FISH DIVERSITY OF SHUKLAPHANTA NATIONAL PARK, KANCHANPUR, NEPAL
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Amrit Campus
Abstract
Shuklaphanta National Park lies in the extreme south far western terai region in
Kanchanpur district, Sudurpaschim Province, Nepal. This study was conducted between
2076/12/06-2076/12/16 (first survey) and 2077/06/23-2077/07/02 (second survey). The
study area was divided into ten stations for fish sampling and physicochemical parameters
were also analyzed. Cast net of different mesh size, scoop net, hook and line, flow
modification, trap and gill net were used for fish collection. A total of 1,848 fish were
captured belonging to 6 orders, 17 families, 31 genera and 53 species. Cypriniformes was
the dominant order comprising 60% of species, Anabantiformes had second highest species
composition (17%) that is, 4 families, 4 genera and 9 species followed by order
Siluriformes (15% species composition) belonging to 5 families, 6 genera and 8 species
and the order Synbranchiformes, Perciformes and Beloniformes had lowest species
composition (4%, 2% and 2%) respectively. During the study the smallest fish species;
Botia geto, the biggest sized fish species; Labeo rohita and longest; Sperata seenghala was
reported. Among the recorded species, Puntius chola had highest frequency (6.11%).
Among the recorded species, twelve species were Least Concern (UN), six species were
Data deficient/pristine rare ornamental species (PRO), three species were vulnerable
species (VU), two species were Endangered (EN) and one species Rare and threatened (R).
An analysis of similarity (ANOSIM) indicated that there is a significant difference between
the fish assemblage structure in study seasons (R= -0.833, P= 0.985). Throughout the study
period, water temperature ranged from 18-29 0C, pH value ranged in between 7.9- 9.8, DO
ranged from 3.5 to 13.6 mg/l, TDS was 20- 432 ppm. CCA ordination was analyzed to find
the relation between fish species with environment variables. Comparing the station wise
fish diversity, species richness and evenness were highest in Station 2 and 1 and results
from the CCA hinted that water parameters DO and TDS were the influencing factors to
determine fish community structure in water bodies of Shuklaphanta National Park.