A five years investigation on fish biodiversity in connection with artificial stocking was conducted in three south-western floodplains of Bangladesh from 1992 to 1996. The ten top most available and ten rarest fish species were identified. Puntius sp., Channa punctatus, Mystus sp., Anabus testudinius, Ambasis sp., Colisha sp. and Macrobrachium sp. etc. were the most common available species. On the other hand, Mystus aor, Notopterus chitala, Clupisoma garua, Aplocheilus panchax, Ctenophmyngodon idella etc. were the rarest species. However, the most abundant and the rarest fish species behaved differently in different floodplains in different years. Shannon diversity index was used to assess the extent of diversity in different years. The study revealed that the artificial stocking programme, to some extent, influenced the biodiversity in floodplains

Ehshan, M.A.

Hossain, M.S.

Mazid, M.A.

Rahman, S.

Razzaque, A.

Aquatic Commons

Bangladesh]. Fish. Res., 4(1), 2000: 69-74 
Biodiversity in floodplains with special reference to artificial 
stocking 
M.S. Hossain*, M.A. Ehshan, M.A. Mazid, S. Rahman and A. Razzaque 
Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute, Mymensingh 2201, Bangladesh 
*Corresponding author 
Abstract 
A five years investigation on fish biodiversity in connection with artificial stocking was 
conducted in three south-western floodplains of Bangladesh from 1992 to 1996. The ten 
top most available and ten most rarest fish species were identified. Puntius sp., Channa 
punctatus, Mystus sp., Anabus testudinius, Ambasis sp., Colisha sp. and Macrobrachium sp. etc. 
were the most common available species. On the other hand, Mystus aor, Notopterus 
chitala, Clupisoma garua, Aplocheilus panchax, Ctenophmyngodon idella etc. were the most 
rarest species. However, the most abundant and the rarest fish species behaved 
differently in different floodplains in different years. Shannon diversity index was used 
to assess the extent of diversity in different years. The study revealed that the artificial 
stocking programme, to some extent, influenced the biodiversity in floodplains. 
Key words: Fish biodiversity, Floodplain, Shannon weaver index, Artificial stocking 
Introduction 
The world wide loss of biodiversity is widely accepted as a major problem, yet it is 
poorly documented, because of our knowledge of the taxonomy of most organisms is 
scant (Moyle and William 1990. Though loss of aquatic species is occurring rapidly, 
aquatic organism have received comparatively little attention to the conservation 
biologists (Allendorf 1988). A rich diversity of fish species are critical to the ecology and 
sustainable productivity of the floodplains. While tremendous genetic diversity is 
embodied 500 fish species which inhabit Bangladesh's inland, estuarine and coastal 
waters ever little substantive data on the ecology of these species is not available to say 
something significantly (Nuruzzaman 1993). 
In early sixties the open-water fisheries contributed about 90% of the total fish 
production which in the recent years has drastically dropped to 49% (Mazid and Hossain 
1995). The decline is due to habitat degradation of aquatic ecosystems through over 
exploitation of fisheries resources with increasing population pressure, adverse effects of 
natural and man-made catastrophes including human interventions through 
construction of flood control embankments, drainage systems, sluice gates, conversion of 
inundated land to crop land thereby reducing water area, siltation etc. Under this 
situation, it is really important to take necessary steps so that floodplains may remain to 
the harmony with the environment. However, since 1992 government of Bangladesh had 
M.S. Hossain et al. 
taken a massive fingerling stocking program in some selected floodplains aiming fish 
production augmentation from the floodplains under the Third Fisheries Project. 
Stocked species were Labeo rohita, Catla catla, Cirrhinus mrigala, Cyprinus carpio, 
Hypopthalmicthyes molitrix and Puntius gonionotus. Present investigation is worthwhile 
because, it is an important task to ascertain whether stocking floodplains with carp 
fingerlings had any adverse impact upon resident fish species or not. This study deals 
with the status of fisheries diversity and its dynamics in three floodplains of Bangladesh 
during 1992 to 1996 in relation to artificial stocking. 
Materials and methods 
The study was conducted from June'92 to December'96 in three major floodplains of 
Bangladesh. These are the Chanda beel of Faridpur-Gopalgonj depression, the Haiti beel 
of Pabna-Natore depression and the BSKB (Basukhali-Salimpur-Kola-Barnal) beel of 
Khulna-Narial depression. Each floodplain possesses distinctive features. The BSKB is 
completely closed system floodplain and regulated by several sluice gates. The Halti is 
semi-open while the Chanda beel is an open system floodplain. The area of Chanda, 
Haiti and BSKB are 10,870ha; 16,770ha, respectively (BCAS 1991). All these beels are 
prone to monsoon flooding and remain flooded for periods between four and seven 
months depending on the severity of flood in different years. During the dry season, 
however, the water area of the beels shrinks to a negligible amount and most of the 
dried-up land is cultivated with various crops. To accomplish the investigation a weekly 
data collection schedule was maintained. Data was collected from the fishing spots and 
peripheral fish landing centres, which are usually called para or gala. Catch composition 
by number for individual gear was recorded through the examination of catch for the 
respective gear. In order to data collection most of the gears i.e., more than 23 types of 
gears, both selective and non-selective were covered in which only 11 were of selective 
type. A total of 5,55,769 specimens were sampled in the present study of which 2,18,052; 
1,71,985 and 1,65,732 samples belonged to Chanda, Halti and BSKB respectively. 
The Shannon weaver index (H1) was used to measure the extent of diversity by 
combining aspects of species richness and evenness. It is perhaps the most commonly 
used diversity index in ecology. Goswami (1985) used Shannon weaver index to assess 
zooplankton diversity in coastal waters of India. The formula for Shannon diversity 
index is: H1= -.LPi Log2 Pi 
Where Pi (the proportional abundance of the ith species)= (ni /N) 
ni = number of individuals recorded of ith species 
i = is the species reference 
N = total of individuals in the sample 
(Log2 = 1.442 Loge). 
Inferences can be drawn on the basis of the H1 values calculated. The lesser values 
will be the lower diversity and vice-versa. For statistical analysis, using Shannon weaver 
index student's t-test was performed to find out significance of stocking. 
70 
Bidiversity in floodplains 
Results and discussion 
Top ten most available and ten rarest species in different years in different 
floodplains have shown in Table 1. Total number of fish species caught in the Chanda, 
Haiti and BSKB beels were 47, 55 and 49 nos., respectively. Puntius sp. (both P. stigma 
and P. ticto) was the most available fish species in all the beels during the study period 
except 1993 and 1994 in the BSKB beel. Several fish species were found to be exclusive 
for particular floodplain and as well as some other were not found in other/s floodplain. 
Such as Anguilla bengalensis, Mystus bleekery, Colisha chuna, Nemacheilus botia, Hilsha ilisa, 
Awaous grammepomus, Cirrhinus reba, Botia dario, Rita rita, Silonia silondia and Channa 
gachua were not available in the Chanda beel; Anguilla bengalensis, Rhotee cotio, Nandus 
nandus, Awaous grammepomus, Badis badis and Channa gachua were not available in Haiti 
beel; and Anguilla bengalensis, Ailia coila, Colisha chuna, Nemacheilus botia, Rhotee cotio, 
Labeo gonia, Carica soborna, Awaous grammepomus, Badis badis, Silonia silondia, Botia dario, 
Rita rita, Labeo bata and Dania deverio were not available in the BSKB beel. These species 
can be treated as species at risk. Total 67 species of fish were recorded in three floodplains 
under study. Ali (1998) enlisted three locally extinct fish species of Chanda beel viz., 
Puntius sarana, Rasbora elenga and Anguilla bengalensis. He added that Notopterus chitala, 
Labeo calbasu, Mystus aor, Gudusia chapra, Oreochromis mossambica, Euthropiichthys vacha 
were rare in the same floodplain. 
Table 1. Top most available and the rarest ten fish species in different floodplains during 1992-96 
Status Chanda bee! Haiti bee! BSKB bee! 
Scientific name Local Scientific name Local Scientific name Local 
name name name 
Al Puntius spp. Punti Puntius spp. Punti Channa Taki 
punctatus 
A2 Macrobrachium spp. Chingri Mystus spp. Tengra Puntius spp. Punti 
A3 Colisha faciatus Kholisha Ambasis spp. Chanda Anabus Koi 
testudinius 
A4 Mystus spp. Tengra Glossogobius giwis Bail a Labeo rohita Rui 
AS Nandus nandus Bheda Channa punctatus Taki Heteropneustes Shing 
fossil is 
A6 Channa punctatus Taki Cirrhinus reba Raikhor Channa striatus Shoal 
A7 Xenentodon cancila Kakila Chela spp. Chela Cirrhinus mrigala Mrigel 
AS Glossogobius giuris Baila Mastacembelus Go chi Mystus spp. Tengra 
pancalus 
A9 Heteropneustes Shing Colisha faciatus Kholisha Mastacembelus Bain 
fossil is amwt:us 
AlO Channa striatus Shoal Carica soboma Ketchld Colisha faciatus Kholish 
RIO Labeo calbasu Kalibasu Bagarius bagarius Baghair Clupisoma garua Ghaura 
R9 Ctenophmyngodon Grass Clarias batrachus Magur Pseusotropius Batashi 
idella carp artherinoides 
R8 Labeo gonia Ghonia Silonia silondia Shilong Cin·hinus reba Raikhor 
R7 Eutropiichthys Bacha Notoptents chitala Chi tal Awaous Nandi 
vacha grammepomus bail a 
R6 Gudusia chapra Chapila Tetradon cutcutia Tepa Nandus nandus Bheda 
71 
M.S. Hossain et al. 
RS Tilapia spp. Tilapia Labeo bata Bata MystuS bleekeri Gulsha 
R4 Carica soborna Ketchki Hilsa ilisha Hils a Gudusia chapra Chapila 
R3 Notopte11ls chitala Chi tal Notopte!1ls 1zotoptems Pholi Mystus aor Aire 
R2 Mystus aor A ire Aplocheilus panchax Kan-pona Notopterus Chi tal 
chi tala 
Rl Clupisoma garua Ghaura Ctenophmyngodon Grass Badis badis Napit 
idella carp koi 
A= Available, R= Rare 
Yearly variation of Shannon weaver index and its trend line of the Chanda, Haiti 
and BSKB beels are shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Table 2 represents stocking 
and non-stocking years and Shannon diversity index for those years. Chanda beel 
showed the highest diversity index (H1=5.96), this was the consecutive third year of 
stocking, when the maximum number (43) of fish species were also caught (Fig. 1). In 
1995, the index was found to be lower values (H1=4.05) seems due to non-stocking 
effects. Haiti beel showed the highest diversity index (H1=4.27) in the year 1992. After 
1993 it showed decreasing trend might be due to desist on stocking program from 1994 
(Fig. 2). The BSKB beel showed the diversity index (H1=4.14) in 1995 when total 
number of fish species were also the highest ( 43). Perhaps continuous stocking program 
made this positive trend. It can be mentioned that among three study floodplains only in 
BSKB beel, stocking program was continued up to 1996. Student t-test using Shannon 
weaver index showed significant impact (at 1% level) of stocking in Chanda beel and 
BSKB beel. In case of Haiti beel it was not derived because stocking program in this 
floodplain was held only first two years. Shannon weaver index was also derived by Rao 
et. al. (1991) in Chambal river, India. They found that species diversity was drastically 
reduced due to industrial effluents. 
Table 2. Shannon weaver index in different years 
Beels 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 
H1in H1ex H1in H1ex H1in H1ex H1in H1ex H1in H1ex 
Chanda 4.13 3.76 4.27 3.95 5.96 5.39 4.05* 4.05 4.74 4.01 
Haiti 4.27 4.03 3.94 3.41 3.41 * 3.41 3.35* 3.35 4.13* 4.13 
BSKB 3.51 2.49 3.66 2.82 3.53 2.89 4.14 3.30 4.08 3.79 
.. No artificial stocking 
Present investigation reveals that the overall performance of C. carpio, L. rohita and 
GatZa catla was satisfactory and they are suitable for floodplain stocking. But it was not 
clearly understood whether there was any adverse effect of stocked species, especially of 
exotic carp on any specific resident species or group of species or not. Jhingran (1997) 
commented transplantation of exotic fish into open water as a subject of controversy. He 
also stated that, without any knowledge of production potential of the floodplain ad hoc 
stocking could be considered as a wasteful exercise. 
72 
Bidiversity in floodplains 
Year 
-+-Hiin -11-H/ex -Log. (Hiin) 
5 
1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 
Year 
-+-Hiin -11-H/ex -Log. (Hiin) -Log. (Hiin) 
5 
R2 = 0.6133 
1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 
Year 
-+-Hlin -11- Hlex -Log. (Hiin) 
Figs. 1-3. Yearly variation of Shannon-weaver index of Chanda, Halti and 
BSKB heels and their trend lines. 
Conclusions 
The overall diversity index of fish in the Chanda and Haiti beel were found to be 
lower after stopping the stocking, while diversity index showed increasing trend in 
BSKB beel as stocking program was continued. The findings of the present study reflect 
a primary picture of fisheries biodiversity of the three floodplains. Although it can be 
concluded that, stocking program had an impulsive impact on fish biodiversity but 
impact of stocked species on non-stocked resident species was not clearly understood in 
the present study. Food habit and food competitions are very crucial factors with respect 
to survivability in case of artificial stocking. So it is suggested that, cautious and 
scrupulous study should be conducted before such open-water stocking to find out the 
73 
M.S. Hossain et al. 
competition and interaction between resident and stocked species. Special attention and 
further studies also should be continued on presently recorded rare species. 
References 
Ali, M.Y., 1998. Wetland Resources Management and Use in Chanda Beel. Bangladesh Centre for 
Advancement Studies (BCAS). Dhaka. 19 pp. 
Allendorf, F.W., 1998. Conservation biology of fishes. Conservation Biology. 2: 145-148. 
BCAS, 1997. Floodplain Production Monitoring. BCAS, Dhaka. (an unpublished report) 
Goswami, S.C., 1985. Zooplankton standing stock and composition in coastal waters of Goa, West 
coast ofindia.IndianJ. Marine Science. 14: 177-180. 
Hussain, M. G. 1997. Stock improvement and genetic resource conservation of floodplain fishes. 
In: Open-water fisheries of Bangladesh. (eds. C. Tsai and M. Y. Ali). The University Press 
Limited, Dhaka. pp. 49-64. 
Jhingran, A.G., 1997. Stock enhancement in the floodplain fisheries of north-eastern Bangladesh. 
In: Open-water fisheries of Bangladesh. (eds. C. Tsai and M. Y. Ali). The University Press 
Limited, Dhaka. pp. 183-198. 
Mazid, M.A. and M.S. Hossain, 1995. Development of fisheries resources in floodplains. FRI 
publication no. 12. Fisheries Research Institute, Mymensingh, Bangladesh. 16 pp. (in Bangla) 
Moyle, P.B. and Williams, J.E., 1990. Biodiversity loss in the temperate zone: decline of the native 
fish fauna of California. Conservation Biology) 4(3): 275-284. 
Nuruzzaman, A.K.M., 1993. Cluster of Ideas and Actions for Fisheries Development in 
Bangladesh. Fish publisher, Dhaka. 416 pp. 
Rao, K.S., S. Srivastava, U. Choubey and B.S. Rao, 1991. Observation on biological monitoring 
concepts of some riverine ecosystems central India. Proc. Nat. Symp. Freshwat. Aqua. pp 146-
148. 
(Manuscript received 13 AugUst 1998) 
74 


Biodiversity in floodplains with special reference to artificial stocking

http://aquaticcommons.org/16445/1/BJFR4.1_069.pdf

Biodiversity in floodplains with special reference to artificial stocking

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

Aquatic Commons