Fish Diversity of Jagadispur Reservoir, Kapilbastu District, Nepal-a Ramsar Site

Abstract

A total of 2273 fishes were captured from Jagadispur reservoir, one of the Ramsar sites of Nepal using gill nets. Forty-two fish species belonging to 6 orders, 18 families and 34 genera were recorded during the investigation period from the reservoir and listed with their nomenclature and systematic position. Cypriniformes and Cyprinidae were the dominant Orders and family in terms of species composition as well as catch composition respectively. Nandus nandus was the most dominant fish species accounting 16.50% of the total catch which is an indication of deteriorating water quality. However, water quality parameters (surface water temperature: 20.7°C–31°C; pH: 6.8– 7.6; dissolved oxygen: 5.2mg/l–8.7mg/l; free carbondioxide: 11.1mg/l–23.6mg/l; total hardness: 68.2mg/l–137.5mgl; total alkalinity: 69.6mg/l–192mg/l) were observed within a desirable range supporting warm water fish species.

Key words: fish diversity; gill net; Ramsar site; reservoir; water quality

DOI: 10.3126/njst.v11i0.4150

Nepal Journal of Science and Technology 11 (2010) 229-234