Finfish and Shellfish diversity of Vembanad Lake in the Kumarakom region of Kottayam, Kerala, India

Abstract

The status of finfish and shellfish diversity and seasonal variation in their distribution and abundance were investigated in Vembanad Lake at Kumarakom Region of Kottayam in Kerala. In total 60 species of finfishes and shellfishes belonging to 13 orders, 31 families 43 genera were recorded from the study area. Calculated values of biodiversity indices were: Shannon Wiener diversity index (H’) [3.72 (August 2015) to 3.86 (July 2015)], Margalef richness index (d) [9.24 (August 2015) to 10.82 (January 2016)], Pielou’s evenness index (J’) [0.9671 (October 2015) to 0.9739 (April 2016)] taxonomic diversity index (D) [65.42 (June2015) to 70.6 (November 2015)]. Etroplus maculatus, E. suratensis, Amblypharyngodon melettinus and Stolephorus indicus were found to be highly abundant species represented from 52 finfish and 8 shellfish species. The results of the present study indicated that Kumarakom Region of Vembanad Lake is endowed rich edible fish fauna.