Correlation of Limnological Features with Ichthyofauna in Hatnur Reservoir in Jalgaon, Maharashtra, India

ABSTRACT

Background: Limnologycovers the study of all inland waters including running and standing waters, fresh and saline, natural or man-made reservoirs. Unplanned urbanization, rapid industrialization and indiscriminate use of artificial chemicals lead to heavy and varied pollution in aquatic environments causing to deterioration of Limnological features and depletion of aquatic fauna including fish. Scarcity of research related to limnological features and ichthyofauna diversity in Hatnur reservoir stimulated to undertake the present work. Methods: River Tapi (or Tapti) is arising in Madhya Pradesh and flows westward between two spurs of the Satpuda Rangeacross Maharashtra state, and through Gujarat state to the Gulf of Khambhat. Hatnur reservoir (750 90扙, 210 12扤) formed due to an earth-fill dam on Tapi river near Hatnur village in Jalgaon district of Maharashtra state. Water quality parameters were assessed using standard methods described by APHA and fish diversity was evaluated in the Hatnur reservoir. Results: Seasonal fluctuations in water quality parameters and their relationship with ichthyofauna inhabiting the Hatnur reservoir were assessed. The results obtained in the present study indicated that physicochemical properties of water samples collected from the Hatnur reservoir were within recommended limits of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). Conclusion: It is concluded that water in Dam was less polluted, suitable for agricultural and domestic use and suitable to inhabit the fish diversity. Future studies should focus on under-explored and unexplored areas of the Tapi riverine system in North Maharashtra to comprehensively document the fish diversity.