Vertebrate fauna of Hokarsar wetland, Kashmir

Abstract

The present communication deals with the diversity, resident/migrant status, abundance and habitat used by vertebrate fauna which is dominated by Avifauna in Hokarsar wetland. During the present study a total of 8477 birds were recorded. Among them 15.09% belonged to resident community, 11.41% were summer migrants and 73.48% were the winter migrants. A total of 37 bird species belonging to 40 families under 9 orders were observed. Three species of fishes belonging to single order were procured from the wetland. The scale carp (Cyprinus carpio communis) contributed 49 Kg’s to a total yield followed by mirror carp (Cyprinus carpio specularis) which contributed 11.5 Kg’s and Schizothorax niger contributed least with 2.1 Kg. to the total fish catch. The absence of Amphibians (except few toads) from the study site was attributed to nutrient input, high turbidity, hypoxic conditions, thick mats of noxious weeds together with anthropogenic pressure and habitat destruction.