Journal of Threatened Taxa |
www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 August 2022 | 14(8): 21704–21709
ISSN 0974-7907 (Online) | ISSN 0974-7893
(Print)
https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.7593.14.8.21704-21709
#7593 | Received 27 July 2021 | Final
received 27 June 2022 | Finally accepted 03 August 2022
Conservation status
of freshwater fishes reported from Tungabhadra Reservoir, Karnataka, India
C.M. Nagabhushan
Department of Studies
in Zoology, Vijayanagara Sri Krishnadevaraya
University, Ballari, Karnataka 583105, India.
Editor: J.A. Johnson,
Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, India. Date of publication: 26 August
2022 (online & print)
Citation: Nagabhushan,
C.M. (2022). Conservation status of freshwater fishes
reported from Tungabhadra Reservoir, Karnataka, India. Journal of Threatened
Taxa 14(8): 21704–21709. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.7593.14.8.21704-21709
Copyright: © Nagabhushan 2022. Creative Commons Attribution
4.0 International License. JoTT allows unrestricted use, reproduction, and
distribution of this article in any medium by providing adequate credit to the
author(s) and the source of publication.
Funding: None.
Competing interests: The author
declares no competing interests.
Acknowledgements: Author acknowledges
the laboratory facilities provided by Dept. of studies in Zoology, Vijayanagara Sri Krishnadevarya
University, Ballari and Department of Applied
Zoology, Kuvempu University for carrying out the
research work.
Abstract: Fishes constitute the
major biomass of the aquatic ecosystem. The economy of the aquatic habitats is
chiefly composed of fishes, crustaceans and molluscs inhabiting the given
ecosystem. In the present investigation, an attempt was made to study the conservation
status of the fishes that are naturally occurring in the Tungabhadra Reservoir
located at Hospet, Vijayanagara
district of Karnataka. The survey was spread across 12 months from June 2018 to
May 2019. A total of 76 species, belonging to 50 genera and 20 families were
recorded. As per the latest IUCN Red List, six Endangered, six Vulnerable, four
Near Threatened, five Data Deficient and fifty four Least Concern fishes
inhabit in TBR.
Keywords: Aquatic ecosystem,
fish diversity, IUCN Red List, peninsular India, survey, Vijayanagara
district.
India is endowed with
vast aquatic resources possessing ecological heritage and rich biodiversity.
Fishes inhabiting freshwater habitat are profoundly affected due to reduction
in water flow, over fishing and increased water pollution. In order to maintain
a healthy population of reservoir fisheries it is necessary to monitor water
quality parameters, lake hydrobiology, periodic bioassay, and other
environmental variables influencing the fish community (CIFRI 2008). Although,
Tungabhadra Reservoir (TBR) is subjected to comprehensive fisheries studies,
yet there is limited information
available on fishes in the reservoir (Rao & Govind
1964; David et al. 1969; Govind 1969; Banerjee &
Ray 1979). The TBR is located at 76.3330E & 15.3000N
on the river Tungabhadra. It is one of the largest contributors of the river
Krishna with an annual discharge of approximately 14,700 million m3
of water at its confluence point, which holds 498m at the full reservoir level.
It has an average water spread area of about 23,500 ha. The reservoir is
located in northeastern Karnataka state and it
supplies water to the neighbouring states. The reservoir produced 24 tonnes of
fish in 1954–55 to 4,200 tonnes in 1981–82 to 25,638 metric tonnes in 2004–05.
Carp seeds (Catla, Rohu and Fimbriatus)
are nursed in the neighbouring fish seed farm and stocked at the rate of 4–5
million/ha until the larvae reach the fingerling size. These 70–80 mm
fingerlings are stocked in the reservoir to enhance carp production.
Considering its fish
diversity, a study was carried out between June 2018 and May 2019 to document
fishes of TBR. The aim of this study is to understand fish diversity and
explore their conservation status.
Materials and methods
The Tungabhadra
Reservoir has many fish landing centres all along its periphery (Image 1). The
fishes are caught using gill nets, cast nets, drag nets and giant alivi seine net. The fish samples hauled during the catch
at the two landing centres S-1 and S-2 in the zone-IV deep (Image 1) were
collected and identified on site and others were brought to the laboratory for
identification using the available taxonomic literatures (Day 1958; Jhingran 1991; Jayaram 2010) and open access fish base
website (www.fishbase.org and Eschmeyer’s Catalog of Fishes). Local fishermen and the faculty of the
Zoology Department, Kuvempu University, Shankaraghatta and Vijayanagara
Sri Krishnadevaraya University, Ballari
were also consulted for fish species confirmation.
Results and Discussion
In the present
investigation seventy six fishes belonging to 20 families were recorded from
the reservoir. Among the recorded species, 40 species of fishes were represented
from Cyprinidae family, five from Bagridae,
four from Danionidae, three each from Ailiidae & Channidae, two
species each belonged to Ambassidae, Balitoridae, Cobitidae, Mastacembellidae, Siluridae,
& Sisoridae, and one each representative species from
Anguillidae, Aplochelidae, Belonidae, Gobidae, Horabagridae, Nemachilidae, Notopteridae, Osphronemidae,
& Pangassidae are depicted in Figure 1. David et
al. (1974) reported that Labeo fimbriatus, L. catla, and L.
rohita were part of the major fish composition in
the TBR. A similar trend was observed in the present findings. It is attributed
to the carp seed stocking in the reservoir on seasonal basis at the rate of 2–3
million fingerlings per hectare.
Among the species, Cyprinus carpio was
exotic; Labeo catla,
L. fimbriatus, L. calbasu were
non-native to TBR, whereas native species such as Cirrhinus
cirrhosus, Hypselobarus jerdoni, Systomus sarana, Pethia ticto, Opsarius bendelisis, Devario aequipinnatus, Silonia childreni, Proeutropiichthys taakree, Wallago attu, Mastacembelus armatus, Bagarius bagarius, Osteobrama vigorsii, and Sperata seenghala were
recorded from all landing centers across the study
period. The order of abundance of fishes was major carps > minor carps >
cat fishes > small fishes. Kumar et al. (2006) observed a similar fish
abundance trend in Geralsud Reservoir, Ranchi. As per
the latest IUCN Red List, six Endangered, six Vulnerable, four Near Threatened,
five Data Deficient, and 54 Least Concern (Figure 2). It also includes exotic
species which are not evaluated. Details of the present conservation status of
fishes inhabiting TBR are given in Table 1.
Conclusion
In the present study
76 species of freshwater fishes were recorded. As per the recent IUCN Red List,
the conservation status of the fishes showed six Endangered, five Vulnerable,
four Near Threatened, and five Data Deficient. Commercially important species
were being reduced in certain landing centers along
left flank of TBR and alien species were occupying the native species niches.
To monitor the continuous potential fish yield of the reservoir, adequate
release of carp seeds, utilizing the other vacant niches, monitoring the
illegal fishing activities along the reservoir and continuous annual
documentation of fish catches is necessary.
Table 1. IUCN Red
List status of fishes encountered in Tungabhadra Reservoir during the study
period.
|
|
Family |
Common name |
Scientific name |
Population trend |
IUCN Red List
(2019) |
|
1 |
Ailiidae |
Goongwaree Vacha |
Eutropiichthys goongwaree Sykes, 1839 |
-- |
DD 2010 |
|
2 |
Ailiidae |
Indian Taakree |
Proeutropiichthys taakree (Sykes, 1839) |
Decreasing |
LC 2011 |
|
3 |
Ailiidae |
White Cat Fish |
Silonia childreni (Sykes, 1839) |
Decreasing |
EN 2010 |
|
4 |
Ambassidae |
Elongate Glass Perchlet |
Chanda nama Hamilton, 1822 |
Decreasing |
LC 2010 |
|
5 |
Ambassidae |
Indian Glassy Fish |
Parambassis ranga (Hamilton, 1822) |
Stable |
LC 2011 |
|
6 |
Anguillidae |
Indian Mottled Eel |
Anguilla bengalensis (Grey, 1834) |
-- |
NT 2019 |
|
7 |
Aplochelidae |
Striped Panchax |
Aplocheilus lineatus (Valenciennes, 1846) |
-- |
LC 2009 |
|
8 |
Bagridae |
Giant River Cat
Fish |
Sperata seenghala (Sykes, 1839) |
-- |
LC 2010 |
|
9 |
Bagridae |
Giant Cat Fish |
Hemibagrus maydelli (Rossel,
1964) |
-- |
LC |
|
10 |
Bagridae |
Long-whiskered
Catfish |
Sperata aor (Hamilton, 1822) |
-- |
LC 2011 |
|
11 |
Bagridae |
Gangetic Mystus |
Mystus cavasius (Hamilton, 1822) |
Decreasing |
LC 2009 |
|
12 |
Bagridae |
Gogra rita |
Rita gogra (Sykes, 1839) |
Decreasing |
LC2010 |
|
13 |
Balitoridae |
Slender Stone Loach |
Balitora mysorensis Hora, 1941 |
-- |
VU |
|
14 |
Balitoridae |
Dotted Loach |
Nemacheilus semiarmatus (Day, 1867) |
Stable |
LC 2010 |
|
15 |
Belonidae |
Gar Fish |
Xenentodon cancila (Hamilton, 1822) |
-- |
LC 2019 |
|
16 |
Channidae |
Great Snake Head |
Channa marulius (Hamilton, 1822) |
-- |
LC 2009 |
|
17 |
Channidae |
Snake-headed Murrel |
Channa striata (Bloch, 1793) |
Stable |
LC 2019 |
|
18 |
Channidae |
Spotted Snakehead |
Channa punctata (Bloch, 1793) |
Stable |
LC 2019 |
|
19 |
Cobitidae |
Zebra Loach |
Botia striata Rao, 1920 |
-- |
EN 2011 |
|
20 |
Cobitidae |
Common Spiny Loach |
Lepidocephalichthys thermalis (Valenciennes, 1846) |
Stable |
LC 2019 |
|
21 |
Cyprinidae |
Mola Carpet |
Amblypharyngodon mola (Hamilton, 1822) |
Stable |
LC 2009 |
|
22 |
Cyprinidae |
Catla |
Labeo catla (Hamilton, 1822) |
-- |
LC 2010 |
|
23 |
Cyprinidae |
Mrigal Carp |
Cirrhinus cirrhosus (Bloch, 1795) |
Decreasing |
VU 2011 |
|
24 |
Cyprinidae |
Deccan White Carp |
Gymnostomus fulungee (Sykes, 1839) |
-- |
LC 2010 |
|
25 |
Cyprinidae |
Mrigal |
Cirrhinus mrigal (Hamilton, 1822) |
Stable |
LC 2010 |
|
26 |
Cyprinidae |
Reba Carp |
Cirrhinus reba (Hamilton, 1822) |
Stable |
LC 2010 |
|
27 |
Cyprinidae |
Grass Carp |
Ctenopharyngodon idella (Valenciennes, 1844) |
-- |
Exotic and Not
evaluated |
|
28 |
Cyprinidae |
Common Carp |
Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus, 1758 |
-- |
Exotic, but
globally VU 2008 |
|
29 |
Cyprinidae |
Mullya Garra |
Garra mullya (Skyes, 1839) |
Stable |
LC 2010 |
|
30 |
Cyprinidae |
Minor Carp |
Labeo bata (Hamilton, 1822) |
-- |
LC 2011 |
|
31 |
Cyprinidae |
Boga Labeo |
Labeo boga (Hamilton, 1822) |
-- |
LC 2010 |
|
32 |
Cyprinidae |
Boggut Labeo |
Labeo boggut (Sykes, 1839) |
Stable |
LC 2010 |
|
33 |
Cyprinidae |
Calbasu |
Labeo calbasu (Hamilton, 1822) |
-- |
LC 2010 |
|
34 |
Cyprinidae |
Finger Lipped
Peninsula Carp |
Labeo fimbriatus (Bloch, 1795) |
-- |
LC 2011 |
|
35 |
Cyprinidae |
Plymouth Carp |
Labeo kontius (Jordon, 1849) |
Decreasing |
LC 2010 |
|
36 |
Cyprinidae |
Pangusia Labeo |
Labeo pangusia (Hamilton, 1822) |
Decreasing |
NT 2010 |
|
37 |
Cyprinidae |
Bombay Labeo |
Labeo porcellus (Haeckel, 1844) |
Decreasing |
LC 2010 |
|
38 |
Cyprinidae |
Deccan Labeo |
Labeo potail (Sykes, 1839) |
Decreasing |
EN 2011 |
|
39 |
Cyprinidae |
Rohu |
Labeo rohita (Hamilton, 1822) |
-- |
LC 2010 |
|
40 |
Cyprinidae |
Ray-finned Fish |
Osteobrama peninsularis Silas, 1952 |
-- |
DD 2011 |
|
41 |
Cyprinidae |
Finescale Razorbelly Minnow |
Salmostoma phulo (Hamilton, 1822) |
-- |
LC 2009 |
|
42 |
Cyprinidae |
Ray-finned Fish |
Osteobrama vigorsii (Sykes, 1839) |
Stable |
LC 2011 |
|
43 |
Cyprinidae |
Konti Barb |
Osteochilichthys thomassi (Day, 1877) |
-- |
LC 2011 |
|
44 |
Cyprinidae |
Ray-finned Fish |
Puntius ambassis (Day, 1869) |
-- |
DD 2010 |
|
45 |
Cyprinidae |
Scarlet Banded Barb |
Puntius amphibius (Valenciennes, 1842) |
-- |
DD 2010 |
|
46 |
Cyprinidae |
Chola Barb |
Puntius chola (Hamilton, 1822) |
-- |
LC 2010 |
|
47 |
Cyprinidae |
Jakkali |
Hypselobarbus jerdoni (Day, 1870) |
Decreasing |
LC 2010 |
|
48 |
Cyprinidae |
Long-snouted Barb |
Puntius dorsalis (Jordon, 1849) |
-- |
LC 2019 |
|
49 |
Cyprinidae |
Kolus Barb |
Hypselobarbus kolus (Sykes, 1839) |
Decreasing |
VU 2010 |
|
50 |
Cyprinidae |
Narayan Barb |
Pethia narayani (Hora, 1937) |
-- |
LC 2010 |
|
51 |
Cyprinidae |
Red Side Barb |
Puntius bimaculatus (Bleeker, 1863) |
Stable |
LC 2019 |
|
52 |
Cyprinidae |
Olive Barb |
Systomus sarana (Hamilton, 1822) |
-- |
LC 2010 |
|
53 |
Cyprinidae |
Spot Fin Swamp Barb |
Puntius sophore (Hamilton, 1822) |
-- |
LC 2010 |
|
54 |
Cyprinidae |
Ticto Barb |
Pethia ticto (Hamilton, 1822) |
-- |
LC 2010 |
|
55 |
Cyprinidae |
Vatani Rohtee |
Rohtee ogilbii Sykes, 1839 |
-- |
LC 2010 |
|
56 |
Cyprinidae |
Salmostoma Phulo |
Salmophasia phulo (Hamilton, 1822) |
-- |
LC 2009 |
|
57 |
Cyprinidae |
Nukta |
Schismatorhynchos nukta (Sykes, 1839) |
Decreasing |
EN 2010 |
|
58 |
Cyprinidae |
Sandkhol Carp |
Thynnichthys sandkhol (Sykes, 1839) |
Decreasing |
EN 2010 |
|
59 |
Cyprinidae |
Black Mahseer |
Tor khudree (Sykes, 1839) |
increasing |
LC 2019 |
|
60 |
Cyprinidae |
Musulla Barb |
Hypselobarbus mussullah (Sykes, 1839) |
Decreasing |
EN 2010 |
|
61 |
Danionidae |
Baril |
Opsarius bendelisis (Hamilton, 1822) |
-- |
LC |
|
62 |
Danionidae |
Silver Harchet Chela |
Chela cachius (Hamilton, 1822) |
-- |
LC 2010 |
|
63 |
Danionidae |
Giant Danio |
Devario aequipinnatus (McClelland, 1839) |
-- |
LC 2010 |
|
64 |
Danionidae |
Flying Barb |
Esomus danrica (Hamilton, 1822) |
Stable |
LC 2007 |
|
65 |
Gobidae |
Tank Gobi |
Glossogobius giuris (Hamilton, 1822) |
-- |
LC 2019 |
|
66 |
Horabagridae |
Khavalchor Catfish |
Pachypterus khavalchor (Kulkarni, 1952) |
-- |
DD 2010 |
|
67 |
Mastacembellidae |
Spiny Eel |
Mastacembelus armatus (Lacepede,
1800) |
Stable |
LC 2019 |
|
68 |
Mastacembellidae |
Barrel Spiny Eel |
Macrognathus pancalus Hamilton, 1822 |
-- |
LC 2010 |
|
69 |
Nemacheilidae |
Ray-finned Fish |
Indoreonectes evezardi (Day, 1872) |
-- |
LC 2010 |
|
70 |
Notopteridae |
Bronze Featherback |
Notopterus notopterus (Pallas, 1769) |
Stable |
LC 2019 |
|
71 |
Osphronemidae |
Spiketail Paradise Fish |
Pseudosphromenus cupanus (Cuvier, 1831) |
Stable |
LC 2019 |
|
72 |
Pangassidae |
Pangas Cat Fish |
Pangassius pangassius (Hamilton, 1822) |
-- |
LC 2009 |
|
73 |
Siluridae |
Butter Cat Fish |
Ompok bimaculatus Bloch, 1794 |
-- |
NT 2009 |
|
74 |
Siluridae |
Cat Fish |
Wallago attu (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) |
Decreasing |
VU 2019 |
|
75 |
Sisoridae |
Devil Cat Fish |
Bagarius bagarius (Hamilton, 1822) |
Decreasing |
NT 2009 |
|
76 |
Sisoridae |
Sucker Cat Fish |
Gagata itchkeea (Sykes, 1839) |
Decreasing |
VU 2011 |
LC—Least Concern |
EN—Endangered | NT—Near Threatened | VU—Vulnerable | DD—Data Deficient
For figures &
image - - click here for full PDF
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