FISH DIVERSITY OF SETI KHOLA POKHARA, KASKI, NEPAL

Abstract

The present study was conducted to investigate fish species diversity of the Seti Khola of Pokhara, Kaski. The duration of the study was from Kartik 2078 to Baishakh 2079 (October 2021 to April 2022). Five different sites were designated in the river to sample fishes and to measure physico-chemical parameters like, Temperature, DO, pH, alkalinity, Electrical conductivity, Turbidity and Hardness of Seti Khola. Fishes were collected with the help of local fishermen using locally available devices such as a cast net (8 mm) and a gill net (10 mm). A total of 14 species belonging to 4 orders, 5 families and 11 genera were recorded. Cypriniformes was recorded as the dominant order, which comprised 71.43% of total fishes collected, followed by Anabantiformes (14.29%), Siluriformes (7.14%), and Salmoniformes (7.14%). Of the recorded species, the conservation status of 3 were threatened, 3 were vulnerable, 5 were least concern, one was near threatened and one was critically endangered. One exotic species, Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) was also collected during the study. The range of Shannon diversity index was found to be from 1.52 at site V to 2.26 at site I. This showed that the diversity status of the Seti Khola was low to medium during the study period. Based on Pearson’s correlation coefficient, the most important physico-chemical parameters affecting fishes were found to be alkalinity (r=0.80) and Temperature (0.42). Except pH and Hardness, remaining physico chemical parameters showed positive association with fish species.