Ferdous et al. Annals of Veterinary and Animal Science 2015 eISSN: 2313-5514 http://naturepub.org/index.php/journal/navas pISSN: 2312-9123 [Received: 07 Aug 15 Accepted: 26 Nov 15] ] AVAS Annals of Veterinary and Animal Science

RESEARCH ARTICLE V:2(6) OPEN ACCESS ACCESS Fin fish assemblage and biodiversity status of carps on ,

Ferdous Mst Jannatul, Karim Md Rashidul, Hossain Mohammad Amzad, Rahman Md Arifur and Iqbal* Mohammed Mahbub.

ABSTRACT The Halda River is the only natural spawning ground of Indian major carp species. A twelve months long study was conducted from July 2013 to June 2014 in Halda River at Garduara point in Chittagong . Sampling was done during full and new moon for two successive days in each month. A total of 53 fish species belonging to 18 families were identified. However, the concerning fact was carp species r at Garduara point and 15 species were identified. Among them 5 were Not Threatened (NT), 2 Vulnerable (VU), 5 Endangered (EN) and 3 Exotic (EX). The Shannon-Weaver diversity index (H') ranged from 1.72 (in July) to 2.13 (in January), tiniest Margalef richness index was witnessed in November/December (1.05), while utmost value observed in July (1.22), peak mean evenness value (0.79) was encountered in January and bottommost (0.63) in July and the uppermost mean dominance value (0.85) was observed in January and lowest (0.7) in July. The Shannon-Weaver and Pielou’s index was found to be significant among the seasons at 0.05% significance level, while the Margalef and Simpson index was not significant among the seasons. The carp species at

Garduara point found to be not evenly distributed. Among the Indian major carps encountered in the study area, Catla catla found to be comprised 4.78% of the total biomass followed by Cirrhinus cirrhosus 5.74%, Labeo rohita 4.95% and Labeo calbasu 0.66%.

Keywords: Halda River, Carp species, Biodiversity, Garduara point.

2006). From the ecological point of view, fish is very important not only because of its INTRODUCTION economic value, but also because of sensitivity to ecological changes and Bangladesh is blessed with vast water represents a wide range of tolerance at resources in the form of ponds, natural community level (Pielou, 1966). So, fish depressions ( and ), lakes, canals, assemblages have widely been used as rivers and estuaries. DoF (2014) reported biological indicators to estimate and evaluate about 46, 99,387 hectares inland water in the level of degradation and health of rivers Bangladesh, which consists of 39, 16,828 and streams (Vijaylaxmi et al., 2010). hectares open water and 782559 hectares closed water bodies. Bangladesh is the The Halda River is one of the major rivers fourth largest producer of inland fisheries in in the South-East region of Bangladesh. the world (FAO, 2014). Inland fish Garduara point at the mouth of Boalia and production is decreasing day by day due to Cheng-khali tributary of Halda River was over exploitation siltation, use of synthetic selected by taking into consideration that monofilament nets, use of over dosages of the site will give shelter a large number of fertilizers and insecticides in agricultural fishes because it is the conjoined area where lands, ecological disturbances (Hossain et the Halda river meets with Boalia and al., 2012), industrial pollution etc. Among Cheng khali tributary. The 98 km long river 260 freshwater fish species, 54 species are has a very turbulent tributary, the Dhurung threatened (IUCN, 2000). Degradation of River, which joins at Sundarpore about stream and riverine ecosystem causes 48.25 km downstream (Kibria et al., 2009). ultimate destruction to the structure and It is the only pure Indian major carp function of stream biota (Stoddard et al., breeding field of Bangladesh (Tsai et al., 1981) perhaps in South Asia. Due to ------anthropological destruction, the river that * Corresponding author: [email protected] Department of Fish Biology and Genetics, Sylhet Agricultural was once a haven for brood fishes now University, Sylhet-3100 naturepub academics Inc. Natural Science Research Forum (nSRF) Sylhet Agricultural University, Bangladesh. www.naturepub.org

Ferdous et al. Annals of Veterinary and Animal Science 2015 http://naturepub.org/index.php/journal/navas 152

turned into a quite dangerous one; resulting Simpson index through the following in drastic fall in the availability of eggs and formula: fish-fries of natural species in the recent Shannon-Weaver diversity index (H') years (Kibria et al., 2009). H' = • Sum [pi x log (pi)] Where, Biodiversity is the quantity, variety and H' = Shannon-Weaver index, distribution across biological scales ranging Pi = ni/N, through genetics and life forms of ni = no. of individuals of a species, populations, species, communities and N = Total number of individuals, ecosystems (Mace et al., 2005). Biodiversity Margalef species richness (d) is often used as a measure of the health of d = (S-1)/log (N) biological system (Vyas et al., 2012). Halda Where, River is the unique natural ecosystem of S = Total species, Bangladesh which provides natural N = Total individuals, spawning ground for the major Indian carps Pielou's evenness index (J') and a major portion of the country’s pond carp culture dependent on these wild seed (Azadi, 1985). The current study was designed to find out the carp diversity of the river at Garduara point. It is also expected Where, that the basic information obtained during H (s) = the Shannon-Weaver information the present study will be helpful to function, undertake development and management H (max.) = the theoretical maximum value program of the Halda River. for H(s) if all species in the sample were equally abundant, MATERIALS AND METHODS Simpson dominance index (c) C = 2 Study area Where, The study was conducted in the South- ni = number of individuals in the ‘each’ Eastern region () of species, Bangladesh. Geographic coordinates of N = total number of individuals, Chittagong district in Bangladesh is 22°00′ S = total number of species, N to 23°00′ N latitude and 91°20′ E to Statistical analysis 91°00′ E longitude. The research was A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) in accomplished in the Halda River, a major SPSS was used to test for significant tributary of river at Garduara difference in diversity indices among the point of Chittagong district of Bangladesh. seasons. For ANOVA test SPSS software The present study were conducted at V15.0 (Statistical Package for Social Garduara point, which is belongs to the Sciences) was used. All the diversity indices Chittagong district of Bangladesh between analyses were performed by the software Latitude 22° 29' 59" N and Longitude 91° PAST (Paleontological statistics) version 51' 58" E. 2.16.

Diversity analysis tools RESULTS AND DISCUSSION In the present study, diversity of fish species were evaluated by dint of Shannon-Weaver Fin Fish assemblage index (H′) (Shannon and Weaver, 1949), In the present study, 53 species belonging to species richness by Margalef index (d) 18 families were identified from the study (Margalef, 1968), evenness by Pielou’s index area. The governing family was Cyprinidae (J′) (Pielou, 1966), and dominance by comprising 28.30% (15 species) of the total Ferdous et al. Annals of Veterinary and Animal Science 2015 http://naturepub.org/index.php/journal/navas 153

biomass followed by Bagridae (7 species) Synbranchidae (1 species) 1.89% encompassing 13.20% Schilbeidae (4 Osphronemidae(1 species) 1.89%, species) 7.54%, Channidae (4 species) Anabantidae(1 species) 1.89%,

Fig. 1: Family based species percentage in the Halda River at Garduara point

7.54%, Siluridae (3 species) 5.66%, Gobiidae Ambassidae(1 species) 1.89% and (3 species) 5.66%, Clupeidae (3 species) Belonidae(1 species) 1.89% (Fig. 1). Total 5.66%, Mastacembelidae (2 species) 3.77%, species under each family was used to find

Fig. 2: Carp species composition of Halda River at Garduara point.

Notopteriidae (2 species) 3.77%, Cobitidae out the family based percentages and (2 species) 3.77%, Heteropneustidae (1 dominance of the fish species in the study species) 1.89%, Clariidae (1 species) 1.89%, area. Pangasidae (1 species) 1.89%, Ferdous et al. Annals of Veterinary and Animal Science 2015 http://naturepub.org/index.php/journal/navas 154

Fifty-four freshwater fish species have been and 9 critically endangered fish species declared as threatened species by IUCN, which is similar to the present findings. Bangladesh (2000), in three categories: Comparative abundance of carp species

Fig. 3: Shannon-Weaver diversity index (H′)in different seasons

Critically Endangered (CR); Endangered A total of 15 species of carps has been (EN) and Vulnerable (VU). Among the recorded from the Halda River at Garduara recorded fish species in Upper Halda River point. Considering the number of Alam et al., (2013) describes 3CR species, 11 individuals caught, the most dominant

Fig. 4: Margalef Species Richness (d) in different seasons

EN and 8 VU species from three sampling species was Mola (A. mola) 30.16% followed sites of Haldariver. However, in the present by Dhela (O. cotio) 22.54%, Darkina (E. findings 13 endangered, eight vulnerable, danricus) 14.09%, Leuzza Darkaina (R. three critically endangered species were rasbora) 7.11%, Jatipunti (P. sophore) 4.34% identified from the Garduara point which is and others contributed to the rest showed in congruent but higher than the findings of (Fig. 2) and (Table 1). Alam et al., (2013). The number of species BIODIVERSITY INDICES FOR CARP in the Garduara point may be higher due to SPECIES the conjoin site of Boalia and Cheng khali Shannon-Weaver diversity index (H´) tributary which makes it the Jumbled area The Shannon-Weaver diversity index (H') for fishes. Ali et al.,(2013) revealed the ranged from 1.72 (in July) to 2.13 (in presence of 57 species of fish from the Old January) displayed in (Fig. 3) with mean including 7 endangered diversity value of 1.97±0.11. Significant difference was observed among the seasons Ferdous et al. Annals of Veterinary and Animal Science 2015 http://naturepub.org/index.php/journal/navas 155

(F= 4.01; P = 0.051) (Table 3). The degree Simpson dominance index (c) of pollution based on the assortment of the The uppermost mean dominance value Shannon-Weaver species diversity index as (0.85) was observed in January and lowest

Fig. 5: Pielou’s evenness index (J') in different seasons recommended by Biligrami (1988). All the (0.7) in July revealed in (Fig. 6) with mean seasons showed values ranging within 1.72- value of 0.80±0.04. No significant 2.13 representing moderate to light difference was observed among seasons (F= pollution. 2.44; P = 0.139) (table 3). Margalef richness index (d) Galib et al., (2013) found month-wise values

Fig. 6: Simpson dominance index (c) in different seasons

The tiniest Margalef richness index was of Shannon-Weaver diversity (H), witnessed in November/December (1.05), Margalef’s richness (D) and Pielou’s (e) while utmost value observed in July (1.22) evenness indices of 3.717, 6.954, and 0.897, presented in (Fig. 4.4) with mean richness respectively considering all the specimens value of 1.10±0.05. No significant studied during the period of study. The difference was observed among the seasons value of diversity index ranged from 3.427 (F= 2.42; P = 0.141) (Fig. 4). (June) to 3.818 (December), richness index Pielou’s evenness index (J') ranged from 6.973 (June) to 8.932 The peak mean evenness value (0.79) was (November), and evenness index ranged encountered in January, and bottommost from 0.891 (July) to 0.936 (December) (0.63) in July exhibited in (Fig. 5) with mean which is much higher than the present value of 0.73±0.04. Significant difference findings. It is mainly due to encompass all was observed among the seasons (F= 3.8; P the species. However, in the present study = 0.58) (Table 3). only carp species is studied, and the average Ferdous et al. Annals of Veterinary and Animal Science 2015 http://naturepub.org/index.php/journal/navas 156

diversity, richness, evenness and dominance respectively. Alam et al., (2013) studied the index were 1.97, 1.10, 0.73 and 0.80 overall fish distribution and biodiversity

Table 1: List of different carp species with their scientific name, local name, contribution (%) and respective images. Fish species Local name Total Inds. Contribution % Amblypharyngodonmola Mola 1,665,692 30.16 Catlacatla Catla 263,941 4.78 Cirrhinuscirrhosus Mrigel 317,205 5.74 Labeorohita Rui 273,471 4.95 Labeocalbasu Kalibaush 36,514 0.66 Labeogonius Gonia 25,581 0.46 Ctenopharyngodonidella Grass carp 35,271 0.64 Cyprinuscarpio Common carp 29,196 0.53 Hypophthalmichthysmolitrix Silver carp 86,288 1.56 Labeobata Bata 16,843 0.31 Osteobramacotio Dhela 1,244,469 22.54 Esomusdanricus Darkiina 777,792 14.09 Rasborarasbora Leuzza Darkaina 392,756 7.11 Puntiusticto Tit punti 87,635 1.59 Puntiussophore Jatipunti 239,914 4.34

Table 2: Status and percentage of carp species found in the study area Status Number of species Percentages (%) Vulnerable(VU) 2 13.33 Endangered (EN) 5 33.33 Exotic (EX) 3 20 Not Threatened (NO) 5 33.33 Total 15 100

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Fig. 7: Vulnerable carp species composition of Halda River at Garduara point.

Fig. 8: Endangered carp species composition of Halda river at Garduara point.

Fig. 9: Exotic carp species composition of Haldariver at Garduara point.

Fig. 10: Not-threatened carp species composition of Halda River at Garduara point from the upper portion of Halda River. The et al. (2012) reported Margalef index in the most abundant family was Cyprinidae. Vyas Betwa River in Madhya Pradesh of India

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ranging from 3.71 to 6.70. Belaluzzaman for the sustainable management of a body (1995) recorded ‘H’ as 1.017534-4.6494 of water (Imteazzaman and Galib, 2013). from the Bakkhali river estuary, Cox’s Bazar. Carp biodiversity of Halda River at Islam (2005) recorded the Margalef’s index Garduara point ranging from 0.110 to 0.444 during the From the sampling site 15 carp species were monsoon period in the identified, and it covers 28.3% of the total estuary. Azadi et al., (2011) noted biomass followed by bagridae 13.2%.Alam biodiversity of fin-fish and shell-fish species et al. (2013) also revealed the presence of in three sections of Halda River and big carp diversity from the Halda River. Table 3: ANOVA table for carp fish diversity in the Halda River at Garduara point

Sum of Mean Parameters Groups Difference F Sig (p). squares square

0.027 4.01 Between Groups 0.81 3 0.051 Shannon Within Groups 0.54 8 0.007

Between Groups 0.12 3 0.004 2.42 0.141 Margalef Within Groups 0.13 8 0.002

Between Groups 0.11 3 0.004 3.8 0.58 Pielou Within Groups 0.008 8 0.001

Between Groups 0.008 3 0.003 2.44 0.139 Simpson Within Groups 0.009 8 0.001

proportion of average daily catch (in Joadder (2012) reported the domination of number) was used to obtain the diversity carp family in of Naogaon indices. Simpson index of diversity (D) (0.54 district. Rahman (2012) showed that this - 0.66), Shannon index (H) (0.25 - 0.32) (re- family is dominant in the freshwater fishes scaled), and Evenness (E) (0.27 - 0.35). The of Bangladesh. The present findings support maximum number of species were recorded the above-mentioned findings. under the family Cyprinidae (19 species) Availability of threatened carp species followed by the family Gobiidae (11 Among the 15 carp species encountered in species). Alam et. al. (2013) found the study area 2 were vulnerable comprising Cyprinidae as most abundant group 13.33%, 5 endangered comprising 33.33%, 3 (18.84%) followed by Gobiidae family with exotic comprising 20% and 5 not threatened 629 individuals (14.50), Simpson index of comprising 33.33% of the total carp fishes diversity (1-D), Shannon–Weiner index (H) encountered in the study area (Table 2). and Margalef index showed higher values at Biodiversity status of vulnerable carp sampling sites. Altogether this information species clearly indicates the need for water body Among vulnerable carp fish species in study specific detailed biodiversity studies which is area Leuzza Darkaina (R. rasbora) essential to determine the present status and contributing highest percentage 7.11% (on Ferdous et al. Annals of Veterinary and Animal Science 2015 http://naturepub.org/index.php/journal/navas 159

the basis of total individuals encountered in CONCLUSION the study area) followed by Tit punti (P. ticto) 1.59% of the total biomass, showed in (Fig. A little monthly variation found in total 7). diversity of the fish species assemblage in Biodiversity status of endangered carp the Halda river at Garduara point. From the species sampling site, 15 carp species were Among endangered carp species in study identified, and it covers 28.3% of the total area Dhela (O. cotio) contributing highest biomass followed by bagridae 13.2%. percentage 22.54% (on the basis of total Among the 15 carp species Mola (A. mola) individuals encountered in the study area) contributing highest percentage 30.16% (on followed by Darkina (E. danricus) 14.09%, the basis of total individuals encountered in Kalibaush (L. calbasu)0.66%, Gonia (L. the study area) followed by Dhela (O. cotio) gonius) 0.46% and Bata (L. bata) 0.31% of contributing 22.54% of the total carp the total biomass found in the study area individuals encountered in the study area. showed in (Fig. 8). Fish catching percentage also indicates the Alam et al., (2013) reported 4 endangered maximum relative abundance of species in carp species from the upper Halda river. But the river. As 53 species are identified from a in the present study 5 endangered carp single point, so the proper steps should be species were identified from Garduara point taken for the protection and conservation of near the Boalia and chengkhali tributary of these valuable fisheries resources. Halda river. This simply means that the Restriction on fishing prior to breeding health condition of the river is good and season, controlled discharge of domestic should be conserved for the continuous wastes, banning the use of illegal fishing supply of good quality seeds around the gears in fishing, and the establishment of country. fish sanctuary, etc. could be done for the Biodiversity status of exotic carp species protection of fisheries biodiversity. Among exotic carp species in study area, Silver carp (H. molitrix) contributing highest ACKNOWLEDGEMENT percentage 1.56% (on the basis of total Author would like to thanks all those people individuals encountered in the study area) participated in this survey research. followed by Grass carp (C. idella) 0.64% and Profound thanks also go to his institution, Common carp (C. carpio) 0.53% of the total Sylhet Agricultural University, Bangladesh. biomass found in the study area showed in

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