FLORAL AND FAUNAL DIVERSITY IN MIDDLE GANGA

Ecology and Biodiversity in Ganga Ecology and Biodiversity in Ganga River River

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Saturday, August 6, 2011PBCEC, IIT Kanpur

STUDY-AREA OF THE GANGA RIVER FROM

HARIDWAR TO VARANASI

PHYTOPLANKTON (ALGAE)The biotic community of middle stretch is very richTotal 373 species and 112 genera of phytoplankton, only 27 genera are common to all stretchThe diversity increases from MG3-MG5Abundant genera: Melosira, Gomphonema, Fragillaria, Synedra, Nitzschia, Navicula, Cyclotella,Cymbella, Achnanthes,Pediastrum, Scenedesmus, Spirogyra, Crucigenia, Cosmarium, Closterium, Spirulina, Phormidium, Merismopedia, Oscillatoria, Anabaena, Euglena, Ciratinum

ZOOPLANKTONTotal 44 genera & 65 species of zooplanktonRotifers are most abundant, mainly Brachinous, KeratellaOnly 2 genera (Keratella, Notholca) are common for all stretchThe Euglena is the characteristic species at MG5MG4 is very rich in zooplankton

PHYTOBENTHOS (ALGAE)Total 60 genera &124 species of phytobenthos, in which only 9 genera are common for all stretchNavicula & Cymbella; abundant at all stretchesPediastrum & Scenedesmus; abundant at MG1The diversity is decreasing from MG1-MG3

ZOOBENTHOS (MACROINVERTEBRATE)

Total 14 Order & 60 Families of ZoobenthosThere is no proper trend in ZoobenthosDiptera; abundant at all stations while Trichoptera at MG1 & Ephemeroptera at MG4Hydropsychidae, Baetidae, Chironomidae,Tabanidae, Hirudinea & Annelida are common for all stretch

THE CHARACTERISTIC TAXA AND THE ECOLOGICAL PREFERENCES OF

LOWER ORGANISMSCharacteristic Taxa

Dwelling Habits & Habitat

Feeding Habits & Habitats

Breeding ground

Zones

Diatoms (Bacillariophyceae)

Pools, Riffles, runs

Filter-feeders, stony substrate (C; P), sand & plant debris

Deep pools with sandy substratum

MG2, MG3

Diatoms (Bacillariophyceae)Green Algae (Chlorophyceae)

Riffles, runs, pools, sand & plant debris

Filter-feeder, stony substrate (C; P), sand & plant debris

Stony substrate (C; P), sand, Silt & Clay

MG1, MG3, MG4

Rotifers Pools, runs & riffles

Pools, runs, riffles; On dead or decomposing organic materials & Primary producers

Pools, runs & Riffles MG2, MG3, MG4

Cladocera Pools, runs & riffles

Pools, runs, riffles; crops of planktonic algae and bacteria & on detritus

Pools, runs & riffles MG2, MG3

Euglenales Runs & riffles Mainly feeds on bacteria & debris

Runs & riffles MG4

Two Wing Fly (Diptera)

Sand/Silt substratum

Collectors, feeds on FPOM

Sandy substratum and breeding season premonsoon (May-June)

MG1, MG3, MG4

Caddish Fly (Trichoptera), Beetle (Coleoptera)

Stony substratum

Shedders/Collectors feeds on CPOM & FPOM

Stony substratum and breeding season premonsoon (May-June)

MG1

NEKTON (FISHES)Total 140 species under 25 Families of FishesCyprinid fishes are most common Labeo calbasu, Labeo rohita,Cirrhinus mrigala, Cirrhinus reba, Bagarius bagarius, Barilius bola, Barilius daniconius, Channa striatus, Clupisoma gaurua, Heteropneustes fossilis, Labeo gonius, Rita rita, Mystus tengara, Sperata seenghala & Mastacembelus armatus, are the common fishes for all stretchNemochilus, Puntius, Mystus, Labeo, Barilius & Channa are the dominant genera for all stretch

MAJOR CARPS

CAT FISHES

EXOTIC CARPS

THE CHARACTERISTIC TAXA AND THE ECOLOGICAL PREFERENCES OF

IMPORTANT FISHESCharacteristic Taxa

Dwelling Habits & Habitat Feeding Habits & Habitats

Breeding Ground

Zones

Minor carps (Barilius, Puntius)

Column of side waters/ditches on the bank of small streams, 0.5 m-1.5m pools

Omnivorous: insects, phyto, zooplankton; Shallow pools & riffles, Backwater pools

Adults Breeding period from February to November

MG1

Major carps (Labeo, Cirrhinus)

Bottom dweller fish species and It inhabits fast flowing streams and rivers, 1.0m -3.0m, available deep water pools, temperature of 14C appears to be the minimum

Herbi-omnivorous, pools, runs, riffles

Water depth at breeding ground is 0.5- 1.0m, breeding period July to August

MG1-MG5

Cat Fishes (Mystus, Bagarius, Heteropneustes)

Sandy beds with deep water zone>1m and slow water current

Carnivorous, small insect, zoobenthos. bottom dweller

Giant cat fish, build nests where eggs can hatches and young ones can shelter, breeding in month of June to September

MG2-MG5

OTHER HIGHER VERTEBRATES

Turtles, Gharial and Others are commonly present from the Haridwar to Fatehgarh while the Dolphins are restricted only for the 3rd stretch from the Narrora to Fatehgarh,At 5th stretch from Allahabad to Varanasi the higher forms of vertebrates are not present.

THE CHARACTERISTIC TAXA AND THE ECOLOGICAL PREFERENCES OF

IMPORTANT HIGHER VERTEBRATESCharacteristic Taxa

Dwelling Habits & Habitat

Feeding Habits & Habitats

Breeding ground

Zones

Turtles (Kuchuga kuchgua)

Found in shallow waters, on the banks

Adult turtles fed mainly on Chironomidae larvae & pupae & domestic waste

Nesting in December, Feb to April & Hatching in May

MG1, MG4

Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus)

Less interrupted basking sites, prefer more clayey island from sandy banks

Juvenile feed on small crustaceans, insects and frogs, whereas the adult feed mainly on marine fish

Nesting in dry season, preferred riverine sand banks

MG1, MG3

Dolphin (Platanista gangetica gangetica)

Mid-channel depths approx 2-4.5m, with bank depths greater than 1.45 m, and rocky & muddy substrates, average velocity 25.2-38.2 cm/sec

Catfish, carp, prawn, clams, turtles and occasionally birds

No specific birth period, females usually give birth from October-March, with a peak in December

MG2, MG3

Otter (Lutra lutra)

Deep pools Omnivorous, mainly Fishes

- MG2, MG3

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