232
Mittemeier 1997 ). In India, there are c 2,500
species of fi shes; of which c 930 live in freshwater (FW) and c 1,570 are marine (Kar 2003a ).
This bewildering ichthyodiversity of this region
has been attracting many ichthyologists from
both India and abroad. Concomitantly, the NorthEastern region of India has been identifi ed as a
‘hotspot’ of biodiversity by the World
Conservation Monitoring Centre (WCMC 1998 ).
This rich diversity of this region could be assigned
to certain reasons, notably the geomorphology
and the tectonics of this zone. The hills and the
undulating valleys of this area give rise to large
number of torrential hill streams, which lead to
big rivers, and, fi nally, become part of the Ganga–
Brahmaputra–Barak–Chindwin–Kolodyne–
Gomati–Meghna system (Kar 2000a ).
Based on IUCN categories, the CAMP
Workshop (CAMP 1998 ) for FW fi shes has identifi ed certain fi sh species which has attained
threatened/endangered status. At the same time,
there has been little study with regard to details of
endemism and species richness in NE India. As
such, a detailed study related to germplasm
inventory, evaluation and gene banking of freshwater fi shes not only would help us to land at a
concrete decision on the above-mentioned
aspects but would also contribute to fulfi lling
India’s obligation to CBD with special emphasis
on Articles 6 and 8 (UNEP 1992 ). Further, development of database on the biological parameters
is a prerequisite for preparation of detailed fi sh
inventory. Genetic characterisation and gene
banking are a step forward towards further confi rmation of the species at the molecular level.
Rivers are the basic storehouse of water to
meet our country’s demand for water for various
uses. Indian subcontinent is singularly blessed
with unparalleled riverine and wetland resources,
harbouring one of the richest fi sh wealth in the
world. Out of c 2,500 species of fi shes occurring
in India, c 450 species of fi shes occur in the IndoGangetic plains (Kar et al. 2002c ). Menon ( 1974 )
had listed 207 species of fi shes from the Gangetic
plains which belong to 29 families and 82 genera.
According to another estimate, the Gangetic system alone harbours not less than 265 species of
fi shes (Yadava and Chandra 1994 ).
Structural characteristics of the lotic
environment are closely associated with the
occurrence of fi sh species. Importance of habitats
and the relationship between fi sh and habitat are
of major concern to fi shery biologists. A common
use of fi sh habitats indicates the physical and
chemical characteristics of the environment
excluding biological attributes. Habitat features
have been identifi ed as major determinants in distribution and abundance of fi shes from earlier
times (Shelford 1911 ). Fish species diversity is
associated with habitat complexity with regard to
depth, fl ow and substrate types. Recently, fi sh
assemblages have been used as indicators of
environmental degradation (Scott and Hall 1997 ),
ecosystem health in streams (Karr 1991 ) and
environmental stress (Cairns et al. 1993 ).
15.5.1.1 Diversity of Fishes in Rivers
and wetlands
This has been dealt with in the present treatise
with special reference to Indian subcontinent.
There have been extensive studies on the freshwater (FW) fi shes of India, notably Hamilton
( 1822 ), Day ( 1878 , 1889 ), Shaw and Shebbeare
( 1937 ), Hora ( 1921 ), Misra ( 1959 ), Menon
( 1974 , 1999 ), Dey ( 1973 ), Jayaram ( 1981 , 1999 ,
2010 ), Sen ( 1982 , 1985 , 2000 ), Talwar and
Jhingran ( 1991 ), Datta Munshi and Srivastava
( 2002 ), Nath and Dey ( 2000 ), Dey and Kar ( 1989 ,
1990), Kar and Dey ( 1992 , 2000 , 2002 ), Kar and
Barbhuiya ( 2000a , b , 2004 ), Kar et al. ( 2002a , b ,
c , 2003a , 2004 , 2005 , 2006 , 2008 , 2009 , 2011 ),
Kar and Sen ( 2007 ), Das and Kar ( 2012 ),
Barbhuiya and Kar ( 2012 ) and Kar ( 1984 , 1990 ,
1996 , 2003a , b , 2004 , 2005a , b , c , 2006 , 2007a ,
b , 2010 , 2012a , b , c ). But most of them are concerned with taxonomy (biodiversity), biology
and aquaculture.
The ichthyofauna of the northeastern region of
India has elements of the Indo-Gangetic region;
and to some extent, there are elements of the
Myanmarese and South Chinese regions (Yadava
and Chandra 1994 ). Ghosh and Lipton ( 1982 ) had
reported 172 species of fi shes with reference to
their economic importance, while Sen ( 1985 )
reported 187 species of fi shes from Assam and its
environs. Sinha ( 1994 ) compiled a list of 230
15 Wetland Flora, Plankton, Productivity, Fauna and Fishes
Mittemeier 1997 ). In India, there are c 2,500
species of fi shes; of which c 930 live in freshwater (FW) and c 1,570 are marine (Kar 2003a ).
This bewildering ichthyodiversity of this region
has been attracting many ichthyologists from
both India and abroad. Concomitantly, the NorthEastern region of India has been identifi ed as a
‘hotspot’ of biodiversity by the World
Conservation Monitoring Centre (WCMC 1998 ).
This rich diversity of this region could be assigned
to certain reasons, notably the geomorphology
and the tectonics of this zone. The hills and the
undulating valleys of this area give rise to large
number of torrential hill streams, which lead to
big rivers, and, fi nally, become part of the Ganga–
Brahmaputra–Barak–Chindwin–Kolodyne–
Gomati–Meghna system (Kar 2000a ).
Based on IUCN categories, the CAMP
Workshop (CAMP 1998 ) for FW fi shes has identifi ed certain fi sh species which has attained
threatened/endangered status. At the same time,
there has been little study with regard to details of
endemism and species richness in NE India. As
such, a detailed study related to germplasm
inventory, evaluation and gene banking of freshwater fi shes not only would help us to land at a
concrete decision on the above-mentioned
aspects but would also contribute to fulfi lling
India’s obligation to CBD with special emphasis
on Articles 6 and 8 (UNEP 1992 ). Further, development of database on the biological parameters
is a prerequisite for preparation of detailed fi sh
inventory. Genetic characterisation and gene
banking are a step forward towards further confi rmation of the species at the molecular level.
Rivers are the basic storehouse of water to
meet our country’s demand for water for various
uses. Indian subcontinent is singularly blessed
with unparalleled riverine and wetland resources,
harbouring one of the richest fi sh wealth in the
world. Out of c 2,500 species of fi shes occurring
in India, c 450 species of fi shes occur in the IndoGangetic plains (Kar et al. 2002c ). Menon ( 1974 )
had listed 207 species of fi shes from the Gangetic
plains which belong to 29 families and 82 genera.
According to another estimate, the Gangetic system alone harbours not less than 265 species of
fi shes (Yadava and Chandra 1994 ).
Structural characteristics of the lotic
environment are closely associated with the
occurrence of fi sh species. Importance of habitats
and the relationship between fi sh and habitat are
of major concern to fi shery biologists. A common
use of fi sh habitats indicates the physical and
chemical characteristics of the environment
excluding biological attributes. Habitat features
have been identifi ed as major determinants in distribution and abundance of fi shes from earlier
times (Shelford 1911 ). Fish species diversity is
associated with habitat complexity with regard to
depth, fl ow and substrate types. Recently, fi sh
assemblages have been used as indicators of
environmental degradation (Scott and Hall 1997 ),
ecosystem health in streams (Karr 1991 ) and
environmental stress (Cairns et al. 1993 ).
15.5.1.1 Diversity of Fishes in Rivers
and wetlands
This has been dealt with in the present treatise
with special reference to Indian subcontinent.
There have been extensive studies on the freshwater (FW) fi shes of India, notably Hamilton
( 1822 ), Day ( 1878 , 1889 ), Shaw and Shebbeare
( 1937 ), Hora ( 1921 ), Misra ( 1959 ), Menon
( 1974 , 1999 ), Dey ( 1973 ), Jayaram ( 1981 , 1999 ,
2010 ), Sen ( 1982 , 1985 , 2000 ), Talwar and
Jhingran ( 1991 ), Datta Munshi and Srivastava
( 2002 ), Nath and Dey ( 2000 ), Dey and Kar ( 1989 ,
1990), Kar and Dey ( 1992 , 2000 , 2002 ), Kar and
Barbhuiya ( 2000a , b , 2004 ), Kar et al. ( 2002a , b ,
c , 2003a , 2004 , 2005 , 2006 , 2008 , 2009 , 2011 ),
Kar and Sen ( 2007 ), Das and Kar ( 2012 ),
Barbhuiya and Kar ( 2012 ) and Kar ( 1984 , 1990 ,
1996 , 2003a , b , 2004 , 2005a , b , c , 2006 , 2007a ,
b , 2010 , 2012a , b , c ). But most of them are concerned with taxonomy (biodiversity), biology
and aquaculture.
The ichthyofauna of the northeastern region of
India has elements of the Indo-Gangetic region;
and to some extent, there are elements of the
Myanmarese and South Chinese regions (Yadava
and Chandra 1994 ). Ghosh and Lipton ( 1982 ) had
reported 172 species of fi shes with reference to
their economic importance, while Sen ( 1985 )
reported 187 species of fi shes from Assam and its
environs. Sinha ( 1994 ) compiled a list of 230
15 Wetland Flora, Plankton, Productivity, Fauna and Fishes