FISH DIVERSITY OF SHUKLAPHANTA NATIONAL PARK, KANCHANPUR, NEPAL

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.