Freshwater fauna and habitat characteristics of rivers in the Southern Western Ghats, India

We studied the freshwater fish fauna of Rivers of Southern Western Ghats for a period of three years from 2010 to 2013. We recorded 64 species belonging to 6 orders, 14 families and 31 genera. Alteration in the micro and macro habitats in the system severely affects the aquatic life especially fishes and also complicates the fish taxonomy. In the present study a total of 31 sites of six river systems of Southern Western Ghats were studied in which a total of 64 species belonging to 6 orders, 14 families and 31 genera were recorded. Among the 64 species Cyprinidae was the dominant family with 3 family 18 genus and 49 species (76.6%) compared to other order and families, further the data analyses suggested that species belonging to the order Cypriniformes were found to be the dominant species in the locations considered in the present survey. Interestingly, among the 31 sites Thunakadavu stream, Gulithuraipatti, Athirappalli, Naduthotam, Nadathittu, Mullaithodu, Thonanthikla, Noolpuzha and Sinnaru exhibited high variations in species abundance and as well species richness. Fifteen out of the 64 fish species endangered to the Western Ghats. Garra periyarensis and Cirrhinus cirrhosus are known to be vulnerable and Hemibagrus punctatus is Critically Endangered because of various anthropogenic activities. The significances of the study and timely measures needed to protect the species have also been concisely discussed.

本研究于2010至2013年历时三年，对西高止山脉南部流域的淡水鱼类区系开展系统性调查。本次调查共记录到隶属于6目、14科、31属的64种鱼类。流域内微生境与宏生境的改变会严重威胁水生生物尤其是鱼类的生存，同时也会加剧鱼类分类学研究的复杂性。本次研究覆盖西高止山脉南部6个流域的31个采样点，最终共记录到隶属于6目、14科、31属的64种鱼类。其中鲤科（Cyprinidae）为优势类群，包含18属、49种，占总物种数的76.6%；进一步的数据分析显示，鲤形目（Cypriniformes）物种为本次调查采样点中的优势类群。值得关注的是，在31个采样点中，图纳卡达武溪流（Thunakadavu stream）、古利图拉帕蒂（Gulithuraipatti）、阿蒂拉帕利（Athirappalli）、纳杜托塔姆（Naduthotam）、纳达蒂图（Nadathittu）、穆莱托杜（Mullaithodu）、托南蒂克拉（Thonanthikla）、努尔普扎（Noolpuzha）与辛纳鲁（Sinnaru）的物种丰度与物种丰富度均表现出较高的变异性。64种鱼类中有15种在西高止山脉区域处于濒危状态。其中，珀里亚尔墨头鱼（Garra periyarensis）与卷口鱼（Cirrhinus cirrhosus）被列为易危物种，而点纹半鲿（Hemibagrus punctatus）因各类人类活动的影响被列为极危物种。本研究还简要探讨了本次调查的研究意义，以及保护该区域鱼类物种亟需采取的及时有效措施。