%0 Journal Article
%T Ichthyofaunal Diversity and Water Quality in the Kangsabati Reservoir, West Bengal, India
%A Amalesh Bera
%A Manojit Bhattacharya
%A Bidhan Chandra Patra
%A Utpal Kumar Sar
%J Advances in Zoology
%D 2014
%R 10.1155/2014/674313
%X The ichthyofauna in relation to water quality was studied on monthly basis from March, 2010 to February, 2011 in the Kangsabati Reservoir, West Bengal. The study revealed that physicochemical parameters of Kangsabati Reservoir were congenial for 39 fish species of commercial importance, belonging to 7 orders, 15 families, and 26 genera. The Cypriniformes were dominant with 17 species, followed by Siluriformes and Perciformes, with 7 species each, Channiformes with 3 species, Osteoglossiformes and Synbranchiformes with 2 species each, and Anguilliformes with 1 species. Regarding their conservation status, 27 species were of least concern, 1 species was vulnerable, 6 species were near threatened, 1 species was data deficient, and 4 species were not evaluated (IUCN-Version 2014.1). Economical values have also been evaluated. Water parameters such as temperature, pH, alkalinity, dissolved oxygen, hardness, free CO2, salinity, total inorganic nitrogen, and phosphate were recorded and found suitable for fish production. Conductivity, transparency, and high chloride level are minor limiting factor that may needs rectification for improved fisheries management. 1. Introduction The aquatic ecosystem is highly dependent on water quality and biological diversity. Physicochemical parameters of water play a significant role in the biology and physiology of fish [1]. Lakes and reservoirs contribute to the single largest inland fishery resources in terms of both size and production potential. Fishes are the important indicator of aquatic ecosystem and occupy a remarkable position from a socioeconomic point of view. Fish is very rich source of protein as well as vitamins and other minerals. Kangsabati Reservoir is situated between 22¡ã55¡ä16.53¡ä¡äN¨C23¡ã2¡ä30.41¡ä¡äN latitude and 86¡ã37¡ä55.30¡ä¡äE¨C86¡ã47¡ä23.35¡ä¡äE longitude, about 67£¿Km southwest from the Bankura District Town, West Bengal, India. The reservoir is used not only for irrigation but also for fish production by Fishery Department, Government of West Bengal, through the involvement of local fishermen communities. The structure of fish community, fish distribution, and ichthyofauna diversity has been reported by various workers in the different lakes and reservoirs [2¨C19]. But comprehensive information of Kangsabati Reservoir (Figure 1) on fish diversity in relation to water quality is inadequate to frame a tangible fisheries programme. Figure 1: View of the Kangsabati Reservoir (blue shaded area indicating reservoir area in inset). In the present study, our main aim was to evaluate the suitability of water to nurture
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/az/2014/674313/