Professional Documents
Culture Documents
ISSN 2078-4589
IDOSI Publications, 2013
DOI: 10.5829/idosi.wjfms.2013.05.06.75109
Seasonal Abundance of Fin Fishes in the Padma River at Rajshahi District, Bangladesh
A.B.M. Mohsin, 1Sk. Md. Mohaimenul Haque, 1Shams Muhammad Galib,
1
Md. Foyzul Hassan Fahad, 1Nipa Chaki, 2M. Nazrul Islam and 3Md. Mojibar Rahman
1
1
2
Abstract: The Padma River is one of the longest and major rivers in Bangladesh supporting a large number of
aquatic species and livelihood for many fishermen living beside it where this study was conducted from July
2009 to June 2010. This study reveals the seasonal variation of fish fauna in the river. A total of 69 species were
recorded belonging to 10 orders, 25 families and 47 genera. The most dominant fish order was Cypriniformes
contributing 25 species in 15 genera. Cyprinidae was most dominant family contributing 22 species in 13 genera.
Seven alien species were found. Maximum 67 species were recorded in the month of August, September and
December of 2009 and in May and June of 2010; whereas the lowest number of fish species (65) was observed
in April (2010). Twenty six species have been considered threatened by IUCN Bangladesh. These fishes were
belonging to the following categories, Vulnerable (13.04%), Endangered (13.04%) and Critically Endangered
(8.70%) of the total fish species. Comparing the results with the previous findings, it was revealed that the
species abundance and diversity have declined in the Padma River over time. Considering all the findings it is
concluded that the Padma River can be considered a refuge for conservation of threatened freshwater fishes
of Bangladesh. The conservation efforts should ensure minimization of anthropogenic impacts, especially the
fishing pressure and introduction of alien invasive species.
Key words: Padma River
Species
Fish Fauna
Fish Biodiversity
INTRODUCTION
Alien Species
Threatened
Conservation
680
682
% of catch***
1.20
1.43
0.75
1.14
2.69
1.96
2.13
1.41
1.19
1.43
1.94
2.39
3.02
1.60
1.16
0.25
0.79
1.57
1.58
2.58
3.15
2.35
0.99
0.92
1.24
1.16
0.78
1.72
1.97
0.33
0.27
0.34
0.41
0.26
0.53
3.56
1.61
2.24
1.40
0.53
0.41
1.15
2.36
0.94
0.32
1.22
1.47
2.33
2.52
2.06
1.06
1.76
1.55
3.03
0.90
2.29
0.88
1.23
Order
Synbranchiformes
Family
Siluridae
Sisoridae
Mastacembelidae
Osteoglossiformes Notopteridae
Pleuronectiformes
Myliobatiformes
Species
Ompok bimaculatus
Ompok pabda
Wallago attu
Bagarius bagarius
Mastacembelus armatus
Mastacembelus pancalus
Macrognathus aculeatus
Notopterus chitala
Notopterus notopterus
Synaptura orientalis
Abundance
---------------------------Peak
Lean
Dec
Feb, Mar
Dec
Feb
Dec
Apr
Oct
Mar
Jun
May
Dec
Apr
Dec
Jun-Sep
Jun
Jan, Feb
Jun
Feb, Mar
Jul
Sep
% of catch***
1.21
0.85
1.99
3.95
1.02
0.82
0.53
1.58
1.47
0.10
Soleidae
Dasyatidae
(Trygonidae)
Trygon
Sep
Except Sep
NO
1.03
* Exotic fish species **Based on IUCN Bangladesh [8]; CR=Critically Endangered, VU = Vulnerable, EN=Endangered, DD = Data Deficient, NO = Not
Threatened *** Percentage of fish species by total amount (weight) caught
DISCUSSION
Marked decline in number of available fish species
was revealed from the present study. Islam and Hossain
[9] recorded 110 fish species whereas only 69 species are
recorded in the present study. This reduction in the
number of fish species reflects the current scenario of
water bodies of Bangladesh. Reduction in number and
abundance of fish species is mainly due to anthropogenic
impacts, especially the fishing pressure, destruction of
natural habitats by constructing roads and so on.
Bhuiyan et al. [11] reported 73 species of fish which also
indicates that number of fish species decreasing in course
of time in the Padma River.
Still rich and diversified fish species are found in the
Padma River than that of many water bodies outside
Bangladesh, especially the neighbor country India [15-23].
However maximum number of recorded fish species was
also found lower than that of Rahman et al. [7] who
mentioned that 80 fin fish species were available in the
Padma River. They reported existence of Labeo nandina
and Batasio tengara in river but these two species were
not found in the present study. This variation in results
might be due to variation in sampling procedure followed
in the study, as Rahman et al. [7] surveyed various fish
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, still there was a rich diversity of fishes
in the Padma River, though anthropogenic effects were
much higher especially fishing pressure and presence of
alien species. Immediate management is essential
regarding presence of exotic species. A major part of the
total fishes were considered threatened species in
8.
9.
684
20. Nyanti, L., T.Y. Ling and G. Jongkar, 2012. Fish and
crustacean communities and fish length-weight
relationship of Lutong River, Miri, Sarawak,
Malaysia. World Journal of Fish and Marine
Sciences, 4(1): 102-110. doi: 10.5829/idosi.wjfms.
2012.04.01.56288.
21. Paunikar, S., A. Tiple, S.S. Jadhav and S.S. Talmale,
2012. Studies on ichthyofaunal diversity of Gour
River, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, Central India.
World Journal of Fish and Marine Sciences, 4(4):
356-359. doi: 10.5829/idosi.wjfms.2012.04.04.6388.
22. Alexandar, R. and R. Siva Sankar, 2013. Diversity of
fish fauna and their threats in Ousteri Lake,
Puducherry, India. World Journal of Zoology,
8(2): 154-158. doi: 10.5829/idosi.wjz.2013.8.2.66155.
23. Reddy, Y.A., B. Sadasivaiah, K. Rajakullaiswamy,
P. Indira and T. Pullaiah, 2013. Ichthyofauna of
Thummalapalle Uranium Mining area andhra Pradesh,
India. World Journal of Zoology, 8(1): 62-66. doi:
10.5829/idosi.wjz.2013.8.1.6685.
24. Mohsin, A.B.M., M.M. Hasan and S.M. Galib, 2009.
Fish diversity of community based fisheries managed
oxbow lake (Bookbhara Baor) in Jessore, Bangladesh.
Journal of Science Foundation, 7(1): 121-125.
25. Ahmed, K.K.U. and J.B. Hambrey, 2005. Studies on
the fish catch efficiency of different types of fishing
gear in Kaptai Reservoir, Bangladesh. Lakes &
Reservoirs: Research and Management, 10: 221-234.
doi: 10.1111/j.1440-1770.2005.00280.x.
26. nsoy, B., H. Filiz, A.S. Tarkan, G. Bilge and
A.N. Tarkan, 2011. Occurrence of non-native fishes
in a small man-made lake (Lake Ula, Mula): Past,
present, future perspectives. Turkish Journal of
Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 11: 209-215. doi:
10.4194/trjfas.2011.0205.
685