Evaluation of aquatic ecological systems through dynamics of ichthyofaunal diversity in a Himalayan torrential river,Murti |
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| Institution: | Aquatic Bioresource Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Calcutta, India |
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| Abstract: | The biodiversity hotspot region of the Eastern Himalayas consists of a vast freshwater network enriched with species diversity. Many small-scale torrential rivers and water reaches contribute to the species pool of all the major rivers by converging downstream. These reaches are most likely to be degraded at a faster rate as compared to the large-scale rivers following an increased rate of urbanization, habitat alterations, and changing climatic conditions. Therefore, this study aims to explore River Murti, which is a representative small scale river system characterized by a large altitudinal gradient and a diverse watershed area. Ichthyofaunal diversity (i.e., diversity, evenness & richness) and 21 environmental variables are measured through a tri-seasonal sampling effort conducted along 14 selected locations. A total of 41 fish species (including species belonging to 4 Near Threatened, 8 Vulnerable, and 1 Endangered) are found inhabiting this river. Ichthyofaunal assemblage is found to be primarily modulated by habitat diversity and landscape variables. Three Aquatic Ecological Systems (AES) have been identified along this river in a top-down approach based on recorded environmental variables. We have calculated an observed/expected ratio for each diversity indices along 14 locations based on predicted temporal variability using boosted regression (BRT) models. The evaluation of diversity status has been kept at 0.5 to account for a 50% loss or deviation from observed (O/E50). This evaluation has been successfully used to delineate AES1 with majorly “Impaired” status and thus ensures its importance in terms of species conservation. Our study indicates the contribution of 11 major environmental drivers modulating the species assemblage patterns in these AES. Amongst them, altitude, substrate coarseness, river morphology, and shelter availability are strongly associated with species diversity as per the BRT models. These underlying factors are also correlated with “basin pressure,” suggesting that anthropogenic disturbances, as well as the changing climate, might play an important role in the gradual change in environmental conditions, which in turn could cause a shift in species assemblage structure. |
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| Keywords: | Coarse filter Freshwater Fish Running water/rivers/streams Modelling/statistics Conservation/biodiversity |
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