Population Density of Pangasius pangasius in Semi-Polluted and Polluted Ponds of North Bihar, India
Keywords:
Pangasius pangasius, population density, freshwater ponds, North Bihar, water quality, fish ecologyAbstract
The present investigation was conducted to assess the population density of Pangasius pangasius in semi-polluted and polluted freshwater ponds of North Bihar. Fish population density was estimated through seasonal sampling conducted over one year in selected ponds representing two levels of pollution. Physico-chemical parameters such as water temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, free carbon dioxide, total alkalinity, biological oxygen demand (BOD), and nutrient concentrations were simultaneously analyzed. The results revealed significant variations in population density between semi-polluted and polluted ponds. The average density of P. pangasius was higher in semi-polluted ponds (124.6 ± 12.8 individuals ha⁻¹) compared with polluted ponds (78.3 ± 10.4 individuals ha⁻¹). Seasonal fluctuations indicated maximum density during post-monsoon and minimum density during summer. Dissolved oxygen exhibited a positive correlation with fish abundance, whereas BOD and nutrient loading showed negative correlations. Reduced population density in polluted ponds was attributed to deteriorated water quality, organic pollution, and habitat degradation. The study highlights the ecological sensitivity of P. pangasius populations to environmental stress and emphasizes the need for improved pond management and pollution control measures for sustainable fish production in North Bihar.
Downloads
References
Dudgeon, D., Arthington, A.H., Gessner, M.O., Kawabata, Z.I., Knowler, D.J., Lévêque, C., Naiman, R.J., Prieur-Richard, A.H., Soto, D., Stiassny, M.L.J. and Sullivan, C.A. (2006). Freshwater biodiversity: Importance, threats, status and conservation challenges. Biological Reviews, 81: 163-182. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1464793105006950.
Reid, A.J., Carlson, A.K., Creed, I.F., Eliason, E.J., Gell, P.A., Johnson, P.T.J., Kidd, K.A., MacCormack, T.J., Olden, J.D., Ormerod, S.J., Smol, J.P., Taylor, W.W., Tockner, K., Vermaire, J.C., Dudgeon, D. and Cooke, S.J. (2019). Emerging threats and persistent conservation challenges for freshwater biodiversity. Biological Reviews, 94: 849-873. https://doi.org/10.1111/brv.12480.
Smith, V.H. and Schindler, D.W. (2009). Eutrophication science: Where do we go from here? Trends in Ecology and Evolution, 24(4): 201-207. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2008.11.09.
Sarkar UK, Pathak AK, Sinha RK, Sivakumar K, Pandian AK, Dubey VK & Lakra WS (2012): Freshwater fish biodiversity in the River Ganga (India): Changing patterns, threats and conservation perspectives. Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries, 22: 251-272. http://doi. org/10.1007/s11160-011-9218-6.
Datta, S.N., Dhawan, A., Kumar, S., Singh, A. & Parida, P. (2017). Standardization of stocking density for maximizing biomass production of Pangassius pangassius in pond cage aquaculture. Journal of Environmental Biology, 38(2): 263-268.
Islam, M.S., Khan, M.A., & Rahman, M.M. (2022). Effects of water depth and environmental conditions on fish larval growth and survival. Aquaculture Reports, 24: 101120.
Rahman, M. A., Habib, K. A., Hossain, M. A., Azad, S. O., Rayhan, M. Z. (2017). Impacts of stocking density and economic returns on the cage culture of stinging catfish, Heteropneustes fossilis. Int. J. Fish. Aquat. Std. 5(4): 198-201.
Hossain F, SMM Islam, M Ashaf-Ud-Doulah, MS Ali, MS Islam, C Brown and M Shahjahan (2021). Influences of salinity on embryonic and larval development of striped catfish Pangasianodon hypophthalmus. Front. Mar. Sci., 8: 781951.
Wetzel RG (2001). Limnology: Lake and river ecosystems (3rd ed). Academic Press.
APHA (2017). Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater (23rd edition) American Public Health Association, Washington.
Jayaram, K.C. (2010). The Freshwater Fishes of the Indian Region. 2nd Revised Edition. Narendra Publishing House, Delhi.
King, M. (2007). Fisheries Biology, Assessment and Management. 2nd Edition. Blackwell Publishing, Oxford.
Jhingran VG (1991): Fish and fisheries of India (3rd ed.). Hindustan Publishing Corporation.
Arthington, A. H., Dulvy, N. K., Gladstone, W. E., & Winfield, I. J. (2016). Fish conservation in freshwater and marine realms: status, threats and management. Aquatic Conservation Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, 26(5): 838. https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.2712.
Sarkar, U.K., Bakshi, S., Lianthuamluaia, L., Mishal, P., Das Ghosh, B., Saha, S., & Karnatak, G. (2020). Understanding enviro-climatological impact on fish biodiversity of the tropical floodplain wetlands for their sustainable management. Sustainable Water Resources Management, 6: 1-12.
Ahmed, A., Abdullah, S.R.S., Hasan, H.S., Othman, A.R. & Ismail, N.I. (2021). Aquaculture industry: Supply and demand, best practices, effluent issues, and treatment technologies. Journal of Environment Management, 287, Article 112271.
Boyd, C.E. and Tucker, C.S. (2012). Pond Aquaculture Water Quality Management. Springer Science & Business Media, New York.
Dudgeon, D. (2020). Prospects for sustaining freshwater biodiversity in the 21st century: linking ecosystem structure and function. Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, 2: 422. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cosuct.2010.09.00.
Kumar, D., Mehta, R., Yadav, R., Kumar, S., & Kumar, M. (2018). Studies on fisheries status and socioeconomic conditions of fisher community in Dholi region, Muzaffarpur, Bihar, India. Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies, 6(3): 76-80.
Downloads
-
Download PDF
Abstract Views: 0, 
Download PDF: 0
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Inventum Biologicum: An International Journal of Biological Research
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
