Drivers of fish diversity and turnover across multiple spatial scales: Implications for conservation in the Western Ghats, India

Freshwater ecosystems are extraordinarily rich in theiraquatic life. They sustain other terrestrial life and offer numerous ecosystem services to humankind. Fishisone of the most important componentsof freshwater ecosystems(Darwall et al., 2008). However, the status of freshwater habitat and associated aquatic life including that of fishes is in danger due to intense anthropogenic impacts such as small and big dams, water diversion schemes for irrigatedagriculture, deforestation, removal of riparian cover, sandmining and pollution. As a result, freshwater fishesare being driven to extinction. The extinction risk for riverine fishes is believed to be far greater than terrestrial organisms, and may even haveexceeded the natural rate of overall species extinction (Ricciardi and Rasmussen, 1999; Dias et al., 2017). Studies that quantify various anthropogenic threats to biodiversity of the Tropical Asian streams and rivers are inadequateas compared to those in the temperate regions.Streamsare being fragmented, disconnected and exploitedheavily for rising human developmental needs.Ecologistshave emphasizedthe need for their restoration, quantification of such threats and detail mapping ofaquatic biodiversity(Strayer et al., 2010; Dudgeon et al., 2010; 2011; Araujo et al., 2013; Alexandre et al., 2013; Shimadzu et al., 2013; Sakaris, 2013; Bae et al., 2016).Therefore thereis a need to address fish responses to the disturbances to the habitat at different spatial scales. Often lack of crucial information on species distribution, habitat ecology and species responses to different anthropogenic threats at multiple spatial scales impedesour ability to prioritize river conservation. My PhD research integrates some of these ideas and quantifies the native fish diversity and factors that drive this diversity in four river sub-basins of the Western Ghat biodiversity hotspot in India. Thestudy primarily assesses the fish diversity at multiple nested spatialscalesi.e. segment, habitat, stream order, and sub-basin. Two river basins (Mhadei and Malaprabha) have numerous hydrological barriers in the form of small checkdams, impoundments, barrages as well asother forms of disturbances such as substrate mining, fishing,and pollution from domestic and agricultural uses of rivers. Such disturbances have severely degraded the water quality and fish health in India (Daniels, 2002). The other two river sub-basins (Bhadra and Tunga) are hydrologically less modified but havelocal disturbances such as water diversion for agriculture, plantations and pollution

Exploring Freshwater Science

Freshwater ecosystems and associated habitats harbor incredible biodiversity. They offer various ecosystem services and sustain human livelihoods. However, due to increasing developmental pressure and rising water demand, these systems are under huge threat. As a result, many aquatic species are feared to become extinct in near future. Quantifying the patterns of aquatic species diversity and composition of river systems is urgently required. With this interest, we studied four river systems in the Western Ghats region, documenting the pattern of fish diversity and identifying the factors that influence fish species richness. Maintaining undisturbed streams and river basins, especially headwater regions is crucial for sustaining freshwater biodiversity in the tropical river ecosystems

Patterns of diversity and conservation status of freshwater fishes in the tributaries of River Ramganga in the Shiwaliks of the Western Himalaya

A short study was undertaken from December 2004 to April 2005, to assess the species diversity and composition of freshwater fishes in three tributaries of Ramganga river in the foothills of Western Himalaya. One tributary was within a protected area (PA; Corbett National Park); the other two were outside the PA (Lansdowne Forest Division). Cast nets were used for fish sampling, which was done from 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. In total, 43 species belonging to eight families and five orders were recorded which included 29 species belonging to the threatened category. Family Cyprinidae was represented by the maximum number of species. Species richness and diversity was high in the PA. Similarity in fish composition varied from 60% to 70% across the tributaries. Dynamiting, poisoning and diverting water flows to collect fish are the major threats. Creating awareness, controlling illegal fishing and protecting the breeding grounds of fishes are some of the measures recommended to counter these threats

Systematfic status of Systomus rubrotfinctus Jerdon (Teleostefi: Cyprfinfidae) wfith notes on the Puntfius arulfius group of fishes

Systomus rubrotfinctus Jerdon has long been consfidered a synonym of Puntfius arulfius. Examfinatfion of ‘P.arulfius’ collected from varfious parts of the Western Ghats revealed the presence of two dfistfinct specfies: and the fish consfidered by Day as ‘P. arulfius’ from Wayanad fis fin fact P. rubrotfinctus. Based on the colour pattern, morphometrfics and merfistfics, P. rubrotfinctus fis retrfieved from the synonymy of P. arulfius and redescrfibed. Puntfius rubrotfinctus can be dfistfingufished from P. arulfius by the unfique colour pattern consfistfing of three well-defined black blotches on the body, two scales hfigh and three scales wfide, as dfistfinct from the dfiffused blotches fin P. arulfius. It further dfiffers from P. arulfius fin havfing a shorter dorsal-to-hypural dfistance (49.8–54.6 % SL, vs. 57.3–57.6 % SL), a smaller finterorbfital wfidth (28.4–35.6 % HL, vs. 39.1–39.7 % HL) and a hfigher number of gfill rakers (10–11 fin the first gfill arch, vs. 8). Puntfius rubrotfinctus fis wfide dfistrfibuted fin the Cauvery Rfiver and fits trfibutarfies fin the Western Ghats regfion across the states of Kerala, Karnataka and Tamfil Nadu. The results revalfidate the fidentfity of the ‘Puntfius filamentosus group’ of prevfious authors drawfing attentfion to the presence of fintermedfiate forms among thfis group, fin whfich natural hybrfids appear to occur, of whfich P. exclamatfio may be one

On the inadequacy of environment impact assessments for projects in Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park of Goa, India : a peer review

The Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) is a regulatory framework adopted since 1994 in India to evaluate the impact and mitigation measures of projects, however, even after 25 years of adoption, EIAs continue to be of inferior quality with respect to biodiversity documentation and assessment of impacts and their mitigation measures. This questions the credibility of the exercise, as deficient EIAs are habitually used as a basis for project clearances in ecologically sensitive and irreplaceable regions. The authors reiterate this point by analysing impact assessment documents for three projects: the doubling of the National Highway-4A, doubling of the railway-line from Castlerock to Kulem, and laying of a 400-kV transmission line through the Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park in the state of Goa. Two of these projects were recently granted ‘Wildlife Clearance’ during a virtual meeting of the Standing Committee of the National Board of Wildlife (NBWL) without a thorough assessment of the project impacts. Assessment reports for the road and railway expansion were found to be deficient on multiple fronts regarding biodiversity assessment and projected impacts, whereas no impact assessment report was available in the public domain for the 400-kV transmission line project. This paper highlights the biodiversity significance of this protected area complex in the Western Ghats, and highlights the lacunae in biodiversity documentation and inadequacy of mitigation measures in assessment documents for all three diversion projects. The EIA process needs to improve substantially if India is to protect its natural resources and adhere to environmental protection policies and regulations nationally and globally

An observational note on gangetic latia Crossocheilus latius latius in Khoh River, Uttarakhand, India

Volume: 107Start Page: 62End Page: 6

A New Species of Pethia from the Western Ghats, India (Teleostei: Cyprinidae)

Pethia striata, new species, is described from the Tunga River in Kudremukh National Park, in the central part of the Western Ghats, Karnataka State, India. The new species is distinguished from its congeners by the combination of the following characters: absence of barbels; stiff and serrated last unbranched dorsal-fin ray; complete lateral line with 20–21 pored scales and a relatively small humeral spot one scale below the fourth lateral-line scale; a large black blotch covering lateral-line scales 17–19. In addition, the outer edges of body scales are dark, producing a striped pattern along the sides of the body. Pethia striata, new species, is presently known only from headwater-streams of the Tunga River basin

Length weight Relationship and Relative Condition Factor of Juvenile Golden Mahseer Tor Putitora (Hamilton 1822), in the Tributaries of Ramganga River, Uttarakhand

Volume: 104Start Page: 161End Page: 16