Wednesday, August 6, 2008: 4:20 PM
202 E, Midwest Airlines Center
Background/Question/Methods Beel fisheries resources of Bangladesh are considered to be hotspots of exceptional fish biodiversity owing to their unique freshwater fish wealth. These are an important source of animal protein and livelihood. The diversity and abundance of most of the fish species are depleting at a fast rate due to diverse types of human interventions and habitat destructions of beels. Considering the importance of fish biodiversity for sustainable management of beel fisheries resources, this study aimed to prepare a complete list of fishes along with a quantified and categorized list of indigenous species of Burulia beel. Burulia beel is located at Gaibandha district of Bangladesh. It is a semi-closed perennial beel and connected with two other beels. The approximate water area during rainy season is 574 ha and during the dry season it is 81 ha. The water depth varies from 0.34 to 2.70 meter.
Results/Conclusions Study revealed the presence of 43 species of fish belonging to 6 Orders, 18 Families and 33 genera in the beel. Out of 43 fish species 39 are indigenous and 4 exotic species. Cyprinidae dominated the fish groups with 16 species (including the exotic four) followed by Ambassidae, Bagridae, Channidae, Mastacembelidae each contained 3 species and Siluridae and Osphronemidae having two species each. The biodiversity status of the fishes were assessed based on the IUCN reports, which revealed the presence of 2 critically endangered species, 7 endangered and 6 vulnerable in Burulia beel. Indigenous fish community based on their ecological and migratory habits 29 (74%) are resident, 9 (24%) are migratory and single species (2%) from riverine habitat. In respect to the tropho-spatial characteristics, major contribution was by surface feeders (23 species) followed by bottom feeders (17 species) and column feeders (3 species). Salmostoma acinaces was the major species in the fishers catch in terms of abundance in numbers (%) followed by Puntius sophore, Glossogobius giuris, Parambassis nama and Channa punctatus on the other hand Wallago attu, Catla catla, Labeo rohita, Cirrhinus cirrhosus and Channa punctatus were dominants in terms of weight abundance (%). The Indian Major Carps (Labeo rohita, Catla catla and Cirrhinus cirrhosus) appear to be important in Burulia beel due to large numbers of stocking through development projects. Results of the present study indicated that naturally recruited small fish species form major portion of capture fisheries in Burulia beel. The findings of this study are expected to provide baseline information on fish biodiversity.
Results/Conclusions Study revealed the presence of 43 species of fish belonging to 6 Orders, 18 Families and 33 genera in the beel. Out of 43 fish species 39 are indigenous and 4 exotic species. Cyprinidae dominated the fish groups with 16 species (including the exotic four) followed by Ambassidae, Bagridae, Channidae, Mastacembelidae each contained 3 species and Siluridae and Osphronemidae having two species each. The biodiversity status of the fishes were assessed based on the IUCN reports, which revealed the presence of 2 critically endangered species, 7 endangered and 6 vulnerable in Burulia beel. Indigenous fish community based on their ecological and migratory habits 29 (74%) are resident, 9 (24%) are migratory and single species (2%) from riverine habitat. In respect to the tropho-spatial characteristics, major contribution was by surface feeders (23 species) followed by bottom feeders (17 species) and column feeders (3 species). Salmostoma acinaces was the major species in the fishers catch in terms of abundance in numbers (%) followed by Puntius sophore, Glossogobius giuris, Parambassis nama and Channa punctatus on the other hand Wallago attu, Catla catla, Labeo rohita, Cirrhinus cirrhosus and Channa punctatus were dominants in terms of weight abundance (%). The Indian Major Carps (Labeo rohita, Catla catla and Cirrhinus cirrhosus) appear to be important in Burulia beel due to large numbers of stocking through development projects. Results of the present study indicated that naturally recruited small fish species form major portion of capture fisheries in Burulia beel. The findings of this study are expected to provide baseline information on fish biodiversity.
