Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 2017; 5(3): 1425-1430 E-ISSN: 2320-7078 P-ISSN: 2349-6800 A survey on indigenous Freshwater Mollusc of JEZS 2017; 5(3): 1425-1430 © 2017 JEZS undivided Paschim Medinipur District of West Received: 15-03-2017 Accepted: 16-04-2017 Bengal Angsuman Chanda PG Dept. of Zoology, Raja N. L. Khan Women’s College, Angsuman Chanda Midnapur, Paschim Medinipur, West Bengal, India Abstract A survey was conducted to explore the indigenous Freshwater of undivided Paschim Medinipur District of West Bengal during May 2013 to November 2015. Mollusc as The present study results revealed that freshwater ecosystem of undivided Paschim Medinipur represents existence of nine species of edible mollusks under eight genera of six families and four orders. Out of these nine species four species namely Bellamya bengalensis (Lamarck,1882, Pila globosa (swainson, 1828), Lamellidens marginalis (Lamarck, 1819) and Lymnaea acuminata (Lamarck, 1822) are most abundant and found in all most all twenty nine revenue blocks of undivided Paschim Medinipur District. Present work is the first report of indigenous freshwater molluscan diversity of the study area. Keywords: Freshwater, molluscs, diversity, Paschim Medinipur 1. Introduction Molluscs contribute second largest world biodiversity among and most successful group of [1, 2] invertebrate next to insects . The estimated molluscan species ranges from 80,00 to 135,000 Boss [3] and Van Bruggen [4] estimated the same ranges 50,000-200,000. Seddon [5] reported 5000 freshwater species of molluscs. Majority of the freshwater species of West Bengal are regarded as supplementary food resources of village people as well as urban citizen. Freshwater molluscs also play a vital role in public and veterinary health and need to [6] explore extensively . Freshwater molluscs serve as protein rich food resource in a number of countries like India [7], Mexico [8], Tiwan, Formosa Thiland, and the Philippines [9]. It is now well established that molluscs are used as supplementary food in fishery and duckery farm. [10] [11, 12] Chakraborty and Chowdhury and Khalua et al, have studied on the littoral molluscan diversity of Midnapore coast and reported 43 species of littoral molluscs. Khalua et al. [13] studied seasonal variation of food value of a freshwater mollusc, Bellamya bengalensis from Midnapore District. But the diversity of freshwater molluscs of Paschim Medinipur remains untouched. Therefore, present study Therefore, present study was conducted to explore the indigenous Freshwater Mollusc as of undivided Paschim Medinipur District of West Bengal. 2. Materials and Methods Present study is mainly based on the specimen collection, preservation, identification, distribution and analysis of their protein value as a food resource. Specimens were collected from different river, pond, bill, and canals applying different commercial fishing method throughout all the blocks of undivided Paschim Medinipur during May 2013 to November 2015. 2.1 Methodology a. Block-wise collection of mollusc from different water bodies of the district by hand, net & from village people who capture by traditional method. b. Specimens were washed in fresh water to remove algae, mud and other substances and preserve in rectified spirit. Correspondence c. Identification of specimen by existing literature [1] & by the help of scientists of ZSI. Angsuman Chanda PG Dept. of Zoology, Raja N. L. d. Distribution of different species will be recorded. Khan Women’s College, e. Water parameters (Temp., DO, pH, Conductivity) were analysed according to APHA Midnapur, Paschim Medinipur, 2005. West Bengal, India ~ 1425 ~ Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies f. For convenience of the study total area has been divided 0.50 – 0.60 slightly similar into three geomorphological subdivisions viz. 0.41 – 0.50 moderately dissimilar < 0.40 strongly dissimilar i) Ghatal subdivision (flood prone):- Chandrakona–I, Chandrakona–II, Daspur–I, Daspur–II and Ghatal. h. Protein contain of each species has been studied by ii) Jhargram subdivision (drought prone):- Binpur–I, Kjeldahl methodology [16]. Binpur–II, Jamboni, Jhargram, Gopiballavpur–I, Gopiballavpur–II, Nayagram and Sankrail. % of Nitrogen = V1 – Bl x 0.1 x 1.4 iii) Midnapur Sadar & Kharagpur subdivision Wt (industrial as well as agricultural):- Medinipur Sadar, % of Protein = % of Nitrogen x Power factor Garhbeta–I, Garhbeta–II, Garhbeta–III, Keshpur and Where, V1 = Final reading Shalboni, Dantan–I, Dantan–II, Pingla, Kharagpur–I, Bl = Blank sample reading Kharagpur–II, Sabang, Mohanpur, Narayangarh, Wt = Weight Keshiari and Debra. 0.1 = Cons. H2So4 value 1.4 = N2 value g. Measurement of distributional statistics by Sorensen’s 6.25 = Protein conversion factor [14] similarity index. i. Analysis of data through comparison between different Q.S = 2c / a+b species and recommendation of the species for human Where, a = Number of species in one area. consumption and conservation. b = Number of species in other area. c = Number of species common to both the areas. 3. Study site Degree of Similarity of otherwise was judged following under The study site is Paschim Medinipur, West Bengal, India (23◦ mentioned scale: 00'-21̊ 47'N & 86◦ 40'-87̊ 52'E) located in the laterite belt >0.71 strongly similar (Fig.-1). Climatic conditions under the influence of South- 0.61 – 0.70 moderately similar West and North-East monsoon Fig 1: Map of study area (Paschim Medinipur District Map) ~ 1426 ~ Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 4. Result and Discussion 5. Statistical analysis of faunal distribution The present study revealed that freshwater system of Paschim Geomorphology of undivided Paschim Medinipur District is Medinipur represents the existence of 9 species under 8 quite diversified and broadly divided into three subregions different genera. All these genera belonging to 6 different namely Ghatal subdivision (flood prone) including families and under 4 different orders (Table-1). Four species Chandrakona–I, Chandrakona–II, Daspur–I, Daspur–II and namely Bellamya bengalensis (Lamarck, 1882), Pila globosa Ghatal blocks; Jhargram subdivision (drought prone) (swainson, 1828), Lamellidens marginalis (Lamarck, 1819) including Binpur–I, Binpur–II, Jamboni, Jhargram, and Lymnaea acuminata (Lamarck, 1822) were abundant and Gopiballavpur–I, Gopiballavpur–II, Nayagram and Sankrail found in all most all 29 revenue Blocks of the district (Table- blocks and Midnapur Sadar & Kharagpur subdivision 2). All the species were under Least Concern category of (industrial as well as agricultural) including Medinipur Sadar, IUCN (2014.3) status (Table-1). Indoplanorbis exustus Garhbeta–I, Garhbeta–II, Garhbeta–III, Keshpur and (Deshayes, 1834) showed most restricted distribution and Shalboni, Dantan–I, Dantan–II, Pingla, Kharagpur–I, found only in Pingla Block. Beside these, Melanoides Kharagpur–II, Sabang, Mohanpur, Narayangarh, Keshiari and tuberculata (O. F. Müller, 1774), Lamellidens corrianus(Lea, Debra revenue blocks. The faunal distribution of these three 1834), Gabbia orcula (Frauenfeld, 1862) and Terebia lineate geomorphological subdivisions is more or less similar (Table- (Gray, 1828) showed restricted distribution and found within 3). Sorensen’s Quotient of similarity Index [14] revealed that two to three Blocks (Table-2). As the study area has been all the three geomorphological subdivisions are strongly divided into three geomorphological subdivisions it was similar in their freshwater molluscan faunal distribution found that all the 9 species were available in agro-industrial (Table- 4). Similarity between Ghantal Subdivision and subdivision of Midnapur-Kharagpur region. Both agro based, Jhargram Subdivision is maximum (0.80) and between other flood prone Ghantal Subdivision and drought prone Jhargram two is equal (0.72). Subdivision represents 5 species each (Table-3). Majority of the samples were collected from May to 6. Conclusion September-October of 2013 and 2014. Ecological parameters The present study is a grassroots survey of the freshwater like water temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen and conductivity macro-faunal diversity is certainly being the extension of of water sample of collection spots has been measured (Table- knowledge and base line for further study of future 6). It has been observed that water temperature of the study researchers. The survey results that the distribution of site varies from 26.7 ̊ C to 37.1 ̊ C. pH ranges from nearly freshwater edible molluscs of Paschim Medinipur is strongly neutral to alkaline up to 10. Dissolved oxygen ranges from 5.6 similar in between three geomorphological subdivisions of the ppm to 7.1 ppm during the study period. Conductivity of district. A further study on diversity and conservation of water body ranges from 26.86 μS – 376.6 μS (at cons. 0.5) freshwater molluscan fauna is suggested as because some of and from 53.51 μS – 755.4 μS. Electric conductivity of water the species may overlooked by the investigator and continues is positively correlated to temperature and pH. During the monitoring is essential for assessment of the status of an present study it has been observed that majority of the village organism in its natural habitat. people consumed mollusks as a palatable protein resource. Therefore, all the species have been randomly estimated for 7. Acknowledgements: Author express his sincere gratitude their protein contain. Protein analysis of the sample revealed to the Principal, Raja N. L. Khan Women’s College, that Indoplanorbis