Central Annals of Aquaculture and Research Research Article *Corresponding author Ramanibai Ravichandran, Department of Zoology, University of Madras, Unit of Aquatic biodiversity, Guindy Fish Fauna Diversity and Campus, Chennai-25, Email: Submitted: 06 August 2016 Conservation Status of Pulicat Accepted: 31 August 2016 Published: 02 September 2016 Lagoon in Tamil Nadu ISSN: 2379-0881 Copyright Sivalingam Govindan and Ramanibai Ravichandran* © 2016 Ravichandran et al. Department of Zoology, University of Madras, India OPEN ACCESS Abstract Keywords • Pulicat lagoon Fish fauna is considered as a good indicator of water quality. The aim of this • Physico- chemical properties study was to assess the influence of environmental factors on the fish distribution • Biodiversity and conservation status in Pulicat Lagoon. Bimonthly surveys were conducted from September 2013 to August 2015 in which 83 fish species were recovered, belonging to 14 orders and 50 families. The dominant order was Perciformes which were represented by 44 species. Various physico-chemical parameters and nutrients were found to be suitable for growth of plankton and stocking of fish species. Hence, the present study there are only few fish species were near threatened and endangered of in the Pulicat therefore serious conservation action and renovation is required to prevent the loss of biodiversity. INTRODUCTION . In particular, Fishes are an important vertebrate group of the animal world importance to study water quality while studying fish production and contribute overwhelmingly to global biodiversity. Fishes are physicochemicalespecially when donecharacteristics in an artificial of their setting aquatic [6] habitat which used as a food source and contain many vital vitamins and fatty supportsfish populations their biological are highly functions dependent [7]. Theupon present the variations study was of conducted to determine the physico-chemical parameters of water, icthyofaunal diversity and conservation status of Pulicat acids. The study of fish and their stability is important because important role, as they are not only useful for food and recreation, Lagoon. butfish populationsalso act as a very tool significantlyfor biological from control year byto year.feeding They upon play the an planktonic population and aquatic vegetation [1]. Worldwide MATERIALS AND METHODS 1,494 genera [2]. Indian species represent about 8.9 % of the Study area 27,977 valid species of fishes under 62 orders, 515 families and ordersknown infish the species Indian region.in the Theworld. coastal Venkatraman region is a place[3] estimated of hectic The fishes were collected from the Pulicat Lagoon during human4,000 species activity of fishowing belonging to urbanization to 969 genera, and 254 industrialization families and 40 the period of Sept 2013 - Aug 2015 from the following locations resulting in human interference of rapid development. In recent Barmouth (S1), Kunankuppam (S2), Light house kuppm (S3) years, the coastal ecosystems have become highly disturbed and SattankuppamCollection and (S4) analysis and Jameelabad (S5). very much threatened and attributed to problems like pollution, The water quality parameters like temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen etc., must be watched commonly, individually or surges [4]. Pulicat Lagoon, which is located in the North Chennai synergistically to keep the aquatic habitat positive for existence coastalsiltation, region, erosion, is a flooding,typical brackish salt water water intrusion ecosystem and of stormgreat importance with regard to its biodiversity and aesthetic value. sterilized sampling bottles and physico-chemical parameters like Due to its morphological and brackish water characteristics, pH,of fish. (Figure Water 1), samples temperatures were collectedwere analysed early inat thesite. morning Dissolved in it is the most suitable breeding and nursing ground habitat for oxygen (DO), phosphate were analyzed in accordance with American Public Health Association [8]. the coast of the Bay of Bengal, being separated from it by an extensivefishes in thesand-strip North Chennaicalled the coastal Sriharikota region. Island, It runs on parallelwhich the to Fish samples were collected from different stations during Sriharikota High Altitude Range (SHAR) of the Indian Space nets,the study cast periodnets and from dragnets September [9]. Fish2013 specimen to August were 2015 collectedwith the Research Organization (ISRO) is located [5]. Water is the natural help of local fishermen using different types of nets namely gill habitat of fishes and other aquatic animals, it is therefore of great Cite this article: Govindan S, Ravichandran R (2016) Fish Fauna Diversity and Conservation Status of Pulicat Lagoon in Tamil Nadu. Ann Aquac Res 3(2): 1018. Ravichandran et al. (2016) Email: Central and preserved in 10% formaldehyde solution. Fishes were keyed temperature directly or indirectly impacts species distribution commonly considered the most important single ecological andRESULT identified AND using DISCUSSION Day [10-11]. and the seasonality of production in fishes. Temperature is the distribution of marine organisms [18]. factor in the coastal and estuarine ecosystem which can influence during our survey. The Perciformes were dominant with pH was recorded slightly alkaline in Eighty three species, 14 orders and 50 families were found 44 species, followed by Tetraodontiformes with 9 species, Pleuronectiformes with 7 species, Clupeiformes, Siluriformes (Figure 4). According to the report of Northeastern Regional AquaculturePulicat Lagoon Centre (NRAC)were bylowest Fluctuations 7.6 inand pH valueshighest during 9 Anguilliformes and Scorpaeniformes with 2 species each, different seasons of the year is attributed to factors like removal Carcharhiniformes,Mugiliformes with 3 speciesGonorynchiformes, each, Beloniformes Myliobatiformes, with 5 species, of carbondioxide by photosynthesis through bicarbonate Torpediniformes and Syngnathiformes 1 species each (Figure 2) (Table 1). Regarding their conservation status 22 species temperature and decomposition of organic matter as suggested bypoverty, Zingde dilution et al., [19]. of seaIn the water present by fresh investigation water influx, pH an reduce attention of for vulnerable (Epinephelus lanceolatus), Endangered (Thunnus indicates the alkaline nature of water in the study area. Dissolve thynnus)were least, Near concern, Threatened 2 species (Gymnura were data poecilura) deficient, one species and 57 species tooxygen temperature observed [20]. were Theminimum low dissolved 0.6 mg/l andoxygen maximum concentration 4.9 mg/l werePerciformes not assessed were (IUCN-Version the dominant 2015) order (Table that 1). were recovered observed(Figure 5). during Solubility summer of oxygen may be in attributedwater is inversely to the higher proportional salinity from our surveys, a trend that is similar across various coupled with biological processes such as consumption of Perciformes species from Hooghly river of West Bengal India. Abu availableof the water, oxygen higher by temperaturethe organisms and for less respiration inflow of freshwaterand active independent studies. Nath and Patra [12] reported 25 decomposition of organic matter during summer. It is well known coastal waters of Bangladesh and 27 Perciformes species of that the temperature affect the dissolution of oxygen [21]. NizampatnamHanif [13] investigated coastal Andhra 35 Perciformes Pradesh species[14]. Thirteen from Southern species Additional the bulk of weathering of rocks and soluble alkali were recorded from Cuddalore, located at the southeast coast metal phosphates in the upstream area are approved into the estuaries [22]. The addition of super phosphates applied in species were the dominant order (Table 1). of India by Asta Lakshmi [15]. Similarly, in the present study, 44 Temperature is an important factor for the growth of in households as detergents can be other sources of inorganic the agricultural fields as fertilizers and alkyl phosphates used may also be due to the processes like adsorption and desorption biodiversity and influences the biological, biochemical, chemical ofphosphate phosphates throughout and buffering the monsoon action ofseason sediment [23]. underThe variation varying characteristics of aquatic systems [16]. In the present study, environmental conditions [24]. In the present study, the andtemperature showed aminimum great variation as 24.6°C season and maximumwise. According was 32.2°C to Food at andstudy Agriculture area (Figure Organization 3). It varied (FAO)as expected report with [17], seasonal the increase climates of phosphate lowest was 3.29 mg/ml during at summer and highest 5.44 was observed in monsoon (Figure 6). Figure 1 Satellite map of Pulicat lagoon (Source: Google Earth). Ann Aquac Res 3(2): 1018 (2016) 2/6 Ravichandran et al. (2016) Email: Central Figure 2 Fish species in Pulicat lagoon from Sept 2013 – Aug 2015. CONCLUSION Pulicat Lagoon indicated that an altered environment supported less biological communities while less anxious sites maximumwere characterized species recorded by a diverse in study fish area. faunal The diversity. water quality We found was also83 species affected of 14 by various pollutants orders; which Perciformes act on elements represents existing the order in water such as DO or produces substances such as phosphates, other elements and therefore affects the fish fauna indirectly. It is significant to take effective strategies for the maintenance of fish Ann