Fish Abundance and Diversity During Low and High Flow Seasons of River Ravi, Punjab, Pakistan
Fish Abundance and Diversity During Low and High Flow Seasons of River Ravi, Punjab, Pakistan
Hafiz Muhammad Ashraf, Hafiz Abdullah Shakir* and Javed Iqbal Qazi
ABSTRACT
The present study used multivariate analysis to determine the fish species diversity of the river Ravi, Punjab, Pakistan. Eight sampling sites were surveyed during the year of 2020 to ascertain fish diversity and abundance. Diversity indices computed by using Primer 7 Software for whole study compared seasonally. Cluster analysis (Euclidian distance) and poly component analysis performed by using Origin Software (2016). A total 877 (258 in low and 619 in high flow season) fish specimen was collected using a variety of fishnets and identified by using standard taxonomic keys based on morphometric characters. These fish specimens belong to 10 orders, 21 families, 37 genera and 50 species. The family Cyprinidae was containing 13 genera and 21 species. Eight species (Amblyceps mangois, Botia lohachta, Botia almorhae, Coptodon zillii, Ctenopharyngodon idella, Parambasis lala, Salmostoma phulo and Psilorhynchus nudithoracicus) were collected first time from river Ravi Pakistan. During high flow season, Cirrhinus mrigala and Captodon zilli showed highest relative abundance 13.89% and 13.73%, respectively. Highest frequency occurrence (FO) 87.5% was observed for Labeo rohita followed by two species Channa punctate and Cirrhinus mrigala (75%). Maximum Shannon-Weiner index 3.119 and 3.122, Margalef index 2.825 and 3.573, Evenness index 0.9728 and 0.9849 were recorded during low and high flow seasons, respectively. Taxonomic diversity (Delta) and total phylogenetic diversity (sPhi+) was found maximum during high flow season. Head Balloki upstream and Dhnad Balloki showed the highest diversity indices during low and high flow. The decline in number of fish species with less Shannon–Wiener index (<3.5) depicted the alarming situation of natural water body.
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