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Response of Fish Communities to Abiotic Factors in Western Ramganga, Kumaun Lesser Himalaya, India


Affiliations
1 ICAR-Directorate of Coldwater Fisheries Research, Bhimtal 263 136, India
 

Abiotic factors in the riverine ecosystem are important in structuring fish communities along the longitudinal gradients. Quantitative data on species abundance were collected during October 2015–September 2016 in the mountain stretch of the River Western Ramganga from Kumaun Lesser Himalayas, India. Multivariate analyses were done to study the relationship between fish assemblages and abiotic parameters. Cluster analysis and non-metric multidimensional scaling indicated two distinct groups in the upstream and downstream zones. The composition of fish assemblages in different zones was found to be strongly associated with habitat characteristics. Canonical correspondence analysis revealed species abundance association with temperature, conductivity, stream width and altitude. Further analysis showed conductivity–altitude combination as the primary factor determining the longitudinal distribution of species composition in the studied stretch of this river. The present study aids in understanding the factors that determine the spatial segregation of species for the restoration, conservation and management of aquatic resources.

Keywords

Abiotic Factors, Assemblage Structure, Fish Communities, Multivariate Analysis, Riverine Ecosystem.
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  • Response of Fish Communities to Abiotic Factors in Western Ramganga, Kumaun Lesser Himalaya, India

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Authors

Shahnawaz Ali
ICAR-Directorate of Coldwater Fisheries Research, Bhimtal 263 136, India
N. N. Pandey
ICAR-Directorate of Coldwater Fisheries Research, Bhimtal 263 136, India
Prem Kumar
ICAR-Directorate of Coldwater Fisheries Research, Bhimtal 263 136, India
Ravindar Posti
ICAR-Directorate of Coldwater Fisheries Research, Bhimtal 263 136, India
A. K. Singh
ICAR-Directorate of Coldwater Fisheries Research, Bhimtal 263 136, India

Abstract


Abiotic factors in the riverine ecosystem are important in structuring fish communities along the longitudinal gradients. Quantitative data on species abundance were collected during October 2015–September 2016 in the mountain stretch of the River Western Ramganga from Kumaun Lesser Himalayas, India. Multivariate analyses were done to study the relationship between fish assemblages and abiotic parameters. Cluster analysis and non-metric multidimensional scaling indicated two distinct groups in the upstream and downstream zones. The composition of fish assemblages in different zones was found to be strongly associated with habitat characteristics. Canonical correspondence analysis revealed species abundance association with temperature, conductivity, stream width and altitude. Further analysis showed conductivity–altitude combination as the primary factor determining the longitudinal distribution of species composition in the studied stretch of this river. The present study aids in understanding the factors that determine the spatial segregation of species for the restoration, conservation and management of aquatic resources.

Keywords


Abiotic Factors, Assemblage Structure, Fish Communities, Multivariate Analysis, Riverine Ecosystem.

References





DOI: https://doi.org/10.18520/cs%2Fv114%2Fi10%2F2181-2188