Aquatic Floral Abundance on Ichthyofaunal Community 
in a Forested Stream of Pamba River in the Western Ghat

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Ruby Thomas, Raju Thomas K.

 

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Received 25 February 2023, Accepted 23 May 2023, Published on 18 August 2023

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ABSTRACT

 

Aquatic macrophytes are essential to the fish community because they offer food, protection from predators and shelter. The present study deals with the influence of the distribution and abundance of aquatic macrophytes on stream fishes. Twenty-one species of aquatic plants and 13 associated fish species were identified during the study period of January-December 2019. In the study stream, the abundance of aquatic flora positively impacted the fish community. Certain aquatic macrophytes were highly preferred by individual fish species in the area. The  Podostemonads formed a major plant group along the stream. Emergent plants, especially Lagenandra toxicaria played an important role in maintaining the composition of the fish community. Hypselobarbus kurali is a known genus of food fish, and they exhibited affinity to the area covered with Lagenandra toxicaria. Hydrilla verticillata, the submerzed plant showed extensive growth during monsoon and supported a large number of Haludaria fasciata.   

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Keywords   Aquatic plant composition, Fish community, Podostemonads, Habitat, The Western Ghats, Pamba river.