Fish diversity of three unexplored floodplain wetlands of Meghalaya

Abstract

Fish diversity of three floodplain wetlands of Meghalaya (Boro, Katuli and Kumligaon) was studied during 2015-16 for the first time. The selected floodplain wetlands were Boro beel (N 25°44.499' & E 89°57.755'), a medium sized (80 ha) perennially open floodplain wetland located in West Garo Hill district (connected with River Jinjiram, which is an important south bank tributary of River Brahmaputra); Katuli beel (N 25° 28.25' & E 89° 52.29'), a small sized (36 ha) seasonally open beel located in South West Garo Hill district (connected with River Dam and Durni); and Kumligaon beel (N 25° 30.42' & E89° 54.28'), a small sized (20 ha) seasonally open beel located in South West Garo Hill district (connected with Jonjona channel). Boro and Katuli beels are managed as capture fisheries, whereas Kumligaon beel is managed as capture fisheries with occasional supplementary stocking and is leased by Garo Hills Autonomous District Council. A total of 65 nos. of fishes were recorded during the present study from Boro beel. Lesser number of fish species were recorded from Katuli (54 nos.) and Kumligaon (57 nos.) beel. Finfish species recorded from the beel were dominated by the order Cypriniformes followed by Siluriformes and Perciformes. Similarly, family Cyprinidae contributed highest numbers of species followed by Bagridae and Channidae. Sporadic landing of Hilsa ilisha was reported in Boro beel indicating migration of anadromous Hilsa to the beel connected to the river Brahmaputra through river Jinjiram. A banned exotic carnivorous catfish, Clarias gariepinus was reported by the local people from all the beels