Investigation on Ichthyofaunal Assortment and Water Quality Parameters in the Ranganadi River of North-East India

Abstract

Background: The north-eastern region of India well known its innumerable natural resources. Flanked by two of the biodiversity hotspots of Indian subcontinent, North-East India has rich biological diversity of flora and fauna in its every corner. The present study has undertaken to assess the ichthyofaunal resources and physico-chemical parameters of Ranganadi river which will contribute to the scientific knowledge domain and aid in the planning of much needed conservation strategies. Methods: The ichthyofauna and water quality parameters has been studied from February 2021 to January 2022 on a monthly basis in the three different terrains of Ranganadi river. Result: The study revealed 76 fish species belonging to 9 different orders and 26 families. The major share contributed by the order cypriniformes (47.36%) followed by siluriformes (23.68%), Perciformes (13.15%), Synbranchiformes (5.26%), Anabantiformes (3.94%), Clupeiformes (2.63%), Tetradontiformes (1.31%), Anguilliformes (1.31%) and Beloniformes (1.31%) constitutes total ichthyofaunal composition of Ranganadi river recorded in the survey. During the survey, occurrence of fishes from Endangered (EN), Vulnerable (VU), Near Threatened (NT) category also documented in the river basin. The water quality parameters were found to be in the suitable ranges in contrast to parameters of healthy aquatic bodies.