Assessment and Conservation of Aquatic Biodiversity of Suleman Mountain Range, Dera Ghazi Khan Region, Pakistan with special emphasis on Ichthyofauna

Abstract

Freshwater ecosystems have been playing important role in development and maintenance of human civilization. Present study depicted the planktonic and ichthyofaunal biodiversity of Suleman Mountain Range, Dera Ghazi Khan Region of Pakistan. Water quality was assessed by analyzing physico-chemical parameters and the ichthyofaunal status of the region was assessed by calculating abundance and diversity of fish fauna. The fish health status was estimated by measuring several morphometric characteristics and condition factor. The analysis of TDS, pH, CO2, CO3-2, HCO3-1, TA, TH, Na+1, Ca+2, Mg+2, Cl-1, SO4-2, EC and SAR showed significant site variations while water temperature, light penetration, pH, DO and CO2demonstrated the significant seasonal variations. Out of 119, 83 phytoplankton and 36 zooplankton genera were recorded wherein chlorophyta was the most abundant with (RA= 28.80%) and xanthophyta was the least (RA = 0.87%) while Protozoa was the most occuring with (RA = 11.57%) and cladocera was the least with (RA = 0.80%). Twenty fish species were explored in which Tor macrolepis was the most and Labeo calbasu was least abundant in the region. The family Cyprinidae was found to be most abundant and dominant in Suleman Mountain Range, Dera Ghazi Khan, Region while three fish species endemic to Pakistan namely Barilius pakistanicus, Labeo dyocheilus pakistanicus and Salmophasia punjabensis were also observed from this experimental area. Total length ranged from 7.80-31.0 cm for Tor macrolepis, 8.08-17.20 for Schizothorax plagiostomus, 9.0-20.5 for Labeo diplostomus, 9.30-23.60 cm for Labeo dyocheilus pakistanicus, 8.00-14.30 cm for Cyprinion watsoni, 10.30- 18.90 cm for Ompok pabda and 9.00-14.10 cm were calculated. Similarly, wet body weight ranged from 5.20-301.90 g for Tor macrolepis, 7.05-67.08 g for Schizothorax plagiostomus, 5.50-90.0 g for Labeo diplostomus, 10.20-125.0 g for Labeo dyocheilus pakistanicus, 7.90-30.70 for Cyprinion watsoni, 8.50-57.0 g for Ompok pabda and 8.60-39.30 g for Garra gotyla were recorded. New records of maximum total length for Cyprinion watsoni (14.3 cm), Labeo dyocheilus pakistanicus (22.50 cm), Labeo diplostomus (22.0 cm) and Tor macrolepis (29.0 cm) were obtained. Condition factors of most fishes were optimum except Ompok pabda. In general, most of the water quality parameters of the studied sites were within suitable range for growth of living organism. The diversity indices value indicated moderate planktonic diversity. However, ichthyofaunal diversity of the region was poor. The morphometric characteristics and condition factor values indicated good fish health.