Icthyodiversity and species richness of Chadwal stream, Kathua district (Jammu & Kashmir)

Bipu Khajuria; Seema Langer; Seema Khan

Volume : IV, Issue : X, October - 2015

Icthyodiversity and species richness of Chadwal stream, Kathua district (Jammu & Kashmir)

Bipu Khajuria, Seema Langer, Seema Khan

Abstract :

The present study encompasses Chadwal stream, diversity rich stream that falls in Chadwal area of Kathua district covering entire stretch in the plains. During the present study, a total of 19 species belonging to 4 families and 12 genera were recorded. Among the stations, family Cyprinidae formed the largest dominant family contributing 16 species (91%), followed by Nemachelidae (4%); Belonidae (3%) and Channidae (2%) each contributing one species each. The Dominance index (D) estimated ranges 0.09 to 0.16 whereas the value of Simpson diversity index (I–D) ranged from 0.84–0.91. The values of Shannon–Weiner diversity ranged between 2.08–2.57. Also the physico–chemical parameters for water body were analyzed monthly and the values of all the parameters were found to be in permissible limits which support the growth and survival of fish.