BIODIVERSITY ASSESSMENT OF MACRO-INVERTEBRTE OF BIRAULI OXBOW LAKE, DISTRICT SAMASTIPUR, BIHAR

Abstract

The oxbow lake form one of the dynamic culture based fisheries resource, rich in nutrient and support a dense growth of flora and fauna. The macrophytes, water depth and nature of bottom soil play a vital role in variation in population and communities of associated invertebrate fauna. Such variations reflect their habit and trophocity of water body. The Birauli maun, situated in the basin of rivers Budhi Gandak, was explored for the present study. A total of 17 taxa of macroinvertebrates associated with submerged, floating and marginal weeds, belonging to phylum Annelida, Arthropoda and Mollusca, were recorded. The bulk of macrophyte inhabiting fauna formed by ubiquous mollusk, were recorded. (46.50%), followed by annelids (39.50%) and insects (13%). The Shannon-weaver species diversity index (H’) value was 3.2939. The index of dominance (C) obtained was 0.117409 being maximum partial C value for tubifix (0.031726) and D (1-C) value also gave the idea of richness of species in the lake. The oxbow lake is undergoing gradual process of eutrophication, harbouring huge macrophytic vegetation and thus require a proper management to prevent its extinction and enhanced sustainable fish fisheries development.

Keywords: Biodiversity, macro-invertebrate, maun, Budhi Gandak, Bihar: