927

Environment and Ecology 38 (4) : 927—932, October—December 2020

ISSN 0970-0420

Ichthyofaunal Diversity of Boranakanive Reservoir

in Tumakuru District, Karnataka

R. Shruthi, S. Ramakrishna

Received 21 September 2020, Accepted 24 September 2020, Published on 10 October 2020

ABSTRACT system. These vertebrates highly influence the process

of energy transfer through the food web. Fishes and
The rural water bodies and their ichthyofaunal diver- their by-products hold a vital role as diet among the
sity are dilapidated over the years. As ichthyofauna is human race globally since time immemorial. They
a major asset to the biodiversity of our country as well are among the staples as they serve huge amounts
as a significant economic resource, sustainable devel- of nutrients like antioxidants, proteins, minerals and
opment of ichthyofauna becomes crucial. Therefore a vitamins, specially omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty
timely survey to monitor the ichthyofaunal diversity acids (Gormleyet al. 2007).
is a pre-requisite for the ameliorating management of
it. Hence, the present study to assess and record the
ichthyofaunal diversity of the Boranakanive reservoir The depletion of freshwater aquatic biodiversity
at the Tumakuru District of Karnataka (India) was is alarmingly increasing with time due to anthropo-
carried out for a span of one year from June 2017 to genic factors and its resultant climatic or environmen-
May 2018 on a monthly basis, revealing a total occur- tal fluctuations. Such being the case, fish diversity
rence of 13 fish species belonging from ten genera, studies prove to be a helping tool in having a better
six families and five orders of fishes. The results of understanding of the current fish diversity levels and
the study conducted would provide an insight for in formulating methodical measures to scientifically
the future analysis of ichthyofaunal survival in the manage the fish producti production along with the
reservoir. conservation of existing ichthyofaunal diversity of
the country.
Keywords: Ichthyofaunal diversity, Boranakaniver
reservoir, Biodiversity.
All over the world about 22,000 fish species
have been recorded; among which, around 11% are
INTRODUCTION represented in Indian water bodies. Out of the total
2,200 species listed,1,440 (65.45%) belong to the
Fishes are an indispensable part of any aquatic eco- marine water bodies, 617 (28.05%) to the freshwa-
ters and 143 (6.50%) belong to the brackish waters.
Coming to the freshwater fish fauna, globally there
are about 450 families found, around 40 among them
R. Shruthi*, S. Ramakrishna are recorded in India and roughly 25 of these families
Department of Zoology, Bangalore University, Bengaluru 560056, have commercially important species. Meanwhile, the
Karnataka, India account of endemic species is about 544 (Center for
Email: [email protected] Ecological Sciences, IISc). For sustainability of the
* Corresponding author
928

existing resources in the case of commercial species,

promotion of rational exploitation is a pre-requisite.
Protection of ecosystems is an essential requirement
for species survival and adequate care is required to
overcome the anthropogenic stresses impacting them.

Other than great nutritional source, Fishes also

hold a vital position in any aquatic ecology as sig-
nificant bio-indicators of ecosystems health. Fishes
strike a balance in the food chain by consuming lower
organisms like planktons and later being fed upon by
the animals of higher hierarchy. Any sort of imbalance Fig. 1. Map of the Boranakanive reservoir.
caused as a result of variations in the biotic and abiotic
factors have a direct influence on the overall aquatic
ecology impacting the food chain which is further as individuals for the documentation of existing fish
indicated by the fishes. fauna to further sustainably conserve the rich ichthy-
ofaunal diversity owned by our nation for the current
and upcoming generations.
Freshwater bodies mainly the reservoirs are of
prime significance throughout India, particularly
in the rural regions. Most of these reservoirs have The present study was undertaken at the Bo-
been constructed to facilitate the needs of human ranakanive reservoir (Fig. 1), holding a purpose to
population around for fish culturing and irrigation. evaluate and record the ichthyofaunal diversity of
Specifically, inland fisheries have been of notable the reservoir. The Boranakanive reservoir is located
economic importance to our country for the past few at 6 km east of Huliyar town, of Tumakuru District,
decades and the fish fauna today is facing number of Karnataka. The Boranakanive reservoir is lentic fresh-
threats such as drought conditions, eutrophication, water ecosystem. It was constructed as early as 1892
over fishing or other anthropogenic activities. Hence, for minor irrigation purpose, during the British rule
a systematic study and understanding of develop- under the administration of the then Mysore State Ma-
ments along with timely maintenance and updating haraja, His Highness Sri JayachamarajendraWadeyar
of the ichthyofaunal diversity status is of utmost im- X GCSI. Currently the reservoir is majorly accessed
portance for the conservation of various fish species for the purpose of irrigation and fishery.
(Thirumala and Kiran 2017).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Ancient generations surely had the opportunities
to appreciate nature comprising of a wide range of To check on the ichthyofaunal diversity of the res-
fish diversity as per the information shared through ervoir, different variety of fishes were looked for
verbal communication through ages, but due to the regularly on a monthly basis throughout the study
lack of records we fail to realize the importance period of two years from June 2017 to May 2019 at the
of conservation. However, today humans are well reservoir with the help of local fishermen. Fishing was
equipped with technology, scientific developments done using cast net, gill net, drag nets and circular net.
and knowledge for the conservation of available fish The varieties of fishes collected were photographed
fauna. Thus, various activities like generating public immediately and later preserved with 10% formalin
awareness, periodic recording and monitoring of res- solution in specimen jars for further species identi-
ervoirs or any water ecosystems must be necessarily fication. Identification and taxonomic classification
followed by the governmental organizations as well up to the species level of the fishes obtained was
 929

Fig. 3. Biodiversity status of Fishes in Borankanive Reservoir

(June, 2017- May, 2019).
Fig. 2. Biodiversity status of Fishes in Borankanive Reservoir
(June, 2017- May, 2019).

representing 1 fish species constituting for 7 % of the

done by referring to the standard keys provided by total fish population.
various monographs like Day (1976), Jayaram (1999),
Jhingran (1991) and further confirmed with the help Family Cyprinidae had the maximum number of
of concerned experts in the field of ichthyofauna. fishes to it in the assemblage composition in which
fish species such as Cirrhinusreba, Catlacatla, Labeo-
rohita, Cyprinuscarpio and Ctenopharyngodonidella
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION were found to be common. The Channidae family
comprised of Channamarulius, Channaorientalis,
The ichthyofaunal diversity, biodiversity status and Channapunctata and Channastriatus species to its
percentage composition of fish families observed in credit. Among which Channaorientalis and Chan-
the reservoir during the study period are depicted in napunctata were found rare and other two species
the Table 1 and Fig. 2. It was observed that the fish were found common. The remaining four families
diversity of the reservoir comprised of 13 varieties of Chichlidae, Gobidae, Notopteridae and Siluridae had
fishes exhibiting a moderate ichthyofaunal diversity. one species of fishes like Oreochromisnilotica, Glos-
The species recorded belonged from ten genera, six sogobiusgiuris, Notopterusnotopterus and Ompokbi-
families and five orders of fishes. maculatus respectively under each of them. However,
Oreochromisnilotica and Notopterusnotopterus were
found very common. While,Glossogobiusgiurisand
The percentage composition of the exisiting or- Ompokbimaculatus were found rare.
der of fishes recorded in the Boranakanive reservoir is
given in Fig.3. Wherein, order Perciformes constitut- The biodiversity status of the Boranakanive
ed 33% consisting of 2 families under it. Followed by reservoir is represented in the Table 1 and Fig.2. As
Cypriniformes, Anabantiformes, Osteoglossyformes per the IUCN Red list category (2011), the biodi-
and Siluriformes comprising of 1 fish species each
recorded in the reservoir.

The percentage composition of different fish

families recorded in the Boranakanive reservoir is
represented in Fig.4. Family Cyprinidae represents
5 fish species, constituting 38%, while family Chan-
nidae represents 4 fish species and constitutes for
31%, followed by family Cichlidae, Gobidae and
Notopteridae each represented by 1 fish species, Fig. 4. Percentage composition of Fish Families in Borankanive
constituting for 8% each and finally family Siluridae Reservoir (June, 2017- May, 2019)
930

Table 1. Fish diversity in Boranakanive reservoir and their biodiversity status (June 2017–May 2019). LC–Least Concern ; VU–Vul-
nerable ; NT–Near Threatened ; NE–Not Evaluated. LC-Least Concern ; VU-Vulnerable ; NT-Near Threatened ; NE-Not Evaluated.

Sl. Scientific Common Local IUCN Economic

No. Order Family name name name status value

1 Cyprini- Cyprini- Cirrhinus reba Reba carp Doddarja LC Food fish

formes dae (Hamilton 1822)
Catla catla Major
(F. Hamilton South
1822) Asian carp Catla LC Food fish
Labeo rohita Rohu Rohu LC Food fish
(F. Hamilton
1822)
Cyprinus carpio Common Samanyage- VU Food fish/
(Linnaeus 1758) carp nde Ornamental
fish
Ctenopharyng Grass Hullu NE Food fish
odonidella carp gende
(Valenciennes
1844)
2 Perciformes Cichlidae Oreochromis nilo-
tica (Linnaeus
1758) Nile tilapia Jilebimeenu LC Food fish
Gobidae Glossogo biusgiuris Gangetic Nettigennu LC Food fish/Or-
(J Richardson namental fish
1846) tank goby korava
3 Osteoglossy- Notopteri- Notopterus notop- Grey fea- Kulchappli LC Food fish/Or-
formes dae terus (Pallas 1769) ther back namental fish
4 Anabanti- Channidae Channa marulius Great Avalu, Aviu or LC Food fish/Or-
formes (F. Hamilton 1822) snakehead Madinji namental fish
Channa orientalis Walking Korava, Mottu NT Food fish/ Or-
(Bloch & J. G. Sch- snakehead or Thunda namental fish
neider 1801)
Channa punctata Spotted Kuchi or Beli- NE Food fish/Or-
(Bloch 1793) snakehead korava namental fish
Channa striatus Striped or Kuchhu Or LC Food fish/ Or-
(Bloch 1793) snakehead Kuccheu namental fish
murrel
5 Siluriformes Siluridae Ompokbima cula- Butter Goddley-
tus (Bloch 1794) catfish meenu NT Food fish

versity status of the fish species found in India are richness as well as the distribution of other organisms
categorized into LC- least concerned; VU- vulnerable; that are dependent on the aquatic ecosystem (Moyle
NT- nearthreatened; NE- not evaluated or DD- data and Leidy 1992).
deficient. Out of the total 13 fish species found in the
Borankanive reservoir, 62% are least concerned, 15%
counted for both near threatened and not evaluated The overall health of any freshwater ecosystem
and 8% of them were vulnerable. is usually monitored by a well-balanced interaction
between all its constituents like water parameters,
sediments, the biotic and abiotic factors. The ichthyof
A rich ichthyofaunal diversity has a positive aunal diversity is greatly impacted if there occurs
influence on the health of any aquatic ecosystem, as any imbalance in any of the mentioned components.
fishes play great bio-indicators of the water quality. Urban cities in India of late have witnessed numer-
Also, their diversity levels help in determining the ous incidents of mass fish deaths among their water
 931

bodies. Earlier, natural causes like drought conditions toa undergo natural breeding. As a result of which,
played a major role in the fish kill incidents. But, a gradual reduction in the population of particular
recently there have been various man-made causes species over a period of time is leading to the unno-
to unexpected mass mortality of fishes like industri- ticeable extinction of the specific species of fishes
al effluents and direct sewage let off into the water in most of the water bodies without leaving behind
bodies which makes way for unhealthy conditions any records of existence. Also, lack of cooperation
and imbalance in the water quality also resulting in between the governmental fisheries organizations in
circumstances like eutrophication or frothing etc. Any charge and the local communities of fishermen on var-
type of water pollution taking place due to variety of ious issues like release of fish seeds, fish distribution,
reasons if not monitored and worked upon in time management and maintenance of fish culture or fish-
leads to a direct and irreversible damage to the entire ing techniques along with fishing license is resulting
aquatic ecosystem and the diverse populations depen- in the sufferings and rapid depletion of ichthyofaunal
dent on them. In the Bengaluru city of Karnataka nu- diversity in most of the rural water bodies.
merous lakeslike Bellandur, Varthur and Hebballake
to name a few, have been a victim of uncontrollable There are various factors responsible for the dis-
rapid urbanization and other anthropogenic activities tribution of organisms in the freshwater habitats in ac-
over a huge period of time. As a result of which these cordance to their adaptation which allows the survival
lakes exhibited dire consequences of undesirable in specific environments(Jeffries and Mills 1990). In
situations like frothing and major fish kills. Current- order to minimize the energy expended for successful
ly, they are going through a rejuvenation process. survival, species typically favour appropriate habitat
conditions which optimize their physiological pro-
In comparison to the urban freshwater bodies the cesses (Matthews 1990). Therefore, regular survey,
rural aquatic ecosystems have lesser exposure to the monitoring and maintenance of the rural and urban
toxicity like industrial let offs and pollutants. Howev- freshwater bodies, periodic documentations of ichthy
er, natural causes like lack of timely rains and severe of aunal diversity and their distribution along with
droughts along with other anthropogenic activities creating public awareness is the key for sustainable
like over fishing, open defecation, animal washing, conservation and development offish diversity and
use of detergents through utensils and cloths washing fish production globally.
or irrigation let off into the water bodies raise growing
concerns towards the water quality deterioration and ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
gradual depletion of fish diversity.
The authors are grateful to Dr. M. F. Rahman, Scien-
In our study, presence of 13 fish species was tist (Retd) Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute
observed throughout the study period indicating a (CIFRI) and Consultant at National Fisheries Devel-
moderate ichthyofaunal diversity in the reservoir. opment Board (NFDB) for helping us enhance our
During the study it was also observed that, it is the knowledge in the field of Ichthyology.
lack of timely rainfall in the study area that has led to
the shrinkage of water levels in the reservoir which
is one of the major reasons for loss of fish population
besides overfishing. A balanced interaction between
various physico-chemical water parameters like REFERENCES
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