Exploration of Ichthyofaunal Diversity in Beas River Near Nadaun Region of Himachal Pradesh, India
Harinder Singh Banyal
Department of Biosciences, Himachal Pradesh University, Summer-Hill, Shimla, H.P.-171005, India.
Shivali Sharma *
Department of Biosciences, Himachal Pradesh University, Summer-Hill, Shimla, H.P.-171005, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The present research paper deals with studies on fish-faunal diversity in relation to abiotic parameters in the Beas River near Nadaun region of Himachal Pradesh state in India. A total of 12 fish species belonging to 6 orders and 7 families were recorded during the present study. Cypriniformes was the dominant order represented by 7 species. According to IUCN, out of 12 species, 9 species were recorded under the Least Concern (LC) category whereas 1 species each was included in Vulnerable (VU), Endangered (EN) and Not-Evaluated (NE) category respectively. Role of selected physicochemical parameters (Water temperature, PH, Dissolved Oxygen (DO), Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) and Electric current) of river water in governing distributional pattern of fish-fauna was analyzed specifically by Redundancy Analysis (RDA) method. Threats and strategies to conserve fish faunal diversity are also suggested.
Keywords: Abiotic factors, beas, diversity, ichthyofauna, Nadaun