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This paper presents the spatial and temporal variation in the diversity of malacofauna in relation to the water chemistry of the Aripal stream of Kashmir Himalaya. A total of 12 species were reported which belong to four families, Lymnaeidae, Physidae, Planorbidae, and Bithyniidae from class Gastropoda, and two families, Cyrenidae and Pisidiidae from class Bivalvia. The family Planorbidae contributed 34% to the total annual molluscan population followed by Lymnaeidae (28%) and Bithyniidae (18%). During the collection, Gyraulus sp., Planorbis sp., and Bithynia tentaculata were prevalent at all sites, with predominance of Bithynia tentaculata. Species richness and abundance were observed maximum at site A3 (down-stream) and minimum at site A1 (up-stream) while in the case of temporal variation, species richness and abundance were maximum in summer and minimum in winter. Shannon-Wiener index, Simpson index, Margalef index, and Pielou evenness index were used to calculate the diversity, dominance, richness, and evenness of molluscan species, respectively. Physico-chemical parameters revealed a non-significant spatial variation (P >0.05) except pH, total hardness, and alkalinity while a significant temporal variation (P <0.05) was observed in the physico-chemical parameters except dissolved oxygen. A significant positive correlation was seen between the molluscan species and total hardness. In the present study, the stone mining, channel morphology of stream, habitat heterogeneity, and physico-chemical parameters were also found to promote the spatial and temporal diversity of malacofauna.

Morphometric and meristic characters are very important for the identification of any fish specimen. The present study aims to describe the morphometric and meristic characters of the indigenous fish Crossocheilus diplochilus (Heckel) from Dal Lake. This fish is commonly known as Kashmir latia and is called tether locally. In the present study, the material analyzed was 70 specimens ranging in size from 6.9–13 cm (TL) with a mean length of 10.8 cm and a weight range of 3.2–24.0 g with a mean weight of 10.1 g. The parameters with the highest correlations with total length were standard length and fork length at 0.983 and 0.989, respectively. Correlation analysis showed that all morphometric characters changed proportionally as total length increased. The meristic counts analyzed in the present study remained constant in fish of different sizes indicating that they are independent of body size. The study of morphometric characters is very important to determine the growth rate of these fish, which, in turn, is required to properly manage its populations.

The freshwater crab, Paratelphusa masoniana was collected for a period of one year to investigate the seasonal fluctuation in the proximate composition. Marked seasonal variation in protein, lipid and moisture were observed during a period of one year to determine their viability in the course of the reproductive cycle. Both protein and lipid content are inversely related to moisture content. Maximum protein (62.15±0.30%; 55.85±0.48) and lipid (5.85±0.46%; 5.49±0.38%) were observed during non-spawning period and minimum during spawning months. The relationship between protein and lipid is however a direct one. On the basis of the investigation, it has been recorded that the local freshwater crab, P. masoniana, is a biannual breeder.

The indigenous Schizothorax spp. in the valley of Kashmir are facing constant threats and decline in their overall population. The current aim was to analyse the comparative length-weight relationship (LWRs) and condition factor (K) of 350 specimens belonging to four Schizothorax spp. (S. plagiostomus, S. esocinus, S. labiatus and S. curvifrons) from the Vishav Stream of Kashmir Himalaya, India. The fish specimens were sampled for a period of one year from April 2018 to March 2019. The results revealed that the growth coefficient ‘b’ in all the four Schizothorax spp. was found very close to 3, indicating an isometric growth pattern. No significant difference in the ‘b’ values of four Schizothorax spp. was found when compared with the isometric value (t-test: p > 0.05). The mean value of the ‘K’ for S. plagiostomus, S. esocinus, S. curvifrons and for S. labiatus were 0.81 ± 0.07, 0.80 ± 0.08, 0.85 ± 0.08 and 0.88 ± 0.12 respectively. The mean condition factor did not vary across four species (ANOVA: p > 0.05). The present findings could serve as baseline information for the management, stock assessment and future studies of indigenous capture fishery resources of the Vishav Stream and other similar habitats.

Study of a water body at Jammu was carried out for a period of one year from January 2004 to December 2004 to observe various water quality parameters and zooplankton dynamics. Temperature, Dissolved oxygen, Free Co 2 , Carbonates, Bicarbonates, Calcium, Magnesium and Chlorides were estimated on monthly basis. A total of 12 zooplankton species were identified comprising of three major planktonic groups viz. cladocera, rotifera, and copepoda. Moina among cladocera and Brachionus among rotifera were present at high as well as low DO level, therefore revealing their wide tolerance for oxygen variation. Dominance of Copepods during period of high pollution characterized by high temperature, high Free CO 2 and low level of Ca ++ and Mg ++ reveals their importance as pollution indicators. Zooplankton population was mainly contributed by cladocerans (46.39%) followed by rotifers (44.12%) and copepods (9.48%).

The morphometric analysis was carried out in indigenous cyprinid food fish, Schizothorax labiatus (a species of snow trout) collected from Vishav stream, a perennial cold water stream of Kashmir valley, India, wherein various morphometric characters viz.

Plastic pollution is the buildup of unwanted plastic products in the environment by its abundant and limitless use by a greedy human population in various ways. Plastics are usually made of chains of monomer units of ethylene and propylene linked together. Plastics are durable and resistant to degradation and tend to accumulate where they are disposed. One more disaster this material causes is the release of toxic chemicals with time which badly affects the ecosystem where it is dumped. Same is the case with aquatic ecosystem, because tons of plastic wastes are dumped into it in one way or the other. The major threats of this menace on aquatic ecosystem include ocean acidification, degradation of water quality, increase in number of invasive species, overfishing, pollution and choking of water bodies, habitat degradation, loss of aesthetic value, blocking of sea routes, and above all, it badly affects plant and animal life there.