ASSESSMENT OF ICHTHYOFAUNAL DIVERSITY IN ESTUARINE SYSTEM OF KUNDAPURA REGION.
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Date
2019
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KARNATAKA VETERINARY, ANIMAL AND FISHERIES SCIENCES UNIVERSITY, BIDAR
Abstract
Coastal ecosystems of Karnataka situated closer to the Western ghats which are considered
as one of the global biodiversity hotspots. In view of this, this study on ichthyofaunal diversity of
estuarine system of Kundapura region gives important insights to the abundance and seasonality
of fish diversity.
From August 2018 - May 2019, a total of 64 species encountered that belonging to (49)
genera, (36) families and (10) orders. Among them, Nematalosa nasus was found to be the most
dominant species. Out of 10 orders, the order Perciformes stands first, comprised of 23 families
represented by 37 species and the order Clupiformes ranked second with 3 families represented
by 8 species. The seasonal abundance of ichthyofaunal diversity recorded during pre-monsoon
(Feb-May) > post-monsoon (Oct-Jan) > monsoon (Aug-Sep). The diversity indices including
Margalef’s richness index (d), Shannon-wiener index (H') (at log 10), Simpson index (ʎ) and
Pielou’s evenness (J') were calculated. The K- dominance curve plot showed the diversity of
species was high near the estuarine region and at the bar mouth region. These are showing
closely similar diversity and proved that the number of species (richness) more near the estuarine
region. Bray-Curtis similarity index revealed that the maximum similarity was found between
pre-monsoon and post-monsoon seasons at S2 and S1 station. The same pattern was also evident
in the MSD plot and the stress valve, which was overlain on the MSD plot (0.1, 0.1 and 0.08),
showed a good ordination of the samples collected.
Panchagangavalli estuary gives breeding and feeding ground for many commercially
important fishes, In fisheries point of view it is a very sensitive zone, So it should be protected
from all man-made disturbance legitimately, to enrich and sustain the biodiversity for the future.