Ornamental fish and certain phytoplankton diversity in Digholi beel of Kamrup district of Assam, India

Abstract

India is endowed with vast expanse of freshwater resources. In Assam alone nearly one lakh hectare of water spread area is covered under beels. Assam is recognized as one of the hotspots of freshwater fish diversity. A survey was conducted on the Digholi beel of Kamrup district since March-2018 till February-2019. The present investigation reveals an ornamental fish diversity of 38 fish species belonging to 15 families has been recorded. Out of which 14 species belongs to cyprinidae family, 4 species from bagridae, 2 species from cobitidae, 2 species from ambassidae, 2 from nandidae, 2 species from osphronemidae, 2 species from Channidae, 3 species from mastacembelidae family. Other families such as anabantidae, synbranchidae, belonidae, heteropneustidae, claridae, notopteridae, and tetradontidae each contains 1 species. 33 species enlisted as least concern (LC), 1 specie as near threatened (NT), 3 species as not evaluated (NE) and 2 species as data deficient (DD). Mystus vittatus, Nandus nandus, Anabas testidunieus, T. fasciatus, Botia derio, Notopterus notopterus, Monopterus cuchia etc. for having high overseas demand have potential value as food and ornamental. 26 different spp. of phytoplankton belonging 4 classes were recorded. 10 species under chlorophyceae, 6 species from cyanophyceae. 8 species under bacillariophyceae and euglenophyceae contains 2 species.