Fish Diversity and Water Quality Parameters of Mechi River, Jhapa, Province No. 1, Nepal

Species diversity is widely recognised as an important trait of functioning and resilient ecosystem. Spatio-temporal patterns of fish community structure in the Mechi River was studied based on stratified random survey, conducted between September 2018 and April 2019. The survey was conducted at three different sampling stations in three different seasons. For the fish sampling, two cast nets of different sizes were used, one having large mesh size of 0.5 cm, 3 m diameter and 2 kg weight and another having mesh size of 2 cm, 6 m diameter and 6 kg weight. In addition, drag net and gill net were also used to collect the fish samples. A total of 1,772 fishes belonging to 4 orders, 8 families, 16 genera and 33 species were documented. The results from the similarity percentage analysis indicated that, the species Schistura devdevi, Brachydanio rerio, Puntius sophore, Barilius barila, Schistura beveani and Puntius terio were the most copious fish species recorded from the Mechi River. One-way analysis of similarity testing for space and time variations in fish community indicated that there was a significant difference in space (R = 0.66, p<0.01) but no significant difference in time (R = -0.0123, p>0.433). The Canonical Correspondence Analysis hinted that dissolved oxygen, water velocity and pH have shown to influence the fish assemblage structure in Mechi River.

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Fish community structure along altitudinal gradients with relation to environmental variables in Ratuwa River of Eastern, Nepal

Our Nature ◽

10.3126/on.v19i1.41265 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

pp. 70-81

Author(s):

Dipak Rajbanshi ◽

Jash Hang Limbu ◽

Niraj Khadka ◽

Prakash Kumar ◽

Jeevan Kumar Gurung ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Community Structure ◽

Altitudinal Gradient ◽

Fish Community ◽

Fish Diversity ◽

Fish Assemblage Structure ◽

Fish Community Structure ◽

Brachydanio Rerio ◽

Altitudinal Gradients ◽

Space And Time ◽

Significant Difference

Studies on fish community structure along altitudinal gradients of rivers are lacking in Nepal. This study was carried out to gauge the fish diversity and composition along elevational gradient in Ratuwa River. The altitudinal gradient varies between 70 m to 1300 m. Fish samples were collected based on habitat representativeness from April (spring) 10-18, July (summer) 10-18, October (autumn) 10-18, 2020 and January (winter) 10-18, 2021. A total of 3447 specimens representing 4 orders, 14 families and 36 species were identified. Both fish diversity and abundance of studied ichthyofauna vary with altitudinal gradient. The present study affirmed that fish species of Opsarius bendelisis, Schistura multifasciatus, Garra annandalei, Brachydanio rerio, Aspidoparia morar, and Schistura scaturigina are the major contributory species (>1%) for both space and time spectrums. Fish community structure testing for both to space and time showed significant difference in spatial spectrum (R=0.72, P<0.01) but no significant difference in temporal variation (R=-0.034, P>0.05). The present results hinted that fish assemblage structure varied significantly from low to high elevations, altitude, water temperature, water velocity, dissolved oxygen and pH was found as major influential factors (P<0.05) for species distribution.

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Fish Community Structure and Environmental Correlates in Nepal’s Andhi Khola, Province No. 4, Syangja

Borneo Journal of Resource Science and Technology ◽

10.33736/bjrst.2510.2020 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 85-92

Author(s):

Jash hang Limbu ◽

BISHNU BHURTEL ◽

ASHIM ADHIKARI ◽

PUNAM GC ◽

MANIKA MAHARJAN ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Community Structure ◽

Spatial Variation ◽

Fish Assemblage ◽

Environmental Variables ◽

Fish Community ◽

Mesh Size ◽

Fish Diversity ◽

Fish Assemblage Structure ◽

Fish Community Structure ◽

Significant Difference

The study of correlations between fish diversity, environmental variables and fish habitat aspects at different space and time scales of Nepal’s rivers and streams is scanty. This study investigated spatial and temporal patterns of fish assemblage structure in Nepal’s Andhi Khola. The field survey was conducted from September 2018 to May 2019 and the fishes were sampled from three sites using a medium size cast net of mesh size ranging from 1.5 to 2.5 cm and gill net having 2-3 cm mesh size, 30-35 feet length and 3-4 feet width, with the help of local fisher man. A total of 907 individuals representing 15 species belonged to four orders, six families and 11 genera were recorded during the study time. To detect the feasible relationships between fish community structure and environmental variables, we executed a Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA). Based on similarity percentage (SIMPER) analysis, the major contributing species are Barilius barila (26.15%), Barilius vagra (20.48%), Mastacembelus armatus (8.04%), Puntius terio (6.64%), and Barilius bendelisis (5.94%). One-way analysis similarity (ANOSIM) tried out for both time and space variations in fish community structure suggested that there was a significant difference in temporal variation (R = 0.794, P = 0.0037) but no significant difference in spatial variation (R = -0.18, P = 0.923). Results from the Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) vindicated that dissolved oxygen, free carbon-dioxide and total hardness were the principle physio-chemical correlates of fish assemblage structure. One-way analysis of similarity (ANOSIM) on the Non-metric Multidimensional Scaling (NMDS) showed significant difference between spring, autumn and winter season but no significant difference was found in spatial variation. The extraction and transportation of boulders, cobbles, pebbles, sand mining, haphazard ongoing road development and dam construction for the irrigation without fish ladders were found to be existing threats to the fish diversity of Andhi Khola. Keywords: Fish assemblage, multivariate analysis, rivers, spatio-temporal, streams

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Fish Community Assemblages of Mining-Impacted Freshwaters at Prestea, Ghana

Asian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Research ◽

10.9734/ajfar/2018/v1i1249 ◽

2018 ◽

pp. 1-9

Author(s):

Osei O. Antobre ◽

Nat Owusu-Prempeh ◽

Michael J. Twumasi-Ankrah

Keyword(s):

Fish Community ◽

Average Length ◽

Mesh Size ◽

Fish Diversity ◽

Freshwater Ecosystem ◽

Fish Community Structure ◽

Average Width ◽

H Index ◽

Community Assemblage ◽

Fish Samples

The study evaluated the fish community assemblage in the sections of the Subri river, the Ankobra river, and the “galamsey” pond within the Prestea community as impacted by alluvial mining activities. Gill nets of length 10 m and mesh size 1.27 cm were used to trap fish of average length 25.25 cm whilst cane baskets were used to trap fish of average width 10.40 cm using the catch and recapture method. All the 46 fish samples identified belong to 10 genera and 5 families. The Chichlidae was the dominant family, accounting for 60% of the total families observed. With an H’ index of 1.57 the Subri river had the most fish diversity in comparison with the Ankobra river and the “galamsey” pond, which had 1.21 and 0.71, respectively. Similarly, the Subri river had a more complex fish community structure than the Ankobra and “galamsey” pond. The dominant species, Oreochromis niloticus, has not yet been evaluated by the IUCN, but the least dominated Brienomyrus brachyistus could be regarded as “least concern”. Notwithstanding, these fish are essential for food by the local communities. There is a possibility that the alluvial mining might have influenced the complexities of fish species communities. Thus conservation efforts must be promoted to sustain fish communities and overall freshwater ecosystem health.

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Spatial and Temporal Variation of Fish Assemblages in Seti Gandaki River, Tanahu, Nepal

Borneo Journal of Resource Science and Technology ◽

10.33736/bjrst.2048.2020 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 93-104

Author(s):

ARCHANA PRASAD ◽

ANJANA SHRESTHA ◽

JASH HANG LIMBU ◽

DEEP SWAR

Keyword(s):

Community Structure ◽

Fish Community ◽

Fish Assemblages ◽

Mesh Size ◽

Spatial And Temporal Variation ◽

Total Hardness ◽

Medium Size ◽

Fish Community Structure ◽

Space And Time ◽

Significant Difference

The space and time variations of the fish community structure in hill streams of Nepal are poorly understood. This research aims at studying the space and time variation of fish community structure in the Seti Gandaki River, Tanahu, Nepal. The field survey was conducted from July 2017 to June 2018 and the fishes were sampled from six sites using a medium size cast net of mesh size ranging from 3 mm to 6 mm mesh size, 25-33 feet length and 3.5-5 feet width, with the help of local fisher man. A total of 1,440 individuals were caught representing 46 species belonging to three order, nine families and 23 genera. The analysis of similarity (ANOSIM) showed significant difference in space (R = 0.824, P = 0.001) but not in time (R = 0.135, P = 0.021). On the basis of similarity percentage (SIMPER) analysis, 85.43% similarity was found among the seasons and major contributing species were Barilius bendelisis (8.44%) followed by B. vagra (7.79%), Tor putitora (7.27%), Garra gotyla (7%), Acanthocobotis botia (6.7%), Neolissochilus hexagonolepis (6.64%), Barilius shacra (6%), B. barila (4.5%) and Opsarius barna (4.37%). On the other hand, 85.24% similarity was found among the sites and major contributing species were B. bendelisis (8.8%) followed by B. vagra (7.6%), G. gotyla (7.27%), T. putitora (7.17%), A. botia (6.97%), N. hexagonolepis (6.7%), B. shacra (6.34%), B. barila (4.7%) and O. barna (4.39%). Results from the Canonical Correspondence Analysis indicated that the environmental variables, such as pH, total hardness, alkalinity, dissolved oxygen and water temperature have shown to determine the fish community structure of Seti Gandaki River. Keywords: Fish diversity, freshwater, habitat, spatio-temporal, stream

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Fish Assemblage Structure and Environmental Correlates in Nepal’s West Rapti River, Banke

Our Nature ◽

10.3126/on.v18i1.34239 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

pp. 28-37

Author(s):

Sujata Chaudhary ◽

Jash Hang Limbu ◽

Suren Subba ◽

Jeevan Kumar Gurung ◽

Naresh Pandey ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fish Assemblage ◽

Fish Assemblages ◽

Mesh Size ◽

Temporal Variations ◽

Assemblage Structure ◽

Spatial And Temporal Variations ◽

Fish Assemblage Structure ◽

Environmental Correlates ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Fish Samples

The spatial and temporal variations of fish assemblages in rivers and streams of Nepal are poorly understood. So, the present study aimed to explore the spatial and temporal variations of fish assemblage structure in Nepal’s West Rapti River. The data were collected during autumn, winter and spring seasons, from October 2018 to April 2019. Fish samples were collected using cast net of 12 mm mesh size. A total of 28 species belonging to 7 orders, 10 families and 19 genera were recorded during the study. The analysis of similarity (ANOSIM) showed no significant difference among the stations and seasons. Based on cluster analysis, two major clusters were observed. The similarity percentage (SIMPER) analysis delineated that Cabdio morar (C14, 13.63%), Barilius bendelensis (C11, 10.32%), Gogangra viridescens (C22, 7.85%), Salmostoma phulo (C17, 7.74%), Labeo gonius (C5, 7.53%), Gagata cenia (C23, 6.45%), Garra gotyla (C6, 5.87%) and Labeo dyocelius (C2, 5.62%) were the most contributing species. The Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) distinctly showed that the environmental variables dissolved oxygen, pH, carbon-dioxide, and water temperature play an essential role in shaping the fish assemblage structure of West Rapti River.

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Relationships between environmental conditions and fish assemblages in the Lohore River of Dailekh, Western Nepal

Our Nature ◽

10.3126/on.v19i1.41217 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

pp. 18-26

Author(s):

Sushil Shrestha ◽

Dipak Rajbanshi ◽

Dil Kumar Limbu ◽

Jash Hang Limbu

Keyword(s):

Fish Species ◽

Environmental Conditions ◽

Fish Assemblages ◽

Mesh Size ◽

Influential Factors ◽

Fish Diversity ◽

Fish Community Structure ◽

Aquatic Communities ◽

Riverine Ecosystems ◽

Fish Samples

The Lohore River is one of the important riverine ecosystems of Dailekh which support diverse aquatic communities. The present study was carried out to assess the fish diversity status with relation to environmental conditions in both to space and time. The survey was conducted at three different sampling stations in three different seasons. For the fish sampling, two cast nets of different mesh sizes were used, one having large mesh size of 2 cm, 6 m diameter and 6 kg weight and another having mesh size of 0.5 cm, 3 m diameter and 2 kg weight. Moreover, drag net and gill net were also used to collect the fish samples. A total of 11 fish species belonging to 2 orders, 3 families and 7 genera. Results from the similarity percentage analysis (SIMPER) suggested that fish species of Puntius gelius, Schizothorax plagiostomus, Tor chelynoides and Schistura sovana were major contributing species each contribute more than 9%. An analysis of similarity (ANOSIM) pointed that fish community structure in the Lohore River differ in spatial scale (p<0.01) but not in temporal scale (P>0.01). Water temperature, dissolved oxygen and water velocity was found as influential factors for fish species distribution.

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Characterization of Fish Community Structure And Development of An Estuarine Fish Community Index For Temporarily Closed Estuaries (TCEs) From India’s Western Coast

10.21203/rs.3.rs-402316/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Kiranya Bella ◽

Pramila Sahadevan ◽

Sreekanth Giri Bhavan ◽

Appukuttannair Bijukumar ◽

Rajeev Raghavan

Keyword(s):

Community Structure ◽

Fish Community ◽

Estuarine Fish ◽

Feeding Guilds ◽

Western India ◽

Western Coast ◽

Anthropogenic Pressure ◽

Fish Assemblage Structure ◽

Ecological Quality ◽

Fish Community Structure

Abstract We present for the first-time data on fish assemblage structure for ten temporarily closed estuaries (TCEs) along the western coast of India. Fish community structure differed significantly between TCEs based on species presence/absence, estuarine use and feeding mode - differences based on estuarine surface area and geographical position (northern and southern locations). Marine migrant and freshwater stragglers dominated the ‘fish guilds’ in all estuaries, while piscivores and zoobenthivores were the major feeding guilds. We used the estuarine fish community index (EFCI) and a combined anthropogenic pressure index (CPI) to determine ecological quality of the TCEs. The application of functional guilds and EFCI could represent the use of TCEs by fish communities, and functional similarities existing between fish assemblages of these estuaries, despite considerable taxonomic, physical and chemical differences. Analysis of EFCI indicated that the ecological health of TCEs in south-western India ranges from “poor” to “good”. Through this index, we also established a significant relationship between CPI, EFCI and ecological quality in various TCEs (EFCI = A + (b X CPI)). Thus, the EFCI provides an integrated measure of the ecological status of fish community for TCEs along Indian coast.

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Ichthyofaunal diversity with relation to environmental variables in the snow-fed Tamor River of eastern Nepal

Journal of Threatened Taxa ◽

10.11609/jott.7554.13.14.20190-20200 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (14) ◽

pp. 20190-20200

Author(s):

Jawan Tumbahangfe ◽

Jash Hang Limbu ◽

Archana Prasad ◽

Bharat Raj Subba ◽

Dil Kumar Limbu

Keyword(s):

Analysis Of Variance ◽

Environmental Variables ◽

Redundancy Analysis ◽

Fish Community ◽

Mesh Size ◽

Summer Season ◽

Total Hardness ◽

Fish Community Structure ◽

Field Surveys ◽

Four Seasons

Tamor River in eastern Nepal supports diverse hill stream fishes. From winter, spring, summer, and autumn of 2020, we investigated the ichthyofaunal diversity with environmental variables in the snow-fed Tamor River covering four seasons (winter, spring, summer, and autumn) and field surveys were carried out in January, April, July, and October 2020. We used two cast nets of different sizes, one with a mesh size of 2 cm, 6 m diameter and 6 kg weight and another having 0.5 cm, 3 m diameter and 2 kg weight. In addition, monofilament gill nets with mesh sizes of 6, 8, and 10 were used for fish sampling. A total of 6,373 fish individuals representing 28 species belonging to three orders, seven families, and 16 genera were recorded. One-way permutational multivariate analysis of variance (perMANOVA) on the Non-metric Multidimensional Scaling (NMDS) showed no significant (P >0.05) difference between winter, spring, and autumn season but summer season showed significant (P <0.05) difference from winter, spring, and autumn seasons. Furthermore, one-way analysis of variance on redundancy analysis (RDA) vindicated that among the selected parameters, pH, air temperature and total hardness were the influencing factors (P <0.05) to determine the fish community structure in Tamor River.

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Mangroves as Fish Habitat

Mangroves as Fish Habitat ◽

10.47886/9781934874424.ch6 ◽

2015 ◽

Keyword(s):

Water Quality ◽

Particle Size ◽

Species Richness ◽

Fish Species ◽

Fish Community ◽

Spatial Scales ◽

Quality Parameters ◽

Habitat Characteristics ◽

Fish Community Structure ◽

Simultaneous Assessment

Abstract.—Three adjacent tidal creek systems (Page, Kemps, and Broad creeks) on Cape Eleuthera, The Bahamas were studied to quantify the variation in fish community structure and habitat characteristics over small (<5 km) spatial scales. Snorkeling transects were used to census the fish community on a summer new moon during slack high tide and involved the simultaneous assessment of each creek and each zone within the creek (i.e., mouth, middle, and upper) replicated over three consecutive days. The simultaneous assessment (involving large teams) was done to enable direct comparison without spatial sampling being confounded by time. Habitat assessments included measurements of water quality parameters, sediment sampling, and vegetation surveys. Despite their close proximity, creeks differed in both fish community structure and habitat characteristics. Broad Creek had the greatest fish species richness (n = 15), followed by Kemps Creek (n = 14) and Page Creek (n = 10). Mangrove habitats had significantly greater fish species diversity in Broad Creek while sea grass habitats resulted in higher species richness in Page Creek, relative to other habitat types. Mangrove and algal plain habitats had the highest fish species diversity in Kemps Creek. Within creeks, fish abundance was dependent on zonation, with the largest number of fish being found in creek mouths compared to upper sections. Water quality parameters (i.e., temperature, dissolved oxygen, and salinity) differed among the creeks, presumably reflecting creek morphology. Out of the 10 different species of vegetation observed, 60% were found in all tidal creeks. Coarse sand was the predominant particle size for all creeks, with variation in the second most abundant particle size between Page Creek and the others. This study reveals the great heterogeneity of tidal creek fish community and habitat characteristics and illustrates that conservation and management strategies along with monitoring programs must recognize the variation that can occur among and within coastal creeks over relatively small spatial scales.

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Environmental Determinants Influencing Fish Community Structure and Diversity in Two Distinct Seasons among Wetlands of Northern Region (Ghana)

International Journal of Ecology ◽

10.1155/2016/1598701 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 2016 ◽

pp. 1-10 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Collins Ayine Nsor ◽

Edward Adzesiwor Obodai

Keyword(s):

Community Structure ◽

Fish Community ◽

Nitrate Nitrogen ◽

Grazing Intensity ◽

Distribution Patterns ◽

Northern Region ◽

Fish Distribution ◽

Fish Diversity ◽

Fish Community Structure ◽

Dca Ordination

Fish community structure was assessed in six wetlands using cast nets, to correlate with environmental variables with diversity and distribution patterns, from 2010 to 2012. A total of 2,239 individuals belonging to 44 species and 1,938 individuals belonging to 40 species were sampled in the dry and wet seasons. Mochokid and Mormyrid families dominated fish community and constituted 14.8%, respectively, followed by Alestids (12.9%) and Chlariids (11.1%). Rarer taxons were centropomids, channids, malapteruds, and oesteoglossids and represented 1.9%, respectively. Overall, CPUE per net did not vary significantly (Tukey HSD test,p=0.27) in the dry and wet seasons. Wuntori marsh consistently showed dominance in mean monthly CPUE per net (dry =115±4.5; wet =107±7.7seasons), while Bunglung constructed wetland was the least recorded (dry =56.5±6.2; wet =58.3±4.1seasons). Fish diversity and richness differed significantly (F=0.11,p=0.03) among seasons. Environmental disturbances were season-specific and did not differ significantly (F=0.16,df=14,p=0.97) among sites. A DCA ordination explained 69% variability in fish distribution patterns, while PCA showed that 81.8% of nitrate-nitrogen, phosphate, and grazing intensity on axis 1 and conductivity, temperature, and turbidity on axis 2 influenced fish community structure. Wetland conservation must be promoted to sustain fish abundance and overall ecosystem stability.

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