Characterization of Some Physico-Chemical Parameters of Water Bodies Inhabited by Small Indigenous Fish Species (SIFs): A Case Study

The physico-chemical properties of water bodies play crucial role in determining the life history as well as assemblage of inhabitant fish. The aim of this study was to analyse some water and sediment content parameters of inhabitant water bodies and investigate if there persists any correlation between physico-chemical parameters and fish assemblage. Freshwater ponds around Birbhum district, West Bengal (India) were selected for collection of water, sediment, and fish species samples. Temperature (°C), dissolved oxygen (DO), pH, nitrogen and phosphorous contents of water and sediment were analysed. Fish ecomorphological indices were calculated. The range of variations of the physico-chemical parameters in pond water were measured. For identifying the factors determining species assemblage, interaction effects of the factors throughout the seasons were first analysed. The analysis results of N and P contents from water and sediment showed no significant seasonal difference and correlation with assemblage. Next, fish species wise correlation of ecomorphological indices to temperature (T), dissolved oxygen (DO), total dissolved solid (TDS) and pH was analysed. Correlation analysis showed that temperature and pH had a moderate to strong correlation with most of the ecomorphological indices that determines the behaviour of SIFs as depicted by the indices. These two parameters could be considered as major direct parameters to understand the distribution of SIFs in water bodies.