The Asian Journal of Animal Science

Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription Access
Open Access Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Restricted Access Subscription Access

Habitat Fragmentation Due to Tehri Dam Construction Reduces Fish Species Diversity Among Bhilangana River, Uttrakhand, India


Affiliations
1 Department of Zoology, Fish Reproduction and Conservation Biology Research Lab, H.N.B. Garhwal University Campus, Badshahithaul, Tehri Garhwal (Uttarakhand), India
     

   Subscribe/Renew Journal


Rivers of Garhwal Himalaya are becoming increasingly fragmented. The understanding of consequences of the fragmentation on species composition is crucial for conservation of their flora and fauna. In present study, we examined the fish population of river Bhilangana from its lotic site (S-1), its impoundment (S-2) and downstream tailwater (S- 3) for two consecutive years from May, 2009 to April, 2011. The fishes were collected from the above mentioned sites with the help of local fishermen expert in this occupation. Various Fishing methods such as the Cast nets, Gill nets and Phans and Bour were used for fish collection. The comparative study of fish composition among the fragmented river revealed: 21 fish species belonging to 2 orders, 3 families and 10 genera from of lotic site (S-1), only four species belonging to family Cyprinidae from reservoir site (S-2) and 16 species belonging to 2 order, 3 families and 9 genera from Tailwater (S-3) site. The Snowtrout (Schizothorax spp.) were dominant in fish catch at upstream and downstream sites while Cyprinus carpio which is a non-native species have been dominating in the reservoir site. The Spatial analysis of fish species diversity among the fragmented habitats of the Bhilangana river and comparison with previous study showed negative impacts of fragmentation, which possibly leading to reduced fitness of population and causing a localized extinction.


Subscription Login to verify subscription
User
Notifications
Font Size


  • Agarwal, N.K. and Singh, H.P. (2009). Snowtrout Fishery in Garhwal Himalaya: Causes of Depletion and Strategy for Propagation. Environ. Conservation J., 10(12): 141-146.

  • Arens, P., van der Sluis, T., van’t Westend, W.P.C., Vos, C.C. and Smulders, M.J.M. (2007). Genetic population differentiation and connectivity among fragmented Moor frog (Rana arvalis) populations in the Netherlands. Landscape Ecol., 22 : 1489- 1500.

  • Badola, S.P. (1979). Ecological studies on the Ichythofauna of some freshwater resources of Garhawal Region, D.Phil. Thesis, Garhwal University, India.

  • Badola, S.P. (2009). Ichthyology of the Central Himalaya. Trans Media Publication Media House, Bhandari Bagh Srinagar (Garhwal), Uttrakhand- 246174.

  • Hitchings, S.P. and Beebee, T.J.C. (1998). Loss of genetic diversity and fitness in common toad (Bufo bufo) populations isolated by inimical habitat. J. Evolution Biology, 11 : 269–283.

  • Hoeinghaus, D.J., Winemiller, K.O. and Agostinho, A.A. (2008).Hydrogeomorphology and river impoundment affect food-chain length in diverse Neotropical food webs. Oikos, 117: 984–995.

  • Johnson, P.T.J., Olden, J.D. and Zanden, M.J.V. (2008). Dam invaders: impoundments facilitate biological invasions into freshwaters. Frontiers Ecol. & Environ., 6 : 357–363.

  • Junk, W.J., Bayley, P.B. and Sparks, R.E. (1989). The flood pulse concept in river-floodplain systems. Pages 110–127 in D. P. Dodge, editor. Proceedings of the international large rivers symposium. Special Publication in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 106. Publishing Institution, Ottawa.

  • Khan, M.A. (2004). Environmental appraisal of depleting fish diversity of Kashmir valley. In: Fishery management’ editor Arvind Kumar. APH Publishing corporation Delhi. pp. 175-179.

  • Lakra, V.S., Sarkar, U.K., Kumar, R.S., Pandey,A., Dubey,V.K. and Gusain, O.P. (2010). Fish diversity, habitat ecology and their conservation and management issues of a tropical River in Ganga basin, India. Environmentalist, DOI 10.1007/s10669-010-9277-6.

  • Larsen, T.H., Williams, N.M. and Kremen, C. (2005). Extinction order and altered community structure rapidly disrupt ecosystem functioning. Ecology Letters, 8 : 538–547.

  • Ligon, F.K., Dietrich, W.E. and Trush, W.J. (1995). Downstream ecological effects of Dams. Biosci., 45(3):183-192.

  • Menon, A.G.K. (1974). A check list of fishes of the Himalaya and the Indo-Gangetic plains. Special publication no. 1, Inland fish. Soc. Of India., 7: 1-136.

  • Nilsson, C., Reidy, C. A., Dynesius, M. and Revenga, C. (2005). Fragmentation and flow regulation of the world’s large river systems. Sci., 308 : 405–408.

  • Noel, S., Ouellet, M., Galois, P. and Lapointe, F.J. (2007). Impact of urban fragmentation on the genetic structure of the eastern red-backed salamander. Conservation Genetics 8 : 599–606.

  • Raina, H.S. and Pter, T. (1999). Coldwater Fish and fisheries in the Indian Himalayas: Lakes and reservoirs. In: ‘Fish and Fisheries at higher altitudes: Asia’ FAO Fisheries Technical paper, 385.

  • Reed, D.H. and Frankham, R. (2003). Correlation between fitness and genetic diversity. Conservation Biol., 17 : 230–237.

  • Saccheri, I., Kuussaari, M., Kankare, M., Vikman, P., Fortelius, W. and Hanski, I. (1998). Inbreeding and extinction in a butterfly metapopulation. Nature, 392: 491–494.

  • Shrestha, J. and Swar D. B. (1998). Environmental Impact Assessment Report on Tamur Hydropower Project – Fisheries Baseline & Impact Assessment, Medium Hydropower Study Project, NEA, Kathmandu.

  • Singh, H.R., Badola, S.P. and Dobriyal, A.K. (1987). Geographical distributional list of Ichthtifauna of the Garhwal Himalaya with some new records. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 84(1): 126-132.

  • Tilak, R. (1987). The Fauna of India. Pisces (Teleostomi). Sub family Schizothoracinae. Zoological Survey of India.

  • Ward, J.V. and Stanford, J.A. (1995). Ecological connectivity in alluvial river ecosystems and its disruption by flow regulation. Regulated Rivers: Res. & Mgmt., 11(1): 105–119.

  • Zutshi, D.P. and Gopal, B. (2000). Himalayan lake ecosystem: Current Issues and threat perceptions. Verh. Int.Ver.Limnol., 27 : 2167-2170.


Abstract Views: 246

PDF Views: 1




  • Habitat Fragmentation Due to Tehri Dam Construction Reduces Fish Species Diversity Among Bhilangana River, Uttrakhand, India

Abstract Views: 246  |  PDF Views: 1

Authors

Harpal Singh
Department of Zoology, Fish Reproduction and Conservation Biology Research Lab, H.N.B. Garhwal University Campus, Badshahithaul, Tehri Garhwal (Uttarakhand), India

Abstract


Rivers of Garhwal Himalaya are becoming increasingly fragmented. The understanding of consequences of the fragmentation on species composition is crucial for conservation of their flora and fauna. In present study, we examined the fish population of river Bhilangana from its lotic site (S-1), its impoundment (S-2) and downstream tailwater (S- 3) for two consecutive years from May, 2009 to April, 2011. The fishes were collected from the above mentioned sites with the help of local fishermen expert in this occupation. Various Fishing methods such as the Cast nets, Gill nets and Phans and Bour were used for fish collection. The comparative study of fish composition among the fragmented river revealed: 21 fish species belonging to 2 orders, 3 families and 10 genera from of lotic site (S-1), only four species belonging to family Cyprinidae from reservoir site (S-2) and 16 species belonging to 2 order, 3 families and 9 genera from Tailwater (S-3) site. The Snowtrout (Schizothorax spp.) were dominant in fish catch at upstream and downstream sites while Cyprinus carpio which is a non-native species have been dominating in the reservoir site. The Spatial analysis of fish species diversity among the fragmented habitats of the Bhilangana river and comparison with previous study showed negative impacts of fragmentation, which possibly leading to reduced fitness of population and causing a localized extinction.


References