Studies on Ichthyofaunal Diversity of Barabar Dam at Wanavar, Jehanabad, Bihar, India

Abstract

Fishes play an important role in food chain, food web, energy flow and in flux of nutrients cycling. The various parameters including physico-chemical characteristics of the water, availability of food items, suitable breeding ground etc. determine the diversity of Ichthyofauna. The present study deals with Ichthyofaunal diversity of Barabar dam at Wanavar in Jehanabad district. The study was carried out from January 2024 to December 2024. The captured fish specimens were preserved in 10 % formalin for detailed examination in laboratory. In the laboratory, the fish specimens were washed to remove debris and mucous and identified. Sometimes the specimens were also preserved to 70 % alcohol for further study. The various parameters for analysis of Ichthyofaunal diversity were used such as Index of Dominance, Index of Frequency, Shannon- Wiener Index (1948) and Shannon Equitability Index. During intensive and extensive study 44 species were noted which belong to 24 genera, 13 families and 7 orders. The most dominant order was reported cypriniformes (43.18 %) followed by Siluriformes (25 %), Ophiocephaliformes (11.36 %), Synbranchiformes (6.81), Clupeiformes (6.81 %), Perciformes (4.85 %) and Gobiiformes (2.27 %). Siltation during monsoon, low water content and high temperature during summer and pollution by agro farming were the major threat of ichthyofaunal diversity. The heavy siltation during monsoon and intense sunshine, hot climate condition and low water content during summer along with pollution by agrofarming were the major threat of Ichthyofaunal biodiversity. The robustness and adaptiveness of fish species also governed their abundance.