –  Pi × lnPi (Shannon-Weaver, 1949)

Simpson index,  =  Pi2 (Simpson, 1949) Margalef”s richness index, D = (S–1) / ln(N) (Margalef, 1968) Pielou’s evenness index, E = H / ln(S) (Pielou, 1966)

14

Easmin et al

Where, H and  is the diversity index , Pi is the relative abundance, N is the total number of species, D is the richness index, S is the total number of species, E is the similarity or evenness index and ln is the natural logarithm. Results and Discussion After yearlong a total of 77 numbers of species were identified from Jamuna River under 10 orders 25 families and 54 genera. Among identified 77 species, 59% was Least Concern (LC), 23% threatened including 1% Critically Endangered (CR), 12% Endangered (EN) and 10% Vulnerable (VU). 5% Exotic fish was also recorded during the study period locally (Figure 3). Among the identified species 4% was vulnerable (VU), 70% was Least Concern (LC), 1% was Data Deficient (DD) and 5% Exotic (Figure 5). Table1. Fish fauna of Jamuna River with their status during the study period.

Order Family Scientific Name Local Name English Name Local Global Status Status Osteoglossiformes Notopteridae 1. Chitala chitala Chital Clown Knife EN NT Fish 2. Notopterus Foli Bronge VU LC notopterus Feather-back Anguiliformes Ophichthidae 3. Pisodonophis boro Kharu, Hizra Rice Paddy Eel LC LC Clupeiformes Clupeidae 4. Corica soborna Kachki Ganges River LC LC Spral 5. Pellona ditchela Choukka Indian Pellona LC LC 6. Tenualosa ilisha Ilish Hilsha Shad LC NE Engraulidae 7. Gudusia chapra Chapila Indian River VU LC Shad 8. Setipinna phasa Phasa Gangatic LC LC Hairfin Anchovy Channiformes Channidae 9. Channa punctata Taki Spotted LC LC Snahehead 10. Channa striatus Shol Snakehed LC LC Murrel 11. Channa marulius Gajar Great EN LC Snakehead Cypriformes 12. Amblypharyngodon Mola, Moa Mola LC LC mola 13. Cabdio morar Morar, Morari Aspidopara VU NE 14. Barbonimus Thai Java Barb Exotic Exotic gonionotus Sarpunti

15

Status and diversity of ichthyofauna of Jamuna River

Order Family Scientific Name Local Name English Name Local Global Status Status 15. Gibelion catla Catla, Katal Catla LC NE

16. Cirrhinus cirrhosus Mrigal, Mirka Mrigal Carp NT VU 17. Cirrhinus reba Bhangna, Reba NT LC Tatkini 18. Cyprinus carpio var. Carpu, Common Carp Exotic Exotic nudus Carphu 19. Esomus danrica Darkina, Flying Barb LC LC Darka 20. Hypophthalmichthys Silver Carp Silver Carp Exotic Exotic molitrix 21. Labeo bata Bata Bata Labeo LC LC 22. Labeo calbasu Kalibaus Orange Fin LC LC Labeo 23. Labeo gonius Ghannya Kuria Labeo NT LC 24. Labeo rohita Rui Rohu Carp LC LC 25. Osteobrama cotio Keti, Dhela Cotia NT LC 26. Puntius chola Chala Punti Swamp Barb LC LC 27.Pethia conchonius Kanchan Rosy Barb LC LC Punti 28. Systomus sarana Sar Punti Olive Barb NT LC 29. Puntius sophore Jat Punti Spotfin Swamp LC LC Barb 30. Pethia ticto Tit Punti Two-spot Barb VU LC 31. Puntius terio Teri Punti One Spot Barb LC LC 32. Rasbora daniconius Darkina Common LC LC Rasbora 33. Salmostoma bacaila Narkali chela Large Razorbely LC LC 34.Securicula gora Ghora-chela Gora-chela NT LC Balitoridae 35. Acanthocobitis botia Balichata Sand LC LC 36. Botia dario Rani Bengal loach EN LC 37. Botia lohachata Rani, Putul Y-loach EN NE 38. Lepidochephalichthys Gutum, Guntea Loach LC LC guntea Puiya 39. Neoeucirrhichthys Gutum, Goalpara CR LC maydelli Puiya Loach Siluriformes Bagridae 40. Mystus bleekeri Gulsha Day’s Mystus LC LC Tengra

16

Easmin et al

Order Family Scientific Name Local Name English Name Local Global Status Status 41. Mystus cavasius Kabashi Gangetic NT LC Tengra Mystus 42. Mystus tengara Bajari Tengra, Stripped Dwarf LC LC Ghuitta Catfish Tengra 43. Mystus vittatus Tengra Asian Striped LC LC Catfish 44. Rita rita Rita Rita EN LC 45. Sperata aor Ayre Long-whiskered VU LC catfish 46. Sperata seenghala Guijja, Guijja Giant River- VU LC Ayre catfish Siluridae 47. Ompok bimaculatus Kani Pabda Butter Catfish EN NT 48. Ompok pabda Madhu Pabdah Catfish EN NT Pabda 49. Wallago attu Boal Freshwater VU NT shark Schilbeidae 50. Ailia coila Kajuli, Gangetic Ailia LC NT Bashpata 51. Clupisoma garua Ghaura Garua Bacha EN NE 52. Eutropiichthys Muri Bacha Murius Vacha LC LC murius 53. Eutropiichthys Bacha Batchwa LC LC vacha Vacha 54. Pseudeutropius Batasi Indian Potasi LC LC atherinoides Sisoridae 55. Gagata cenia Cenia Indian Gagata LC LC 56. Gagata youssoufi Gang Gangatic LC LC Tengra Gagata 57. Nangra nangra Gang Tengra Meghna LC LC Nangra Clarridae 58. Clarias gariepinus African North African Exotic Exotic Magur Catfish 59. Clarias batrachus Magur Walking LC LC Catfish Heteropneustidae 60. Heteropneustes Shing Stinging LC LC fossilis Catfish Synbranchiformes Synbranchidae 61. Monopterus cuchia Kuchia, Gangatic mud VU VU eel

17

Status and diversity of ichthyofauna of Jamuna River

Order Family Scientific Name Local Name English Name Local Global Status Status Perciformes Ambassidae 62. Chanda nama Nama Elongate LC LC Chanda Glass-perchlet 63. Parambassis lala Lal Chanda Highfin Glassy LC NE Perchlet 64. Parambassis ranga Chanda, Ranga Indian Glassy LC LC Chanda Fish Sciaenidae 65. Otolithoides pama Poa Pama Croaker LC NE Nandidae 66. Nandus nandus Bheda, Meni Mottled NT LC Nandus Mugilidae 67. Rhinomugil corsula Khorsula Corsula Mullet LC LC Gobiidae 68. Glossogobius giuris Bele, Bailla Tank Goby LC LC Anabantidae 69. Anabas testudineus Koi, Kai Climbing Perch LC DD Osphronemidae 70. Trichogaster Khailsha, Giant Gourami LC LC fasciata Khoila 71. Trichogaster lalius Lal Khailsha Dwarf Gourami LC LC Mastacembelidae 72. Macrognathus Tara Baim Lesser Spiny NT NE aculeatus Eel 73. Macrognathus Guchi Baim, Barred Spiny LC LC pancalus Eel 74.Mastacembelus Baim, Sal Zig-Zag Eel EN NE armatus Baim Beloniformes Belonidae 75. Xenentodon cancila Kaika, Kakila Freshwater LC NE Garfish Hemiramphidae 76. Hyporhamphus Ek Thuita, Congaturi LC NE limbatus Ek Thota Halfbeak Tetraodontiformes Tetraodontidae 77. Leiodon cutcutia Tepa, Potka Ocellated LC LC Kutkuitt, Pufferfish Here, CR = Critically Endangered, EN = Endangered, VU = Vulnerable, NT = Near Threatened, LC = Least Concern, DD = Data Deficient, NE = Not Evaluated.

The most dominating order was Cypriniformes, 36% of species recorded and the number of fish species was 28. Next dominant orders were Siluriformes, Perciformes and Clupeiformes which comprises 27%, 17% and 7% and the number of species were 21, 13, 5 respectively (Figure 2). Only one species of each order were found from viz. Anguiliformes, Synbranchiformes and Tetraodontiformes. Galib et al. (2013) found in Choto Jamuna River Cypriniformes as a dominant order comprising 34.92% of species recorded and other dominant orders were Siluriformes, Perciformes and Synbranchiformes recorded 28.57%, 19.05% and 6.35% respectively.

18

Easmin et al

Order Composition 3% 1% 3% 1% 7% 4% Osteoglossiformes 17% Anguiliformes 1% Clupeiformes Channiformes Cypriformes 27% 36% . Siluriformes Synbranchiformes Perciformes Beloniformes Tetraodontiformes Figure 2. Species composition in different orders of fish. Among identified 77 species, 45 were Least Concern (LC) and 18 were Threatened including 1 Critically Endangered (CR), 9 Endangered (EN) and 8 Vulnerable (VU) locally and 4 Exotic species found during study period. Azadi et al. (2013) found in Halda River among 83 finfish 3 were Critically Endangered, 9 Endangered and 8 Vulnerable species. Galib et al. (2009) reported 9 were Exotic species from the Chalan Beel.

Local Status 5% 1% 12%

Critically Endangered (CR) 10% Endangered (EN) Vulnerable (VU) Near Threatened (NT) Least Concern (LC) 59% 13% Exotic

Figure 3. Local status of fish fauna of Jamuna River. The highest numbers of threatened fishes were 7 found in Order Siluriformes. On the other hand, the second highest number of threatened species 5 were and recorded under the order Cypriniformes. The lowest number of threatened species was 1, recorded under the Orders Clupiformes, Channiformes, Synbranchiformes. No threatened fish was found under the orders Anguiliformes, Beloniformes and Tetraodontiformes locally (Figure 4).

19

Status and diversity of ichthyofauna of Jamuna River

30 28 25 Total Threatened 21 20 15 13

10 7 4 5 5 2 2 3 2 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 0

Figure 4. Locally threatened fish species in different orders of Jamuna River. Among identified species, 54 were Least Concern and 2 were Threatened including 2 Vulnerable globally. 4 Exotic species were Barbonymus gonionotus, Cyprinus carpio var. nudus, Hypophthalmichthyes molitrix and Clarias gariepinus.

Global Status

5% 3% 7% Vulnerable (VU) 14% Near Threatened (NT) Least Concern (LC) 1% Data Deficient (DD) Not Evaluated (NE) Exotic

70%

Figure 5. Global status of fish fauna of Jamuna River. According to Global status, 2 threatened fish species were recorded namely Order Cypriniformes and Synbranchiformes (Figure 6). The Vulnerable 2 species were Cirrhinus cirrhosus and Monopterus cuchia.

20

Easmin et al

28 Total Threatened 21 13

4 3 2 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 2 0 1 0

Figure 6. Globally threatened fish species in different orders. Diversity, richness and evenness indices The highest Shannon diversity index value was found in November 3.346, and the lowest value 2.396 in February and the higher value indicates higher diversity in the environment. Hossain et al. (2013) found in Meghna River the higher Shannon diversity index was 3.144875 in December and lower 2.788875 was in April. On the other hand the highest Simpson index value was 0.139 in February and the lowest 0.042 was in November. Generally the lower the value the higher the diversity and November was marked as the highest diversity and February was the lowest. Margalef’s richness index value depends on species number. Higher species number express higher richness in that ecosystem. The higher Margalef’s richness value was found 5.623 in June and the lowest 2.878 in February which indicates highest species composition was in June and lowest in February. Hossain et al. (2013) found that highest dominance diversity index value was 6.750125 during March and lowest 6.107875 during November. The highest Pielou’s evenness was 0.927 in November and lowest was 0.728 in August. So the species were shown the most even condition in November and less even in August. Hossain et al. (2013) found that highest evenness value was 0.686413 in November and lowest was 0.350928 in April. However, Galib et al. (2013) found the value of Shanon diversity index ranged from 3.427 (June) to 3.818 (December), richness index ranged from 6.973 (June) to 8.932 (November) and evenness index ranged from 0.891 (July) to 0.936 (December). Annual Shannon index, Simpson index, richness index and evenness index values were found 3.351, 0.053, 6.931, 0.772 respectively (Table 2). The annual values of indices showed the fishes in the Jamuna River during the study period was moderately diversified, richest and even in distribution.

21

Status and diversity of ichthyofauna of Jamuna River

Table 2. Total number of species, total number of individuals and Shannon-weaver diversity (H), Simpson’s diversity (), richness (D) and evenness (E) indices of fish fauna in Jamuna River.

Month Number of Number of Shannon Simpson Richness Evenness

Species individual index (H) index() (D) (E)

May 16 27 2341 2.634 0.105 3.351 0.799

Jun16 50 6049 2.925 0.099 5.623 0.748

Jul 16 45 4548 2.928 0.117 5.224 0.769

Aug 16 38 3794 2.647 0.149 4.489 0.728

Sep 16 47 8497 3.059 0.071 5.084 0.795

Oct 16 42 3399 3.021 0.069 5.042 0.808

Nov 16 37 2087 3.346 0.042 4.709 0.927

Dec 16 49 5827 3.325 0.057 5.536 0.854

Jan 17 44 4329 3.276 0.049 5.135 0.866

Feb 17 26 5906 2.396 0.139 2.878 0.735

Mar 17 31 3383 2.873 0.073 3.691 0.836

Apr 17 44 7699 3.021 0.067 4.805 0.798

Annual 77 57859 3.351 0.053 6.931 0.772

Conclusion It is apparent from the present study that the status of the fish fauna diversity of the Jamuna River is more or less satisfactory but extensive survey with the condition of river, navigation and ecological healthiness assessment is needed for the conservation of the fish.

22

Easmin et al

References Azadi, M. A. and Arshad-Ul-Alam. M. (2013) Ichthyofauna of the River Halda, Chittagong, Bangladesh. Bangladesh J. Zool. 41(2): 113-133. Beals, M., Gross, L., Harrell S. (2000) Diversity Indices: Shannon's H and E. http://www.tiem.utk.edu/~gross/bioed/bealsmodules/shannonDI. Accessed on February 5, 2019. Bhuiyan, A.L. (1964) Fishes of Dacca. Asiatic Soc. , Publ. No. Dacca. 148 pp . DoF (2017) Yearbook of fisheries Statictis of Bangladesh 2016-2017. Fisheries Resourses Survey System (FRSS), department of Fisheries. Bangladesh : Director General, DoF, 2017 Volume 34:p.129. FAO (2018) The state of world fisheries and aquaculture 2018 – Meeting the sustainable goals. Rome. Gain, D., Mahfuj, E.S., Sultana, S. and Mistri, A.N. (2015) A preliminary study on fish fauna of the Passur River in Bangladesh. Academic Journals. 7(7): 346-353. Galib, M.S., Naser, A.M.S., Mohsin, M.B.A., Chaki, N. and Fahad, H.F. (2013) Fish diversity of the River Choto Jamuna, Bangladesh: Present status and conservation needs. Academic Journals. 5(6): 389-395. Galib, S.M., Samad, M.A., Mohsin, A.B.M., Flowra, F.A. and Alam, M.T. (2009) Present status of fishes in the Chalan beel (Wetland) of Bangladesh. International Journal of and Fisheries Science. 2(3): 214-218. Habib, F., Tasnin S. and Bhuiyan, S.A.M.I.N. (2016) A checklist of fishes and fisheries of the padda (padma) River near Rajshahi city. International Journal of Pure & Applied Bioscience. 4(2): 53-57. Hossain, S.M., Das, G.N., Sarker, S. and Rahaman, Z.M. (2013) Fish diversity and habitat relationship with environment variables at Meghna River estuary, Bangladesh. Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Research. 38: 213-226. IUCN (2015) Red List of Bangladesh Volume 5: Freshwater Fishes. IUCN, International Union for Conservation of Nature, Bangladesh Country Office, Dhaka, Bangladesh, xvi+360 p. Islam, K.M., Habib, A.K., Ahsan, E.M., Ali, M.M. and Basak, K.S. (2016)Fish biodiversity at Sibsa River in South-Western Bangladesh: status and conservation requirements. International Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Studies. 4(1): 24-28.

23

Status and diversity of ichthyofauna of Jamuna River

Joadder, R.A.M., Galib, M.S., Haque, M.M.S. and Chaki N. (2015) Fishes of the River Padma, Bangladesh: Current trend and conservation status. Journal of Fisheries. 3(2):259-266. Nelson, J.S. (2006) Fishes of the World, Fourth Edition. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 601p. Rahman, A.K.A. (2005) Freshwater Fishes of Bangladesh, Second edition. Zoological Society of Bangladesh, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh, 263p. Rahman, M.M., Hossain, M.Y., Ahamed, F., Subba, B.R.F., Abdallah, E.M., Ohtomi, J. (2012) Biodiversity in the Padma Distributary of the Ganges River, Northwestern Bangladesh: Recommendations for Conservation. World J. Zool. 7(4): 328-337. Talwar, P.K. and Jhingran, A.G. (1991) Inland Fishes of India and Adjacent Countries, Oxford & IBH Publishing Co. Pvt. Ltd. New Delhi-Calcutta, Vol. 1 and 2, 1158p.

24