Limnology of Chilya - ZSP

Pakistan J. Zool., vol. 42(4), pp. 419-430, 2010. Limnological Study of Fishponds and Kalribaghar Lower Canal at Chilya Fish Hatchery Thatta, Sindh, Pakistan* M. A. Mahar**, Z. A. Larik, N.T. Narejo and S.I.H. Jafri Department of Fresh Water Biology and Fisheries, University of Sindh, Jamshoro, Sindh, Pakistan

Abstract.- The assessment of limno-biological parameters of brooder rearing, fry stocking ponds of Chilya fish hatchery and Kalribaghar out let canal of Keenjhar lake were carried out from January to December 2005. The analysis of water temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, total alkalinity, total hardness, total dissolved solids (TDS), total nitrogen and orthophosphate respectively were carried out from both the ponds and canal. 36 species of algae recorded from brooder pond, 27 species from fry pond and 29 from Kalribaghar feeder. 14 species of zooplankton were observed from both the ponds, while in canal 16 species were identified. Seven species of aquatic plants, Hydrilla verticillata, Najaz minor, Potamogeton pectinatus, Nymphia sp. Typha domingensis and Phragmites vallatorn were also recorded from aquatic environment of three experimental sites. The results revealed that the hydro-biological parameters and natural productivity of the sites were found to be quite suitable. Key words: Limnology, fish hatchery, plankton, macrophytes.

INTRODUCTION

A carp fish hatchery was established during 1983 near village Chilya, 10 km away from Thatta towards Hyderabad. It comprises 74.4 acres of land with 12 circular holding tanks, 45 nurseries, 9 brooder ponds and 20 fry stocking ponds. It is fed through a canal, which runs on the north side and is connected with Keenjhar lake, providing a link between two natural lakes “Keenjhar Lake” and “Sunehri”. Keenjhar and Sunehri were later joined in 1958 by dynamiting the separating hills to make one lake - Kalri lake. Again in 1972 it was renamed as “Keenjhar lake” which is now the main source of freshwater in the area of about 60 km sq. The River Indus is the main source of feeding the lake through Kalribaghar feeder (Mahar et al., 2007). For proper management of fish culture, monitoring of ecological factors of any water body are considered as essential. In the broadest sense, water quality is determined by a myriad of biological, physical and chemical variables that affect the desirability of water for any particular use. In fish culture, water quality is usually defined as the suitability of water for the survival and growth of fish; it is normally governed by only a few * Part of M.Phil. thesis of the second author ** Corresponding author: [email protected]/2010/0004-0419 $ 8.00/0 Copyright 2010 Zoological Society of Pakistan.

The water samples, plankton and macrophytes were collected from two fishponds viz. brooder rearing pond and fry stocking pond with each about 2.5 hector area and 1.5 m depth and Kalribaghar canal of Keenjhar lake during January-December 2005 during 9:00 - 11:00 AM. The temperature, total dissolved solids, pH and dissolved oxygen of water were noted on the spot with WTW 320 conductivity meter, Ecoscan pH digital meter, and Oxy. 315i/SET meter respectively. Alkalinity and hardness were determined by titration with standard HCl 0.01N with methyl orange and phenolphthalein as indicators, ethylenediaminetetra

variables (Mahboob and Sheri, 2001). The seasonal variation in physico-chemical parameters exert, profound effect on the distribution and population density of both animal and plant (Odum, 1971). The productivity in terms of biomass in freshwater ponds is regulated by various physico-chemical parameters such as temperature, transparency, pH, electrical conductivity, total hardness, nitrates, and phosphates (Mahboob et al., 1988a) There is very little information available regarding the limno-biological studies of fishponds at fish hatcheries in Sindh province. This study was therefore, undertaken on two selected fishponds and the Kalribaghar canal (outlet of Keenjhar lake) was undertaken.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

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M. A. MAHAR ET AL. 420

acetic acid with indicator buffer solution and erichrom black-T. Total nitrogen was determined using mercuric oxide red as catalyst. Orthophosphate was evaluated by reducing phosphomolybdic acid (formed with ascorbic acid to molybdenum blue on Hitachi 880 model A- spectrophotometer. All parameters were determined according to the recommended methods of APHA (1992). Phytoplankton samples were collected through plankton net mesh size 30µm and preserved in 2-4 % formalin. For the analysis of seasonal variation of phytoplankton, the samples were centrifuged at 1000 rpm for 10-15 min. Residues of phytoplankton were counted under Sedgwick Rafter counting chamber by drop method. Zooplankton samples were collected with the help of plankton net mesh size 55µm. For quantitative analysis, 50 liter of water sample was filtered with the help of same plankton net; the specimens were preserved in 5% formalin in sterilized plastic bottles. The enumeration was carried out in counting tray under the binocular microscope at 100×. Macrophytes were collected with hand net and plant-gripner. Identification of specimen was carried out by taxonomic keys and illustrations given by Desikachary (1959), Prescott (1962), Mizuno and Takahashi (1991), Battish (1992) and Cook (1996).

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Figure 1 shows that variations of chemical parameters and plankton population are closely related with physical factors. The gradual change could be related to water solubility of gases, temperature and diurnal migration of plankton and feeding habits of fish (Mahar et al., 2000). Temperature is one of the important parameters that directly influence the living components (Kumar, 1992). During the study, air temperature varied between 16 and 17°C in winter to 38°C recorded during summer months of July to September. The water temperature ranged between 14-15°C in January and highest 32°C recorded in July and September. Direct relationships between air and water temperature were observed in the ponds but little variation was also observed in the canal water, which could be due to the inflow. Water temperature was constantly lower to that of air. Air

and water temperatures showed a similar trend being lower during December to February and higher from April to October. Similar observations were reported by Mahboob and Sheri (2001). Transparency Seechii disc reading of canal water was 74-268 cm, while the transparency of the ponds was 73-92cm of fry pond and 52-77cm were of brooder pond. The water in the canal was observed more visible, therefore the higher values of the transparency were observed comparatively to the fry and brooder ponds. The water of the brooder pond was observed turbid green due to erosion of embankments, fish movements, addition of organic matter and plankton population. Low values of transparency in the brooder ponds were perhaps due to agitation by biotic interferences and increased production of plankton and decomposition of macrophytes, which is in accordance with the findings of Kumar (1992). The pH of canal water was 7.4-8. 2, while that of fry pond was 7.2-7.8 which were quite suitable. The pH of brooder pond was slightly more alkaline than that of fry pond and canal water. Present annual range of pH was not different from these reported by Arbani and Sahato (1995), Sahato and Arbani (1997), and Larik et al. (2007). Alkalinity and hardness of canal water were 68-102 and 102-123mg/l, respectively whereas in fry pond and brooder pond these values were 129-158 and 217-261 mg/l, and 123-220 and 226-322 mg/l, respectively. Alkalinity and hardness are the indicators of carbonates and bicarbonates (CaCO3). Bicarbonates increased with fall in water level as also reported by Singhal et al. (1986). High values of CaCO3 in the ponds may be attributed to the fall in photosynthesis due to great production of floating macrophytes and water refilling and release of salts from artificial feed. Chlorides and total dissolved solids were in the range between 105-162 and 638-758 mg/l in canal water, 136-187 and 536-765 mg/l were noted in fry pond, and 190-235 and 810-890 mg/l recorded from brooder pond, respectively. The chloride enrichment in the ponds resulted as decomposition of macrophytes (Kumar, 1992). Dissolved oxygen is the most important ecological parameter to assess the productivity of a healthy aquatic habitat; its fluctuations depend upon temperature and algal population (Mahar et al., 2004). Nitrates and phosphates both nutrients play

LIMNOLOGICAL STUDY OF FISHPONDS AND KALRIBAGHAR LOWER CANAL 421

important role in the development, growth and production of aquatic biota. Nitrates and phosphates values of 4.7-11.7 and 4.8-7.6 mg/l were recorded from canal water, while from fry pond 7.2-13.2 and 7.58-16.5 mg/l respectively. In brooder pond the nitrates were 15.8-23.5mg/l and phosphates 16.9-23.2 mg/l. Dissolved oxygen ranges were found between 7.6-12.4 mg/l in canal water, while in fry pond it was determined between 7.8-11.2 mg/l and in brooder pond dissolved oxygen was recorded as 7.6-10.8 mg/l. DO concentration remained higher

during winter months and lower during summer season. Not much difference was recorded among the water bodies. Dissolved oxygen rise in winter has also earlier been reported by Singh et al. (1980) and Rao (1972) and it appears to be due to its greater solubility, reduced microbial decomposition of dead organic matter and low organism respiration at low temperature and increased prolific growth of submerged macrophytes. Low dissolved oxygen retaining capacity of water due to increased organism respiration at high temperature may also


support this low values of dissolved oxygen (Singh, 1980). These parameters showed slight seasonal changes which were also observed among these water bodies during the same time. It may be attributed to the stocking ratio of fish, application of organic matter and shallowness of the habitat. Growth, survival, persistence, production and reproduction of fish species depend upon the suitability of the limnological parameters. However, the ranges of physico-chemical parameters of brooder fishpond were found slightly higher than that of fry pond and canal water. Thirty six species of phytoplankton and filamentous algae were recorded from canal and ponds of Chilya fish hatchery. Their diversity and density of different ponds and canal is shown in Tables I-III. High growth rate of phytoplankton species were observed in brooder pond ranged from 4546-37777 number of individuals/50L. Majority of species belong to phylum Cyanophyta in brooder pond. High growth rate of Chroococcus limneticus, C. minor, C. tenax were present in brooder pond. Coelosphaerium kuetzingianum was recorded in both the ponds. Few number of Cylindrospermum was recorded from canal. Anabaena, Merismopedia, and Oscillatoria species were frequently present in brooder pond throughout the year. High population of Microcystis occurred in brooder pond, which may be because of addition of organic manure. Palmer (1969) concluded that Microcystis species are more likely present than other species when organic pollution exists. Spirulina, Lyngbya and Calothrix were commonly found during the summer season in the brooder pond. Some members of Chlorophyta Cosmarium granatum, C. formosulum, C. leave and Westella were widespread and recorded in high concentration in brooder pond. Temperature plays an important role in the periodicity of blue green algae as emphasized by earlier workers (Hutchinson, 1957; Rao, 1972; Nazneen, 1980). Twenty seven species of algae were recorded in fry pond. The Cosmarium, Rhizoclonium, Stigeoclonium tenu, Spirogyra, Enteromorpha and Charra were dominant from mid-winter to late spring in fry pond. Hutchinson (1957) emphasized that the distribution of phytoplankton in lakes is regulated mainly by temperature, light, nutrients, toxicants, parasitism, grazing and inter-specific

competition. Present findings are correlated with the results of Hutchinson (1957). Twenty eight species of algae were recorded from the canal at Chilya fish hatchery ranging 624-7122 individuals/50l, while 24 species were noted in fry pond within range 16-1015 number of individuals/50 l. Population densities of individuals /50L of zooplankton were recorded from both the ponds and canal. Four taxa Rotifera, Cladocera and Copepoda have been recorded. Rotifera with six species, Brachionus falcatus, B. quadridentatus, B. calyciflorus, Keratella tropica, Lecane luna and Filinea longiseta. Bosmina longristrous, B. coregoni, Ceripodaphnia reticuleta and Daphnia lumholtzi were commonly present at the water bodies of study area. Mesocyclops sp. Microcyclops varicans and Thermocyclops hylinus belonging to copepoda were found in the ponds. Diversity of zooplankton and their numerical abundance are given in Tables IV-VI, respectively. In brooder pond the number of individuals were 85-300/50L, in fry pond 159-454/50L and 108-379/50L from canal, respectively. Genus Mesocyclops and Brachionus were found in autumn from peak winter to late spring, respectively. Two species Keratella tropica and Lecane luna showed the availability trend in autumn to midwinter. Filinia lingiseta was recorded in April to October continuously each month. Species belonging to taxa Cladocera Alona rectangular was found in winter months upto early spring, Bosmina longirostrus in January to April, B. coregoni in mid summer, Ceroidaphnia reticulata in July – November, whereas Daphnia lumholtzi was recorded in mid and late winter. Mesocyclops sp. was found in peak summer, Microcyclops varicans was recorded irregularly throughout the year. Fernando (1980) gave the availability and abundance of Brachionus quadridentatus in the month of February and April at Gandhi Sagar Reservoir from India. Sharma (1983) mentions the importance of genera Brachionus and Monostyla as indicators of eutrophication (Gannon and Stemberger, 1978). Present findings agree with the above observations. Thermocyclops hylinus occurred in peak summer to autumn season in the ponds. The fluctuation of zooplankton in Kalribaghar feeder showed the availability of 8 species of rotifera of which Brachionus calyciflorus








were recorded in November – March, B. falcatus in winter, B. quadridentatus in late winter to mid summer, Keratella tropica in late winter to mid summer, K. tropica was reported approximately round the year. Lecane luna was recorded from peak winter to spring season. Filinia longiseta was recorded in March to July. Alona rectangula was recorded in October to March, while Bosmina longirostrus, B. coregoni Cerodaphnia reticuleta were recorded almost round the year. Macrothrix rosea was observed in January to March. Mesocyclops was observed almost round the year. Thermocyclops hylinus was reported in February to April and October to December. Artificial feed is the major cause of organic pollution and eutrophication. Sharma (1983) reported similar trend of seasonal variations of copepods. Seven species of aquatic plants, Hydrilla verticillata, Najaz minor, Potamogeton pectinatus, Nymphia sp., Typha domingensis and Phragmites vallatorn were also recorded from aquatic environment of three experimental sites throughout the study period as shown in Table VII. Larik et al. (2007) reported similar observation from the experimental site. Table VII.- List of macrophytes recorded from Chilya Fish

Hatchery Taxa Fry

pond Brooder

pond Kalaribagar

feeder 1 Najaz minor Allioni + + - 2 Hydrilla verticillata

(L) Royale ++ + +

3 Potamogeton pectinatus (L) Royal

- + -

4 Scripus nodulus Poiret

- + +

5 Typha domingensis - ++ - 6 Phragmites vallatorn - ++ - 7 Nylimbo sp. ++ - - Finally, it was concluded that the limno-biological parameters of both the fry ponds and canal water were found to be ideal for fish culture and within the suitable ranges. The limnological parameters of brooder pond were found to be on higher side due to the application of organic manure and artificial feed.

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(Received 16 March 2007, revised 2 October 2009)


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Limnology of Chilya - ZSP