Survey on the present status of Fish species diversity in a stretch of Hooghly River of West Bengal, India

Abstract

The present study has shown that studied Hooghly river sector supported 87 fish species belonging to 12 orders, 39 families and 69 genera. The order Perciformes was dominant with 8 families and 25 number of fish species followed by the order Siluriformes with 8 families and 24 number of fish species. Fish diversity was assessed by calculating the various diversity indices such as Shannon-Wiener index (H/), Simpson’s dominance index (C) and evenness index (J). Higher H/ value (3.694) observed in post monsoon and lowest (2.398) in monsoon. High evenness value (0.6930) was recorded during monsoon period. Seasonal water quality parameters such as water temperature (oC), pH, DO, nitrate and phosphates has been recorded and were found suitable for fish population.