Disclaimer note This information should be considered accurate as of the date prepared, namely 2007. You acknowledge that this information may change over time and you should not assume that this information is accurate at a later date. WWF-Pakistan and the Royal Netherlands Embassy accept no responsibility for any errors, deviations and omissions in information compiled by independent consultants in this report. Please send comments regarding any errors, inconsistencies, unacknowledged use of source material or any other issue regarding this ecological baseline report as it will help to curate this database. Comments can be submitted to [email protected] Detailed Ecological Assessment Report 2008 – Keenjhar Lake TABLE OF CONTENTS Table of contents i List of tables vi List of figures viii List of maps and images x List of Acronyms xi List of resource people/consultants xiii Acknowledgement xiv Executive summary xv Chapter 1 Introduction…………………………………………………… 1 1.1 Introduction to Keenjhar Lake……………………………… 2 1.1.1 State of natural resources…………………………………….. 4 1.1.2 Socio-economic status of communities around Keenjhar 5 Lake……………………………………………………………… 1.1.3 Infrastructure and social services……………………………. 5 1.2 Rationale and Objectives…………………………………… 6 1.2.1 Large Mammals Survey……………………………………….. 6 1.2.1.1 Rationale………………………………………………………… 6 1.2.1.2 Objectives of the study………………………………………… 7 1.2.2 Small mammal survey…………………………………………. 7 1.2.2.1 Rationale………………………………………………………… 7 1.2.2.2 Objectives of the study………………………………………... 9 1.2.3 Reptiles and amphibians survey……………………………… 10 1.2.3.1 Rationale………………………………………………………… 10 1.2.3.2 Objectives of the study………………………………………... 10 1.2.4 Birds survey…………………………………………………….. 11 1.2.4.1 Rationale………………………………………………………… 11 1.2.4.2 Objectives of the study………………………………………… 11 1.2.5 Freshwater Fisheries…………………………………………... 12 1.2.5.1 Objective………………………………………………………… 12 1.2.6 Phytoplankton…………………………………………………... 12 1.2.6.1 Rationale………………………………………………………… 12 1.2.6.2 Objectives of the study………………………………………… 13 1.2.7 Zooplankton…………………………………………………….. 13 1.2.7.1 Rationale………………………………………………………… 13 1.2.7.2 Objectives of the study………………………………………… 14 1.2.8 Physicochemical properties of water………………………… 15 1.2.8.1 Objectives of the study………………………………………… 15 1.3 Literature Review……………………………………………. 15 1.3.1 Large Mammals ……………………………………………….. 15 1.3.2 Small Mammals………………………………………………… 16 1.3.3 Reptiles and amphibians……………………………………… 17 WWF Pakistan – Indus for All Programme i Detailed Ecological Assessment Report 2008 – Keenjhar Lake 1.3.4 Birds …………………………………………………………….. 17 1.3.5 Freshwater Fisheries………………………………………….. 18 1.3.6 Phytoplankton………………………………………………….. 18 1.3.7 Zooplankton……………………………………………………... 20 1.3.8 Physico-chemical properties of water………………………... 20 Chapter 2 Material and methods………………………………………… 22 2.1 Mammals……………………………………………………. 23 2.1. Team composition……………………………………………. 23 2.1.2 Point surveys……………………………………………………. 23 2.1.3 Roadside counts………………………………………………... 23 2.1.4 Track counts…………………………………………………….. 23 2.1.5 Line transects…………………………………………………… 23 2.1.6 Pellet counts……………………………………………………. 24 2.1.7 Interviews with local residents………………………………… 24 2.1.8 Capture-mark-recapture……………………………………….. 25 2.1.9 Live trapping of nocturnal mammals…………………………. 25 2.1.10 Equipments and Field Kit……………………………………… 25 2.2 Small Mammals……………………………………………… 26 2.2.1 Bait………………………………………………………………. 26 2.2.2 Traps and trapping procedure………………………………… 26 2.2.3 Data collection………………………………………………….. 27 2.3 Reptiles and amphibians……………………………………. 27 2.3.1 Survey Method………………………………………………….. 27 2.3.2 Active searching………………………………………………… 27 2.3.3 Signs…………………………………………………………….. 28 2.3.4 Collection………………………………………………………... 28 2.3.5 Data records…………………………………………………….. 28 2.3.5 Preservation…………………………………………………….. 28 2.3.6 Identification of species………………………………………... 29 2.3.7 Data analysis……………………………………………………. 29 2.4 Birds……………………………………………………………... 29 2.4.1 Survey method …………………………………………………. 29 2.4.2 Evaluation of water-bird numbers…………………………….. 30 2.5 Freshwater fisheries…………………………………………. 30 2.5.1 Fish surveys…………………………………………………….. 30 2.5.2 Cast-netting technique…………………………………………. 31 2.6 Phytoplankton………………………………………………… 31 2.6.1 Collection methodology………………………………………... 31 2.7 Zooplankton………………………………………………….. 31 2.7.1 Collection protocols and standardizing procedures………… 31 2.7.2 For aquatic invertebrate fauna - Plankton net and drag nets 32 2.7.3 Random sampling………………………………………………. 32 2.7.4 Precautions in field……………………………………………... 32 2.7.5 Precautions in taxonomic investigation………………………. 32 2.7.6 Hand picking and use of forceps……………………………… 33 2.7.7 Preservation and storage of the specimens…………………. 33 2.7.8 Counting and studying the zooplankton …………………….. 33 2.8 Physico-chemical properties of water……..……………… 33 Chapter 3 Findings and discussion…………………………………….. 35 3.1 Large mammals…...…………………………………………… 36 3.1.1 Sampling Sites………………………………………………….. 36 3.1.2 Species identified………………………………………………. 36 3.1.3 Observation records……………………………………………. 36 3.1.4 Conservation status of different mammal species………….. 37 WWF Pakistan – Indus for All Programme ii Detailed Ecological Assessment Report 2008 – Keenjhar Lake 3.1.5 Population Estimations………………………………………… 37 3.1.5.1 Population of Asiatic jackal……………………………………. 37 3.1.5.2 Population of wild boar……………………………………….... 38 3.1.6 Threats and recommendations……………………………….. 38 3.1.6.1 Threats…………………………………………………………… 38 3.1.6.2 Recommendations……………………………………………… 38 3.2 Small Mammals………………………………………………. 39 3.2.1 Sample location 39 3.2.2 Species account………………………………………………… 39 3.2.3 Orders and families…………………………………………….. 40 3.2.4 Feeding habits………………………………………………….. 41 3.2.5 Habitat and conservation status………………………………. 41 3.2.6 Threats and recommendations……………………………….. 42 3.2.6.1 Threats…………………………………………………………… 42 3.2.6.2 Recommendations……………………………………………… 42 3.3 Reptiles and amphibians……………………………………. 43 3.3.1 Sampling location 43 3.3.2 Species account………………………………………………… 44 3.3.3 Species diversity………………………………………………... 46 3.3.4 Threat and recommendations…………………………………. 46 3.3.4.1 Threats…………………………………………………………… 46 3.3.4.2 Recommendations……………………………………………… 47 3.4 Birds……………………………………………………………. 48 3.4.1 Sampling sites………………………………………………….. 48 3.4.2 Species accounts for summer………………………………… 48 3.4.3 Species account for winter……………………………………. 50 3.4.4 Summer and winter comparison……………………………… 53 3.4.5 Conservation status……………………………………………. 54 3.4.6 Habitats………………………………………………………….. 54 3.4.7 Threats and recommendations……………………………….. 55 3.4.7.1 Threats…………………………………………………………… 55 3.4.7.2 Recommendations……………………………………………… 55 3.5 Freshwater fisheries…………………………………………. 55 3.5.1 Species account………………………………………………… 55 3.5.2 Orders and families…………………………………………….. 60 3.5.3 Relative abundance and status……………………………….. 60 3.5.4 Economic status of fish species recorded from Keenjhar 63 Lake……………………………………………………………… 3.5.5 Brief on licensing system at Keenjhar Lake 64 3.5.6 Threats and recommendations……………………………….. 66 3.5.6.1 Threats…………………………………………………………… 66 3.5.6.2 Recommendations……………………………………………… 68 3.6 Phytoplankton……………………………………………….. 69 3.6.1 Summer Flora…………………………………………………… 69 3.6.2 Winter Flora……………………………………………………... 70 3.6.3 Comparison of summer and winter…………………………… 72 3.6.4 Threat and recommendations…………………………………. 76 3.7 Zooplankton……………………………………………………. 76 3.7.1 Sampling locations……………………………………………... 76 3.7.2 Species account………………………………………………… 77 3.7.3 Aquatic macro invertebrates found in Keenjhar…………….. 78 3.7.4 Aquatic micro invertebrates found in Keenjhar……………… 78 3.7.5 Terrestrial invertebrates at Keenjhar…………………………. 79 3.7.6 Discussion………………………………………………………. 81 WWF Pakistan – Indus for All Programme iii Detailed Ecological Assessment Report 2008 – Keenjhar Lake 3.7.7 Conclusion………………………………………………………. 83 3.7.8 Threats and recommendations……………………………….. 84 3.8 Physico-chemical properties of water…………………… 85 3.8.1 Sampling locations …………………………………………….. 85 3.8.2 Field observations during water sampling…………………… 85 3.8.2.1 Population and human activities……………………………… 85 3.8.2.2 Flow and levels…………………………………………………. 86 3.8.3 Drinking Water………………………………………………….. 88 3.8.4 Agriculture and livestock………………………………………. 89 3.8.5 Fisheries………………………………………………………… 89 3.8.6 Threats and recommendations ………………………………. 91 Chapter 4 Comparison of the four study sites……………………… 92 4.1 Mammals……………………………………………………… 93 4.1.1 Summary………………………………………………………… 93 4.1.2 Species identified 94 4.1.3 Observation records …………………………………………… 95 4.1.4 Conservation status of mammal species…………………….. 95 4.1.5 Species diversity……………………………………………….. 96 84.1.6 Comparison of species observed during summer and 97 winter………………………………………………………….. 4.1.7 Population estimations………………………………………… 99 4.1.8 Assessment of level of threats to mammals at different 100 study sites……………………………………………………….. 4.2 Small mammals……………………………………………… 102 4.2.1 Species recorded……………………………………………….. 102 4.2.2 Similarity index over sites and seasons……………………… 103 4.2.3 Feeding habits………………………………………………….. 104 4.2.4 Habitat…………………………………………………………… 105 4.2.5 Status of small mammals across the survey sites………….. 105 4.3 Reptiles and amphibians……………………………………. 107 4.3.1 Summary………………………………………………………… 107 4.3.2 Species recorded ……………………………………………… 108 4.3.3 Species diversity ………………………………………………. 110 4.4 Avi-fauna……………………………………………………… 112 4.4.1 Summary………………………………………………………… 112 4.4.1.1 Keti Bunder …………………………………………………….. 112 4.4.1.2 Keenjhar Lake ………………………………………………….