Ichthyofaunal diversity of Chilika Lake, Odisha, India: an inventory, assessment of biodiversity status and comprehensive systematic checklist (1916-2014)

Abstract

Chilika Lake, an assemblage of marine, brackish and freshwater ecosystems, on the east coast of India is a designated Ramsar site and a biodiversity hotspot. Intensive ichthyofaunal inventories and biodiversity assessments were carried out during 2000–2014 and documented 317 species belonging to 207 genera, in 88 families and 23 orders, including two endemic (Gobiidae) and one exotic cichlid species (Oreochromis mossambicus). In total, 255 collections (178 collections of previously recorded species and 77 that represent newly recorded species) were made during a post-restoration survey accounting for 80.44% retrieval of historically documented species. This paper presents an updated and comprehensive checklist of the lake’s ichthyofauna (1916–2014), which is comprised of 278 food fishes, 271 (85.49%) migratory and 46 (14.51%) are resident species indicating that the lake fishery is largely migratory species-dependent. An account of faunal characteristics for 129 commercially important species is provided. The checklist also documents 48 threatened species and 103 species under different categories of conservation status.

Length-weight and length-length relationship of Strongylura strongylura (van Hasselt, 1823) and Hyporhamphus limbatus (Valenciennes, 1847) from Chilika Lake, India

“…The water area of the lake ranges between 906 km 2 in the dry season to 1165 km 2 in the monsoon season with a maximum 6.2 m water depth (Mohanty et al., ). Chilika Lake supports the livelihood and nutritional security to about 0.2 million local fishermen living in and around the lake (Mohanty et al., ). Bi‐monthly samplings were carried out during August 2014 to June 2016, with samples collected using nets commonly operated by local fishermen such as the seine net (6, 8 and 10 mm mesh) and the screen barrier net (8–24 mm mesh).…”

“…The water area of the lake ranges between 906 km 2 in the dry season to 1165 km 2 in the monsoon season with a maximum 6.2 m water depth (Mohanty et al, 2015). Chilika Lake supports the livelihood and nutritional security to about 0.2 million local fishermen living in and around the lake (Mohanty et al, 2015).…”

“…A Beloniformes population inhabiting Chilika Lake contributes significantly to the commercial fishery, with two highly-valued species (Strongylura strongylura and Hyporhamphus limbatus) from a total of 13 species in the lake (Mohanty et al, 2015). The length-weight relationship (LWR) and length-length relationship (LLR) of fishes are important parameters of fishery biology, including fish stock assessment (Chu, Hou, Tsong-Ueng, & Wang, 2012;Ruiz-Campos, González-Acosta, & De La Cruz-Aguero, 2006).…”

Length-weight relationships of six tropical fish species from Chilika Lagoon, India

“…Chilika, the largest brackishwater lagoon of Asia and a designated Ramsar site is located in the eastern part of India with a connection to the Bay of Bengal. The shallow lagoon harbours more than 317 finfish species, to claim the lagoon as one of the biodiversity hotspots in the tropics (Mohanty et al., ). This ecosystem supports the livelihood of more than 0.2 million rural poor (Mohapatra, Mohanty, Mohanty, Bhatta, & Das, ).…”

Length–weight relations of fishes (Actinopterygii) from Chilika Lagoon, India

“…The lagoon is one of the most diverse aquatic ecosystems in the tropics and a hotspot of biodiversity. The lagoon covers 906 km 2 (dry season) to 1165 km 2 (monsoon season) with a maximum of 6.2 m water depth (Mohanty et al 2015). Samples of the 37 fish species were collected from the lagoon once every three months from January 2015 to June 2016 from fishers' catch using mono-filament gill nets (mesh: 12 mm, 22-24 mm, 34-38 mm, 42 mm, and 60-72 mm), screen barrier net (mesh: 12-26 mm), seine nets, cast nets, hook and line.…”