Archives

The present study was done on the basis of a preliminary survey conducted during May, 2012 to April,
2014 for two consecutive year in the Kaldia river of Barpeta district in lower Brahmaputra valley of
Assam, India to assess the diversity of fish germplasm and their conservation status on the river. Findings
revealed that the occurrence of 116 indigenous freshwater fish species from 9 orders, 31 families and 72
genera. Order Cypriniformes was the most dominant with 55 species followed by Siluriformes,
Perciformes, Osteoglossiformes, Clupeiformes, Anguilliformes, Cyprinodontiformes, Symbranchiformes
and Tetradontiformes. Among the families recorded, cyprinidae was the most dominant. Result of the
present study showed that 50 species common, 48 species scanty and 18 species were found rare in the
area. Among the collected ichthyofauna 1(0.86%) species are endangered, 4 (3.45%) species are
vulnerable, 10 (8.62%) species are near threatened, 94 (81.03%) least concern, 5 (4.31%) data deficient,
2 (1.72%) not evaluated as per IUCN (2013.2). Whereas 5 (4.31%) species are endangered, 22 (18.96%)
species are vulnerable, 37 (31.89%) species are lower risk near threatened, 8 (6.89%) are lower risk and
least concern, 1 (0.86%) is data deficient, 1 (0.86%) is critically endangered and 42 (36.21%) are not
evaluated according to CAMP status(1998). Anthropogenic pressure, habitat loss, use of pesticide for
killing fish species, sand mining are the major threats of depleting fish germplasm diversity in the river of
which habitat loss is the most contributing factor.
Keywords: Germplasm, anthropogenic, ichthyofauna.