Importance of artificial water bodies in maintaining a balanced food web and freshwater biodiversity in an urban park

Abstract

The survey was performed from May 2020 and May 2022 in lake and Pakhibitan’s pond. Both are the main carrier of the freshwater life in Ecopark. Pakhibitan’s pond is very small in size in compare to the lake but quite undisturbed. During the study period, a total of 29 species of fishes belonging to 6 orders, 12 families were recorded also as per IUCN out of 29 species, 26 are Least Concern (LC), 1 species is in Vulnerable (VU), 1 species is in Not Evaluated (NE) and 1 species is in Data Deficient (DD) category. A total of 4 species of phylum Mollusca belonging to 3 orders, 4 families were recorded also, all are Least Concern. The lake and Pakhibitan's pond region help to preserve the freshwater ecology. Both contributed to the development of a food web and the flourishing of all ecological organisms.