- Assistant Professoredit
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The transfer of energy from producers to consumers, such as fish, fish larvae, and invertebrates, is facilitated by zooplankton. Consequently, zooplankton play a crucial part in the productivity and functioning of aquatic ecosystems, and... more
The transfer of energy from producers to consumers, such as fish, fish larvae, and invertebrates, is facilitated by zooplankton. Consequently, zooplankton play a crucial part in the productivity and functioning of aquatic ecosystems, and they are also involved in the application of several emerging environmental management concepts, such as Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), bioindication of pollution, and biomonitoring. To analyse the present condition of the Anchar Lake, this research was conducted to investigate the zooplankton association, their abundance, richness, diversity (Cladocera and Rotifera), and their seasonal fluctuations in connection to limnological factors. Four sampling sites were used to examine thirteen physicochemical parameters along with the abundance of zooplankton from January 2019 to December 2020. During the present investigation, significant variation (p < 0.05) was observed in transparency (trans), dissolved oxygen (DO), pH, electrical conductivi...
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Fishes constitute more than half of the vertebrates, inhabiting almost every aquatic habitat of the world and form an inexpensive source of vital nutrients. The depletion of fishery stocks as a result of anthropogenic interferences is... more
Fishes constitute more than half of the vertebrates, inhabiting almost every aquatic habitat of the world and form an inexpensive source of vital nutrients. The depletion of fishery stocks as a result of anthropogenic interferences is evident worldwide and mandates an urgent need to address the cause before rate of loss exceeds the limit. This makes the assessment of various aspects of fish, especially their feeding ecology quite imperative for developing conservation and management strategies. Food forms a vital factor for fishes required chiefly for growth and reproduction in fishes and its qualitative or quantitative variation is influenced by various biotic and abiotic factors. Amongst the various attributes influencing fishes, food and feeding constitute a vital aspect that impacts the growth and general wellbeing of the fish. Feeding ecology of a fish is directly linked to its population dynamics and helps in understanding of various aspects of fish like habitat preference, competition, prey selectivity, energy transfer etc. Under this backdrop the current review was drafted to acquire knowledge about the three major aspects of feeding ecology of fish i.e., analysis of the gut contents, feeding biology and prey selectivity. The analysis of gut contents helps to identify the prey diversity and abundance consumed by a fish. Feeding biology helps to evaluate the acceptability of the prey by depicting the correlation between biology of the fish and its food preferences. Prey selectivity deals with the evaluation of prey choice depicting the reason behind choice of one prey over the other.
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is currently working in the Fish Biology and Limnology Research Laboratory of the Department and has a keen interest in the taxonomy and diversity of macrobenthic invertebrates along with the limnology of Kashmir Himalayan streams. Dr.... more
is currently working in the Fish Biology and Limnology Research Laboratory of the Department and has a keen interest in the taxonomy and diversity of macrobenthic invertebrates along with the limnology of Kashmir Himalayan streams. Dr. Yahya Bakhtiyar-Assistant Professor, Department of Zoology, University of Kashmir is currently working in the Fish Biology and Limnology Research Laboratory of the Department and his focus of research is fish population dynamics, fish reproductive biology, zooplankton, macrobenthic invertebrates, biomonitoring, and limnology of the waterbodies of Jammu and Kashmir.
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The controlled breeding program of Schizothorax labiatus requires in-depth knowledge of its reproductive features, which were studied for 2 years (October 2017 to September 2019). The study revealed four maturity phases in S. labiatus... more
The controlled breeding program of Schizothorax labiatus requires in-depth knowledge of its reproductive features, which were studied for 2
years (October 2017 to September 2019). The study revealed four maturity phases in S. labiatus differing morphologically as well as histologically. Overall gonadosomatic index (GSI) followed the same trend in both the sexes (p>0.05; t-test), but a significant difference in GSI was observed in March with females having a higher GSI than males (p<0.05; t-test). The
peak values of GSI in both sexes were observed during April and May with an abrupt decrease in June.
The minimum ova diameter (0.3 mm) showed high frequency during the regressing phase, whereas the maximum ova diameter (2.4 mm) showed high frequency during the spawning capable phase. Absolute and relative fecundity ranged from 2754±1388 to 13465±7508 ova and 14±10 to 45±12 ova/g body weight, respectively. Absolute fecundity showed a highly significant positive correlation (p<0.01) with ovary weight as compared to ovary length, total length, and the total weight of the fish. Length at first
maturity (Lm) for males and females was estimated to be 23.6 cm and 27.6 cm, respectively, indicating that males mature earlier than females. GSI of both sexes was found to increase significantly with the water temperature from December to April (rs = 1.0 for males and rs = 0.9 for females; p<0.05). The unimodal distribution of oocytes revealed that all oocytes are released in a short period (total spawner) from the late spring to summer season.
years (October 2017 to September 2019). The study revealed four maturity phases in S. labiatus differing morphologically as well as histologically. Overall gonadosomatic index (GSI) followed the same trend in both the sexes (p>0.05; t-test), but a significant difference in GSI was observed in March with females having a higher GSI than males (p<0.05; t-test). The
peak values of GSI in both sexes were observed during April and May with an abrupt decrease in June.
The minimum ova diameter (0.3 mm) showed high frequency during the regressing phase, whereas the maximum ova diameter (2.4 mm) showed high frequency during the spawning capable phase. Absolute and relative fecundity ranged from 2754±1388 to 13465±7508 ova and 14±10 to 45±12 ova/g body weight, respectively. Absolute fecundity showed a highly significant positive correlation (p<0.01) with ovary weight as compared to ovary length, total length, and the total weight of the fish. Length at first
maturity (Lm) for males and females was estimated to be 23.6 cm and 27.6 cm, respectively, indicating that males mature earlier than females. GSI of both sexes was found to increase significantly with the water temperature from December to April (rs = 1.0 for males and rs = 0.9 for females; p<0.05). The unimodal distribution of oocytes revealed that all oocytes are released in a short period (total spawner) from the late spring to summer season.
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The plummeting productivity of marine resources complemented by a growing demand for fish and its products makes the intensification of aquaculture systems inevitable. Such intensification breeds the predicament of nutrient loading which... more
The plummeting productivity of marine resources complemented by a growing demand for fish and its products makes the intensification of aquaculture systems inevitable. Such intensification breeds the predicament of nutrient loading which eventually hampers the smooth functioning of an aquatic ecosystem. Ecological engineering, working in tandem with aquaculture has evolved a system under the backdrop of Integrated multitrophic aquaculture (IMTA) which facilitates such intensification. IMTA involves simulating a co-culture system that mimics a natural aquatic ecosystem, entailing multiple tropic levels arranged in a way to harness the potential of by-products and thereby minimize waste production. IMTA offers a sustainable approach to aquaculture development with a two-component stock configuration of fed aquaculture species (fish or shrimp) and extractive species (seaweeds, molluscs, echinoderms etc). The theme of the setup is to feed the fed component and utilize their waste for the culture of the extractive species. Since its inception, the IMTA has evolved in every aspect ranging from diversification of its components to its expansion to open waters, providing avenues that support its emergence as the aquaculture of the future. The following paper reviews the evolution of IMTA in the context of its need, components and design, besides providing ways to valorize the system via diversification and optimization.
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Fishes constitute more than half of the vertebrates, inhabiting almost every aquatic habitat of the world and form an inexpensive source of vital nutrients. The depletion of fishery stocks as a result of anthropogenic interferences is... more
Fishes constitute more than half of the vertebrates,
inhabiting almost every aquatic habitat of the world and
form an inexpensive source of vital nutrients. The
depletion of fishery stocks as a result of anthropogenic
interferences is evident worldwide and mandates an
urgent need to address the cause before rate of loss
exceeds the limit. This makes the assessment of various
aspects of fish, especially their feeding ecology quite
imperative for developing conservation and
management strategies. Food forms a vital factor for
fishes required chiefly for growth and reproduction in
fishes and its qualitative or quantitative variation is
influenced by various biotic and abiotic factors.
Amongst the various attributes influencing fishes, food
and feeding constitute a vital aspect that impacts the
growth and general wellbeing of the fish. Feeding
ecology of a fish is directly linked to its population
dynamics and helps in understanding of various aspects
of fish like habitat preference, competition, prey
selectivity, energy transfer etc. Under this backdrop the
current review was drafted to acquire knowledge about
the three major aspects of feeding ecology of fish i.e.,
analysis of the gut contents, feeding biology and prey
selectivity. The analysis of gut contents helps to identify
the prey diversity and abundance consumed by a fish.
Feeding biology helps to evaluate the acceptability of the
prey by depicting the correlation between biology of the
fish and its food preferences. Prey selectivity deals with
the evaluation of prey choice depicting the reason
behind choice of one prey over the other.
inhabiting almost every aquatic habitat of the world and
form an inexpensive source of vital nutrients. The
depletion of fishery stocks as a result of anthropogenic
interferences is evident worldwide and mandates an
urgent need to address the cause before rate of loss
exceeds the limit. This makes the assessment of various
aspects of fish, especially their feeding ecology quite
imperative for developing conservation and
management strategies. Food forms a vital factor for
fishes required chiefly for growth and reproduction in
fishes and its qualitative or quantitative variation is
influenced by various biotic and abiotic factors.
Amongst the various attributes influencing fishes, food
and feeding constitute a vital aspect that impacts the
growth and general wellbeing of the fish. Feeding
ecology of a fish is directly linked to its population
dynamics and helps in understanding of various aspects
of fish like habitat preference, competition, prey
selectivity, energy transfer etc. Under this backdrop the
current review was drafted to acquire knowledge about
the three major aspects of feeding ecology of fish i.e.,
analysis of the gut contents, feeding biology and prey
selectivity. The analysis of gut contents helps to identify
the prey diversity and abundance consumed by a fish.
Feeding biology helps to evaluate the acceptability of the
prey by depicting the correlation between biology of the
fish and its food preferences. Prey selectivity deals with
the evaluation of prey choice depicting the reason
behind choice of one prey over the other.
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The transfer of energy from producers to consumers, such as fish, fish larvae, and invertebrates, is facilitated by zooplankton. Consequently, zooplankton play a crucial part in the productivity and functioning of aquatic ecosystems, and... more
The transfer of energy from producers to consumers, such as fish, fish larvae, and invertebrates, is facilitated by zooplankton. Consequently, zooplankton play a crucial part in the productivity and functioning of aquatic ecosystems, and they are also involved in the application of several emerging environmental management concepts, such as Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), bioindication of pollution, and biomonitoring. To analyse the present condition of the Anchar Lake, this research was conducted to investigate the zooplankton association, their abundance, richness, diversity (Cladocera and Rotifera), and their seasonal fluctuations in connection to limnological factors. Four sampling sites were used to examine thirteen physicochemical parameters along with the abundance of zooplankton from January 2019 to December 2020. During the present investigation, significant variation (p < 0.05) was observed in transparency (Trans), dissolved oxygen (DO), pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total alkalinity (TA), nitrate-nitrogen (NO 3-N), total hardness (TH), and total phosphorus (TP) between the different sites of Anchar Lake, whereas non-significant variation was observed in air temperature (AT), water temperature (WT), free carbon dioxide (FCO 2), chloride (Cl-), and nitrite-nitrogen (NO 2-N). The results further revealed a total of 44 zooplankton species, belonging to two groups: Rotifera (27 species) and Cladocera (17 species). The zooplankton diversity was found to vary on spatiotemporal scales showing maximum values for the Shannon diversity index in the case of Cladocera during spring (2.63±0.25) CONTACT Yahya Bakhtiyar
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The present study was carried out to study the feeding habits of Labeo rohita from culture ponds of Gho-Manhasa fish farm, Jammu. Monthly samples were collected from the ponds to study the gut contents. In case of L. rohita in LrfI... more
The present study was carried out to study the feeding habits of Labeo rohita from culture ponds of Gho-Manhasa fish farm, Jammu. Monthly samples were collected from the ponds to study the gut contents. In case of L. rohita in LrfI (lowest size group) and LrfII, LrfIII 40 guts/group, LrfIV 50 guts (due to non-availability of the size categorized) and 120 guts each in case of LrfV and LrfVI (largest size group) were analysed. For every group 10 guts/month were analysed to study feeding ecology in case of L. rohita. Individual stomach fullness scale was estimated to a subjective scale, ranging from 0 (empty) to 5 (full). The results so obtained were used to compute percentage volume of food items in the gut (%V), percentage of ocurrence of guts having particular food item (%0) and Index of preponderance (IOP). The food of Labeo rohita consisted of plant (algae and macrophytes) and animal matter (protozoa, rotifers, cladocerans, copepods, molluscs, annelids and insects) besides unident...
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Diversity, abundance and distribution pattern of the fish fauna are important aspects that need to be considered in order to frame the conservation and management strategies in any water body. To assess the composition, diversity and... more
Diversity, abundance and distribution pattern of the fish fauna are important aspects that need to be considered in order to frame the conservation and management strategies in any water body. To assess the composition, diversity and relative abundance of the fish fauna in the Manasbal Lake of Kashmir, the present study was carried out for two years (March 2018 - February 2020). A total of 22522 fish specimens were netted out during the sampling period, and the relative abundance and various diversity indices were used to assess the overall diversity of the inhabiting fish fauna. A total of 7 species belonging to two families, Cyprinidae and Poeciliidae, were reported, of which the family Cyprinidae was dominant in the catch. The relative abundance and diversity of the fish fauna showed spatio-temporal variation wherein Pethia conchonius was most abundant during spring and winter, while Gambusia holbrooki was most abundant during summer and autumn. Cyprinus carpio was found to be ab...
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Morphometric and meristic characters are very important for the identification of any fish specimen. The present study aims to describe the morphometric and meristic characters of the indigenous fish Crossocheilus diplochilus (Heckel)... more
Morphometric and meristic characters are very important for the identification of any fish specimen. The present study aims to describe the morphometric and meristic characters of the indigenous fish Crossocheilus diplochilus (Heckel) from Dal Lake. This fish is commonly known as Kashmir latia and is called tether locally. In the present study, the material analyzed was 70 specimens ranging in size from 6.9–13 cm (TL) with a mean length of 10.8 cm and a weight range of 3.2–24.0 g with a mean weight of 10.1 g. The parameters with the highest correlations with total length were standard length and fork length at 0.983 and 0.989, respectively. Correlation analysis showed that all morphometric characters changed proportionally as total length increased. The meristic counts analyzed in the present study remained constant in fish of different sizes indicating that they are independent of body size. The study of morphometric characters is very important to determine the growth rate of thes...
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Abstract The aim of the present study was to work out the natural food and feeding habits of Macrobrachium dayanum in Gho-Manhasa Stream Jammu. Samples were collected monthly between January 2004 and December 2004. A total of 480... more
Abstract The aim of the present study was to work out the natural food and feeding habits of Macrobrachium dayanum in Gho-Manhasa Stream Jammu. Samples were collected monthly between January 2004 and December 2004. A total of 480 specimens of Macrobrachium dayanum (M. dayanum) were analysed by categorizing them into four categories based on size and sex. Out of total 480 analysed specimens 214 (44.58%) guts were found to be empty while about 266 (55.41%) contained food. The frequency of empty stomachs decreased with increasing size. Index of preponderance revealed that detritus was the dominant food item of M. dayanum. Algae, the second most dominant food item was found to decrease with increase in size. After detritus and algae other important food items were found to be insecta, sand, annelids, macrophytes, mollusca, unidentified matter, crustacean and Rotifers. Based on overall analysis of different size groups the M. dayanum has been categorized as detriti-omnivore feeding on bo...
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The indigenous Schizothorax spp. in the valley of Kashmir are facing constant threats and decline in their overall population. The current aim was to analyse the comparative length-weight relationship (LWRs) and condition factor (K) of... more
The indigenous Schizothorax spp. in the valley of Kashmir are facing constant threats and decline in their overall population. The current aim was to analyse the comparative length-weight relationship (LWRs) and condition factor (K) of 350 specimens belonging to four Schizothorax spp. (S. plagiostomus, S. esocinus, S. labiatus and S. curvifrons) from the Vishav Stream of Kashmir Himalaya, India. The fish specimens were sampled for a period of one year from April 2018 to March 2019. The results revealed that the growth coefficient ‘b’ in all the four Schizothorax spp. was found very close to 3, indicating an isometric growth pattern. No significant difference in the ‘b’ values of four Schizothorax spp. was found when compared with the isometric value (t-test: p > 0.05). The mean value of the ‘K’ for S. plagiostomus, S. esocinus, S. curvifrons and for S. labiatus were 0.81 ± 0.07, 0.80 ± 0.08, 0.85 ± 0.08 and 0.88 ± 0.12 respectively. The mean condition factor did not vary across f...
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The present study reflects the seasonal variation of macrobenthic invertebrates from Aripal and Watalara streams in Kashmir Himalaya. During the study, a significant difference (p<0.05) was observed in the density of Annelida,... more
The present study reflects the seasonal variation of macrobenthic invertebrates from Aripal and Watalara streams in Kashmir Himalaya. During the study, a significant difference (p<0.05) was observed in the density of Annelida, Mollusca, and Arthropoda on a seasonal scale. Macrobenthic invertebrates were found to be at their highest density during summer and autumn, whereas they were recorded lowest during winter and spring. The total density during summer and autumn was found to be significantly different (p<0.05) when compared to winter and spring seasons. The data also depicted the maximum density of Arthropoda followed by Mollusca and Annelida. The study reveals the seasonal stability of the stream ecosystem within the temperate region and also provides the baseline information for macrobenthic invertebrate community structure.
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The common carp Cyprinus carpio is a well-known invasive species. A total of 472 specimens of C. carpio (8.6–35 cm, 10.5–1000 g) were collected from Manasbal Lake of Kashmir Himalaya for this study between March 2018 and February 2020. A... more
The common carp Cyprinus carpio is a well-known invasive species. A total of 472 specimens of C. carpio (8.6–35 cm, 10.5–1000 g) were collected from Manasbal Lake of Kashmir Himalaya for this study between March 2018 and February 2020. A strong correlation between the respective parameters of length-length and length-weight with r and R2 values approaching to 1 in both. The regression analysis indicated negative allometric growth for both sexes. For female, b value ranged from 2.04 (in spring) to 2.80 (in summer) whereas for male, it varied from 1.99 (in spring) to 2.99 (in summer). The value of Fulton’s (K) and relative (Kn) condition factors were greater than 1 in every season for both sexes which indicated that C. carpio population in the Manasbal Lake is in a good health condition and the water quality parameters along with other respective factors are favourable for successful thriving of this fish in the lake. The present study will be helpful to develop future strategies in terms of sustainable management of invasive C. carpio in the Manasbal Lake and similar water bodies
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This paper presents the spatial and temporal variation in the diversity of malacofauna in relation to the water chemistry of the Aripal stream of Kashmir Himalaya. A total of 12 species were reported which belong to four families,... more
This paper presents the spatial and temporal variation in the diversity of malacofauna in relation to the water chemistry of the Aripal stream of Kashmir Himalaya. A total of 12 species were reported which belong to four families, Lymnaeidae, Physidae, Planorbidae, and Bithyniidae from class Gastropoda, and two families, Cyrenidae and Pisidiidae from class Bivalvia. The family Planorbidae contributed 34% to the total annual molluscan population followed by Lymnaeidae (28%) and Bithyniidae (18%). During the collection, Gyraulus sp., Planorbis sp., and Bithynia tentaculata were prevalent at all sites, with predominance of Bithynia tentaculata. Species richness and abundance were observed maximum at site A3 (down-stream) and minimum at site A1 (up-stream) while in the case of temporal variation, species richness and abundance were maximum in summer and minimum in winter. Shannon-Wiener index, Simpson index, Margalef index, and Pielou evenness index were used to calculate the diversity,...
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The deteriorating conditions in stream ecosystems are detrimental for society as far as its health, and development is concerned if the underlying factors continue to operate without regular monitoring. In order to maintain the health of... more
The deteriorating conditions in stream ecosystems are detrimental for society as far as its health, and development is concerned if the underlying factors continue to operate without regular monitoring. In order to maintain the health of a stream ecosystem, assessment of spatiotemporal changes in its physicochemical attributes and identification of all factors that could alter its hydrological regime is an essential component for managing it. The current 2-year study (October–2017 to September–2019) assessed the physicochemical regime of lower stretches of the Vishav stream, a major left-bank tributary of river Jhelum on a spatiotemporal basis. The physicochemical data was analyzed through linear regression, ANOVA (followed by Duncan’s test), multivariate statistical analysis, viz., principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis (CA). Linear regression pointed out the nature and magnitude of the relationship between different physicochemical variables (p < 0.05). PCA showed that WT, pH, EC, NO3-N, TDS, TH, and DO are the major factors reflecting the water quality of the Vishav stream. The range in water quality parameters of the Vishav stream was found conducive for the inhabitant fishes. Two well-defined clusters were obtained, wherein Cluster-I comprising of Site-III (a downstream pollution prone site) and Cluster-II comprising of Site-II and Site-I (mid- and upstream site respectively) are less prone to human interferences. The present study could serve as baseline information to manage and conserve this precious element of the aquatic ecosphere in terms of better water quality for humans and its inhabitant faunal elements especially fish which play a significant role in the economy of that region.
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The present study was carried out to evaluate the effect of initial starvation and subsequent refeeding or delayed initial feeding on the survival of newly hatched larvae of Macrobrachium dayanum under laboratory conditions. In the... more
The present study was carried out to evaluate the effect of initial starvation and subsequent refeeding or delayed initial feeding on the survival of newly hatched larvae of Macrobrachium dayanum under laboratory conditions. In the delayed initial feeding experiments, the feeding rate of the starved newly hatched larvae of M. dayanum increased with the age up to 4 th dph (day post hatching) when first food was offered. After a period of 5 th dph the percentage of larvae feeding decreased sharply up to 9 th dph and on 10 th dph, no larva was found to feed and were very weak to accept the food. During the experiment, the point of no return (PNR50) (when 50% of the unfed larvae are unable to feed when offered food) was reached in M. dayanum at 6 th dph. Before PNR was reached, starved larvae of M. dayanum were able to capture their prey. Even when the larvae were provided food regularly after PNR50 was reached, they were too weak to capture food and showed 100% (PNR100) mortality ultim...
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The present study describes the seasonal fluctuation in the proximate body composition of different size groups of Macrobrachium dayanum and among the sexes MdbI (Size 6.0-20.0 mm), MdbII (Size 21.0-40.0 mm), MdbIII, (Size 41.0-60.0 mm... more
The present study describes the seasonal fluctuation in the proximate body composition of different size groups of Macrobrachium dayanum and among the sexes MdbI (Size 6.0-20.0 mm), MdbII (Size 21.0-40.0 mm), MdbIII, (Size 41.0-60.0 mm Male) and MdbIV (Size 41.0-60.0 mm Female). The results revealed that average moisture and protein content in muscles of M. dayanum was found to be maximum (79.42±0.59% and 16.98±0.51%) in lower size group MdbI (6.0-20.0 mm) and lowest (78.09±0.82% and 16.36±0.72%) in the adult female group. The average lipid and ash content was found to be highest in adult males MdbIII (1.97±0.72% and 2.63±0.53%). The highest muscle protein and lipid content were recorded in all the groups of M. dayanum during spring and early winters. In the mature stages, fall in the muscle protein and lipid coincided with their spawning season when gonads were in advanced stage of maturity. Ash content did not provide any significant difference among different groups with respect ...
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Plastic pollution is the buildup of unwanted plastic products in the environment by its abundant and limitless use by a greedy human population in various ways. Plastics are usually made of chains of monomer units of ethylene and... more
Plastic pollution is the buildup of unwanted plastic products in the environment by its abundant and limitless use by a greedy human population in various ways. Plastics are usually made of chains of monomer units of ethylene and propylene linked together. Plastics are durable and resistant to degradation and tend to accumulate where they are disposed. One more disaster this material causes is the release of toxic chemicals with time which badly affects the ecosystem where it is dumped. Same is the case with aquatic ecosystem, because tons of plastic wastes are dumped into it in one way or the other. The major threats of this menace on aquatic ecosystem include ocean acidification, degradation of water quality, increase in number of invasive species, overfishing, pollution and choking of water bodies, habitat degradation, loss of aesthetic value, blocking of sea routes, and above all, it badly affects plant and animal life there.
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Zooplankton are the precious elements of aquatic ecosphere playing a significant role in some ecological phenomena viz., biomonitoring, ecological indication, link between primary producers and higher trophic levels, aquaculture,and... more
Zooplankton are the precious elements of aquatic ecosphere playing a significant role in some ecological phenomena viz., biomonitoring, ecological indication, link between primary producers and higher trophic levels, aquaculture,and maintenance of balance in aquatic food webs.The climate,being a dynamic abiotic entity, changed many times during the history of earth particularly before and after the industrial revolution.The unending materialistic benefits of human beings have been increasing the concentration of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and fluorinated gases since the last few decades that is enough to raise the global temperature. It is a fact that both biotic and abiotic factors affect the dynamics of aquatic biota due to which the aquatic ecosystems and the organisms inhabiting them such as zooplankton are becoming the worst targets of the climate change phenomenon. Some of the significant consequences of climate change posing threats for t...
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The ecosystem services provided by freshwater zooplankton community (viz., rotifera, cladocera, copepoda and ostracoda) are very much significant and valuable. By feeding on phytoplankton or other members of zooplankton species, they act... more
The ecosystem services provided by freshwater zooplankton community (viz., rotifera, cladocera, copepoda and ostracoda) are very much significant and valuable. By feeding on phytoplankton or other members of zooplankton species, they act as primary consumers or secondary consumers, and hence playing a vital role in maintaining the biological configuration of the food web and overall balance of the aquatic ecosystem. Besides, the zooplankton play a central role in trophic cascade mechanisms; therefore, the eutrophic lakes of the world can be successfully restored by the so-called biomanipulation phenomena. Even in the diet of fish larvae, some highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are provided by some zooplankters for their successful development; therefore, they act as a backbone for the successful aquaculture industry. An important role played by these valuable assets is to monitor the changes in the aquatic ecosystems due to climate change and various anthropogenic influences, like eutrophication, heavy metal load, changes in physicochemical parameters, etc. and that too in their early stages. Therefore the remedial steps can be trailed at very early stages to counteract the effects of these changes. Since the overall population dynamics of the zooplankton community is prone to disturbance induced by climate change, which is quite perturbing situation that the overall structure and function of the aquatic ecosystem may not get spoiled.
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The study was conducted to assess the growth and survival of Macrobrachium rosenbergii in earthen culture ponds in order to know about the growth potential of M. rosenbergii in mono as well as polyculture conditions in Jammu. Polyculture... more
The study was conducted to assess the growth and survival of Macrobrachium rosenbergii in earthen culture ponds in order to know about the growth potential of M. rosenbergii in mono as well as polyculture conditions in Jammu. Polyculture experiments of prawn with some selected carps Indian Major Carps (Cirrhinus mrigala and Labeo rohita) and Exotic Carps (Cyprinus carpio) were undertaken in 3 freshwater ponds for duration of 4 months. Under the monoculture conditions, prawns attained an average size of 10.40 ± 0.17 cm weighing 23.84 ± 0.32 g in 4 months and the survival rate was found to be more than 75%. The growth rate of prawns was found to increase steadily during the first half (upto mid-October) after which a decline in the growth rate was evident as the mean temperature reached below 18°C. In the polyculture ponds the prawns attained an average size of 10.10 ± 0.03 cm weighing 18.39 ± 0.89g (without C. carpio) and 8.4 ± 0.36 cm weighing 15.23 ± 0.36 g (with C. carpio) in 4 mo...
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The Macrobrachium dayanum, a locally available freshwater prawn of Jammu was sampled regularly for a period of one year to analyze the seasonal variation in the lipid contents of muscles, hepatopancreas and ovary. Remarkable variation in... more
The Macrobrachium dayanum, a locally available freshwater prawn of Jammu was sampled regularly for a period of one year to analyze the seasonal variation in the lipid contents of muscles, hepatopancreas and ovary. Remarkable variation in the lipid content in different tissues of M. dayanum has been analyzed during the study period. Changes in the lipid content in all the three tissues were observed to be statistically significant (p<0.05). Lipids in muscles corresponds to 0.23±0.11 and 3.83±0.11%, minimum and maximum value in the month of September and December respectively. In hepatopancreas minimum of 5.05±0.21% in August and maximum of 9.31±0.41% in February have been observed. Mean value of lipid content in the ovaries range from 6.14±0.24% (minima) to 9.76±0.80% (maxima) in July and April respectively. Moreover, maximum numbers of stage IV oocytes are observed in the ovary in the months of March-April and August to October accompanied with increase in the lipid content durin...
The present observation based on gut content analysis revealed detritiherbivore nature of Macrobrachium dayanum (Henderson). The major components present in the gut were Detritus > Sand particles > Algae > Diatoms >... more
The present observation based on gut content analysis revealed detritiherbivore nature of Macrobrachium dayanum (Henderson). The major components present in the gut were Detritus > Sand particles > Algae > Diatoms > Macrophytes > Animal matter. Frequency of empty stomachs however, was more in young as compared to adults, indicating a relationship between feeding and the age of the animal.
Larvae of Macrobrachium rosenbergii (PL) were procured from CIFE, Mumbai and transported to the Department of Zoology, University of Jammu for experimental purposes. Four different diets viz., Diet I (Mixed Zooplanktons), Diet II (Live... more
Larvae of Macrobrachium rosenbergii (PL) were procured from CIFE, Mumbai and transported to the Department of Zoology, University of Jammu for experimental purposes. Four different diets viz., Diet I (Mixed Zooplanktons), Diet II (Live Chironomus), Diet III (freeze dried Tubifex) and Diet IV (Artificial Feed) were fed to the post larvae of Macrobrachium rosenbergii for 42 days of rearing period in 20 litre plastic tubs at a stocking density of 1 prawn per liter of water. The results on the basis of mean weight (0.259±0.0056), specific growth rate (3.781±0.100) and survival rate (95%) for Diet II (Live Chironomus) were found to be highest and significantly different (P<0.05) from rest of the three (I, III & IV).
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The effect of locally available low cost ingredients such as silk worm pupae (SWP), soyabean meal (SBM), earth worm meal (EWM) as a replacement of fish meal (FM) on growth, survival and biochemical composition, were investigated for... more
The effect of locally available low cost ingredients such as silk worm pupae (SWP), soyabean meal (SBM), earth worm meal (EWM) as a replacement of fish meal (FM) on growth, survival and biochemical composition, were investigated for Macrobrachium dayanum (0.50 g). A significantly higher rate of growth, survival and food conversion ratio (FCR) were recorded for prawns fed EWM, as compared to SWP, SBM, and FM. The proximate composition of flesh further revealed a higher level of proteins and lipids in prawns fed EWM thereby indicating EWM as a possible substitute of FM.
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Growth, survival and proximate body composition of Labeo rohita larvae fed artificial food and natural food organisms under laboratory condition
Research Interests:
The effect of locally available low cost ingredients such as silk worm pupae (SWP), soyabean meal (SBM), earth worm meal (EWM) as a replacement of fish meal (FM) on growth, survival and biochemical composition, were investigated for... more
The effect of locally available low cost ingredients such as silk worm pupae (SWP), soyabean meal (SBM), earth worm meal (EWM) as a replacement of fish meal (FM) on growth, survival and biochemical composition, were investigated for Macrobrachium dayanum (0.50 g). A significantly higher rate of growth, survival and food conversion ratio (FCR) were recorded for prawns fed EWM, as compared to SWP, SBM, and FM. The proximate composition of flesh further revealed a higher level of proteins and lipids in prawns fed EWM thereby indicating EWM as a possible substitute of FM.
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The present study was carried out to study the feeding habits of Labeo rohita from culture ponds of Gho-Manhasa fish farm, Jammu. Monthly samples were collected from the ponds to study the gut contents. In case of L. rohita in LrfI... more
The present study was carried out to study the feeding habits of Labeo rohita from culture ponds of Gho-Manhasa fish farm, Jammu. Monthly samples were collected from the ponds to study the gut contents. In case of L. rohita in LrfI (lowest size group) and LrfII, LrfIII 40 guts/group, LrfIV 50 guts (due to non-availability of the size categorized) and 120 guts each in case of LrfV and LrfVI (largest size group) were analysed. For every group 10 guts/month were analysed to study feeding ecology in case of L. rohita. Individual stomach fullness scale was estimated to a subjective scale, ranging from 0 (empty) to 5 (full). The results so obtained were used to compute percentage volume of food items in the gut (%V), percentage of occurrence of guts having particular food item (%O) and Index of preponderance (IOP). The food of Labeo rohita consisted of plant (algae and macrophytes) and animal matter (protozoa, rotifers, cladocerans, copepods, molluscs, annelids and insects) besides unidentified matter (UM), sand/mud and detritus. Of the total 420 specimens analyzed, only 84 (20%) were found with empty guts and 336 (80%) were found with food components. Index of Preponderance (IOP) revealed that algae, along with protozoans, rotifers and cladocerans were the most preferred food items in the smaller size groups and marked a decline as the size of the fish increased. In the advanced stages, macrophytes, detritus and sand/mud were found to form a major share of food. Subsequently rohu has been categorized as omnivore-planktophage in early stages of life and herbi-omnivore in adult stages.