Assessment of Fish assemblage and distribution in Barna Stream Network in Narmada basin (Central India)

The present study deals with the fish diversity of Barna River and its tributary in Raisen district, Madhya Pradesh, Central India. Fish studies were undertaken during Oct. 2011 to Nov. 2012. The aim of the study was to explore the fish fauna of Barna River. The sampling stations were conducted in Barna and its tributary streams. Fishes were collected directly from sampling stations two times in a period of investigation. The results of present investigation reveal the occurrence of 33 fish species belonging to 5 orders, 9 families and 21 genera. The order Cypriniformes was found dominant (24 species) followed by Perciformes and Ophiocephaliformes (3 species) both, Mastacembeliformes (2 species) and Beloniformes (1 species). The species diversity was analyzed using the following diversity indices: Simpson dominance index (D); Simpson index of diversity (1-D); Shannon-Weiner index (H); Evenness index and Margalef index with the help of software PAST (Pale ontological Statistics Software Package for Education and Data Analysis). The most abundant family was Cyprinidae, having 250 individuals (75%) followed by Cobitidae with 32 individuals (10%). Simpson index of diversity (1-D), Shannon-Weiner index (H) and Margalef index showed higher values at sampling site – V (Chamarsil). Some endangered and rare fish fauna are also reported in the present investigation.