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A Checklist of Fish Species from Three Rivers in Northwestern Bangladesh Based on a Seven-year Survey

Imran Parvez
Department of Fisheries Biology and Genetics, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur 5200, Bangladesh

Mohammad Ashraful Alam,
Rural Development Academy (RDA), Bogura 5842, Bangladesh

Mohammad Mahbubul Hassan
Department of Fisheries Biology and Genetics, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur 5200, Bangladesh

Yeasmin Ara
Department of Fisheries Management, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur 5200, Bangladesh.

Imran Hoshan
Department of Fisheries Biology and Genetics, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur 5200, Bangladesh

Abu Syed Mohammad Kibria
Department of Aquaculture, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur 5200, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Bangladesh is rich in freshwater biodiversity, but information on riverine fish diversity is lacking. This study represents a complete list of fish species of Dhepa, Punarbhaba, and Atrai rivers of Bangladesh based on surveys carried out for seven years, from 2009 to 2016. A total of 121 species belonging to 80 genera and 33 families were recorded, of which Cyprinidae was the most dominant family representing 24 species. A total of 42 threatened species and 10 exotic species were collected during the survey. This study highlights that Dhepa, Punarbhaba, and Atrai are critical habitats for many conservation-concern fish species, and reveals the need for developing suitable conservation and management plans for the future.

Keywords: Atrai River, Dhepa River, Exotic fish, Freshwater fish, Punarbhaba River, Threatened species.

Location: Dhepa, Punarbhaba, and Atrai rivers of Bangladesh

Start Date: 00-00-2009

End Date: 00-00-2016

Program Area: Conservation and Biodiversity

Commodity: Fish

Objectives:

This study aims to provide a comprehensive list of the species available in the Dhepa, the Punarbhaba, and the Atrai rivers of northwestern Bangladesh to facilitate river management and biodiversity conservation.

Methodology:

Data were collected as part of three projects conducted from 2009 to 2016 at Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur. The survey included monthly visits to fishing spots and local markets (bazaars) adjacent to the rivers. The sites were in Punarbhaba River (25.628°N & 88.618°E; 25.595°N & 88.614°E; 25.646°N & 88.620°E), Atrai River (25.718°N & 88.739°E; 25.538°N & 88.759°E; 25.871°N & 88.719°E), Dhepa River (25.703°N & 88.635°E; 25.783°N & 88.672°E; 25.652°N & 88.629°E), Dhepa River Fish Sanctuary (25.865°N & 88.665°E), Bahadur Bazaar (25.626°N & 88.633°E), Rail Bazaar (25.636°N & 88.643°E), Birgang Bazaar (25.862°N & 88.656°E), and Khanshama Bazaar (25.926°N & 88.727°E). Fish species were identified by experienced fish biologists (Mohammad Shaifuddin Shah, Mostafa Ali Reza Hossain, Imran Parvez, and Mohammad Mahbubul Hassan) based on morphometric characters and meristic counts mentioned in Talwar & Jhingran (1991) and Rahman (2005). Updated taxonomic names follow Eschmeyer et al. (2018). The extinction risk and conservation status of the collected fishes follow IUCN (2015).

Source of Information: Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 April 2019 | 11(6): 13786–13794

Article Link (Online Journal): DOI: 10.11609/jott.4303.11.6.13786-13794

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

This study provides the first comprehensive list of fish species available in Dhepa, Punarbhaba, and Atrai rivers of northwestern Bangladesh. Cyprinidae dominated the species richness, a result similar to other freshwater ecosystems in Bangladesh (Rahman et al. 2012; Galib et al. 2013; Hasan et al. 2013; Chaki et al. 2014). We also recorded 10 exotic species, namely Cyprinus carpio, Hypophthalmichthys nobilis, Barbonymus gonionotus, Ctenopharyngodon idella, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix, Mylopharyngodon piceus, Hypostomus plecostomus, Clarius gariepinus, Oreochromis mossambicus, and Pangasianodon hypopthalmus. Although exotic species were introduced into Bangladesh to increase aquaculture production, none of these was meant to be released into the wild. These exotic species might have, therefore, escaped from aquaculture ponds during heavy rains or floods. Currently, no information exists whether these exotic species have established breeding populations in the wild, and such studies need to be carried out in the future along with the development of management plans for their control and eradication. Freshwater fish biodiversity in Bangladesh is under threat due to various anthropogenic and natural causes (Islam et al. 2017). This study indicated that Dhepa, Punarbhaba, and Atrai rivers are important habitats for 42 threatened species; therefore, sanctuaries were established to provide a safe refuge for the species, especially during the breeding period (Parvez et al. 2017). Other threats, such as water abstraction for agriculture, however, are threatening the ecosystem. Therefore, there is a need for a trade-off between managing rivers for biodiversity conservation and agricultural production. This study provides a scientific basis of fish biodiversity status which would be useful for policy-makers to set priorities for river management in Bangladesh.

Knowledge Management: Journal