Academia Arena 2016;8(2)
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Academia Arena 2016;8(2) http://www.sciencepub.net/academia Aquatic Animal Diversity of Manawar Tawi River, Jammu and Kashmir, India Adhfur Sherwani and Dr. Malik Mukhtar 1. Research Scholar, Department of Environment Science 2. Professor, Department of Entomology SKUAST-K [email protected] Abstract: Animal diversity is an important biotic component of any aquatic ecosystem. Huge biodiversity is found in Manawar water system. The Manawar Tawi is one of the most important rivers of Jammu region. It is one of the major tributaries of the Chenab River. In this study zooplankton and macro zoo benthos diversity was estimated. It was revealed on the basis of the present study on animal diversity that the members of the Ephemeroptera thrive well in the River Manawar Tawi, besides various other species. Besides others twenty two species of fishes belonging to five families have been recorded from the River Manawar Tawi. Therefore, these can be used as the most appropriate and efficient bio-indicators for assessing the health of the important aquatic ecosystem. [Adhfur Sherwani and Malik Mukhtar, Aquatic Animal Diversity of Manawar Tawi River, Jammu and Kashmir, India. Academ Arena 2016;8(2):133-140]. ISSN 1553-992X (print); ISSN 2158-771X (online). http://www.sciencepub.net/academia. 2. doi:10.7537/marsaaj08021602. Keywords: Aquatic, Animal, Diversity, Tawi, River Introduction communities of some wetlands of Kashmir; Khajuria Human survival depends on biodiversity, not (1992) studied the nekton and benthos of lake Mansar only for food, fibre, health but also for recreation. of Jammu; Thakial (1997) studied the benthos of Relationship of biodiversity with ecosystem stability Jammu region; Kaul (2000) studied the effect of and resilience has been the subject of concern of industrial water on Behlol nallah of Jammu; Jyoti et ecologists for some time now (Odum, 1971). Man has al. (2003) studied the effect of pilgrimage on the been the sole cause of concern in view of threats quality of benthos of stream Banganga of Jammu; caused to these habitats in particular and biodiversity Pandit and Yosuf (2003) conducted study on the in general due to his greed and development activities rotifer community of Kashmir Himalayan lakes; Qadri and ignorance about the importance of these habitats. and Yosuf (2004) conducted study on the ecology of Freshwater biodiversity is increasingly threatened by macrozoobenthos of Nigeen lake; Bhat and pandit unsustainable development worldwide. While the (2006) studied the substrate influence on international strategies (Caring for earth agenda 21) macrozoobenthos dwelling a small tributary of vishav produced in recent years have succeeded in stream of Kashmir; Mahdi et al. (2006) undertook highlighting guiding principles for improved study of buniyar stream entomofauna. management and conservation of inland freshwater However, no work has been done so far on the ecosystems, much remains to be done in terms of animal diversity of Manawar Tawi River of Jammu information and public awareness, resource region. Therefore, it was felt desirable to undertake assessment, integral management, species protection the study on animal diversity of Manawar Tawi River. and capacity building to define a set of practical action Study Sites that could reduce effectively the degradation of fresh The Manawar Tawi is one of the most important water biodiversity. rivers of Jammu region. It is one of the major The aquatic habitat and their biodata have been tributaries of the Chenab River. There are eight main extensively investigated since the early 19th century. tributaries of the Manawar Tawi River. These areas- However, a very few studies have been made on the Rajouri Tawi, Sukhtao, Khandal, Nallah, Jamola Wali aquatic animal diversity of Jammu and Kashmir. Dutta Tawi, Dhelloriwali Tawi, Kalar Kas, Panda Kas, (1978) undertook studies on the limnology of gadigarh Nehari Tawi. The main water source of Manawar stream of Jammu region; Kaul et al. (1980) studied the Tawi is snow and some perennial springs. There are ecology of freshwater snails of haigam wetland of about 20 high altitude lakes along the northern Kashmir; Qadri et al. (1981) undertook study on the boundary of the district in the Pir-Panjal range. two trout streams of Kashmir; Pandit et al. (1985) ‘Manawar Tawi’ derives its name from a town studied ecological relationships between invertebrate ‘Manawar’, which is in Pakistan. There are different and macrophytes of two Himalayan lakes; Gupta names of this river in Rajouri district. Locals used to (1992) studied feeding biology of two lakes of Mansar call the tributaries of this River as ‘Nallahs’, and the of Jammu; Pandit (1992) studied the ecology of insect tributaries of ‘Nallah’ Manawar Tawi is a third stream 133 Academia Arena 2016;8(2) http://www.sciencepub.net/academia order River. The head water stream of ‘Manawar Statistical mean (), standard deviation (S.D), Tawi’ rises on the southern slope of Pir-Panjal correlation ®, linear regression, multiple regression, Mountains and is known as ‘Thanna-Nallah’. Thanna- diversity index, (Shannon Weiner, 1964 alpha Nallah originates from a mountain (2,542m above diversity and beta diversity), Jaccard evenness, m.s.I.). The head of Thanna-Nallah is located between concentration of dominance, similarity indices and 740221/2 East longitude and 330321/2 North latitude. It dissimilarity indices were under computed. then flows southwards and is joined by another Nallah Diversity Index: Diversity s the mathematical from the eastern side known as ‘Darhali-Nallah’. expression that combine three components of These two Nallahs meet each other between 740 18\ community structure-richness (number of species East longitude and 330 24\ North latitude ‘Darhali- present), evenness (the distribution of individuals Nallah’ originates from a mountain which is (3,555 m among species) and abundance (total number of above m.s.I.). Its head is located between 740 30\ East organisms present). It is used to describe the response longitudes and 330 26\ North latitude. After confluence of a community to the quality of its environment. For of these two Nallahs the river passes through the the statistical analysis of the biological components Rajouri town. For this study three sites (S1, S2 and S3) Shannon-Weiner diversity index (1964) and alpha have been taken a different depth of river. diversity (Kent and Coker, 1994) were calculated. Shannon-Weiner Diversity Index: Species diversity Material and Methods H Standard methodology was followed for index ( ) was calculated using the Shannon Weiner estimation of following parameters as described information function ( Shannon and Weiner, 1964; s below: ni ni log Zooplankton: Zooplankton was sampled monthly N 2 N during two annual cycles at three different sampling Diversity index ( H ) = l1 sites. Macro zooplankton were sampled by towing Where, plankton net vertically in river water to the maximum H = Shannon-wiener index of diversity; depth of 10 cm and then hauled at a speed of 10 cm Ni= Total no of individual of a species; /sec. Horizontal towing through plankton net was also N=total no of individuals of all species done to estimate the distribution of zooplankton in the Alpha diversity (α): Alpha diversity is the measure of surface water of the river. For micro zooplankton occurrence of species in any ecosystem (Kent and (naupli, rotifers, titinnids) 2 liter samples were Coker, 1994). It was analyzed by counting the total collected and passed through a 35 µm mesh net. All number of species present during on sampling. the samples were immediately fixed with 4 % Alpha diversity=N formalin solution and identification was done with the Where help of Inverted Compound Microscope. N=Total number of species present Macrozoobenthos: Macrozoobenthos colonizing the Beta Diversity (β): Beta diversity is a comparison of substrate were collected with the help of the Surber diversity between sites or communities, usually Sampler (0.50nm mesh net) and by hand picking from measured as a amount of species changed between the the stones. The percentage cover of different sized ecosystem. Following (Whittaker 1975), beta diversity substrata within each Surber quadrat was estimated was computed to determine the rate of species visually using the substrate sized classes (after Bovee changed across the sites. and Milhous 1978) of sand (0.06-2mm), fine gravel Concentration of Dominance (C): The concentration (2-32mm), coarse gravel ( 32-64), cobbles (64- of Dominance (C) was computed following Simpson 256mm) and boulders (>256mm). (1949): Quantitave estimation of macrozoobenthos was s 2 n based on numerical counting i.e. units per square C i meter (ind. /sq. m).The macrozoobenthos were N i 1 preserved in 4% formalin. These macrozoobenthos Dominance were identified to the possible lowest taxonomic level Where, and counted. The qualitative analysis of the benthic C= Concentration of Dominance samples were made with the help of Needham and ni = total no. of individuals of a species Needham (1962); Hynes (1971); Macan (1974); Elliot N=total no. of individuals of all species et al.(1988); Wallace et al. (1990); Ward and Whipple (1992) and Edngton and Hildrew (1995) and many Coefficient of Similarity (S): The coefficient of standard keys of Freshwater Biological Association. Similarity (S) will be computed following Jaccard U.K. (1942). Statistical Treatment of Data 134 Academia Arena 2016;8(2) http://www.sciencepub.net/academia C Zooplankton: The