F LORAL AND F AUNAL D IVERSITY IN U PPER G ANGA Ecology and Biodiversity in Ganga River Actions required for Eco-restoration Saturday, August 6, 2011 PBCEC, IIT Kanpur

UG1: (Gangotri to Gangnani) UG2: (Gangnani to Devprayag) UG3: Devprayag to Haridwar (Upstream of Bhimgoda barrage) UG1 UG2 UG3 S TUDY - AREA OF THE G ANGA R IVER FROM G ANGOTRI TO H ARIDWAR UP TO B HIMGODA BARRAGE

UG I (G ANGOTRI TO G ANGNANI )  Very less influenced by human interventions  Major habitat: Rapids, riffles and pools  Substrate: Mature boulders, rocks and pebbles Water quality  Clean and clear with low depths and high transparency  The water temperatures are also very low varying between °C  The water velocity is high 2 to 3.3 m/s  The only organic input is lignocellulosic materials Biotic components  Periphyton is the only producer factor which supports zoobenthos represented by may fly (Ephemeroptera), caddis fly (Trichoptera), stone fly (Plecoptera), beatle (Coleoptera) and two wings fly (Diptera)  Sixteen taxa of diatoms (Bacillariophyceae)have been reported  In the lower stretch three taxa of green algae (Chlorophyceae) have been identified  Dragon and damsel flies (Odonata) are conspicuous by their absence  Zooplankton has not been reported in this zone  No fish population from Gaumukh to Harsil, Singh (2008)  Brown trout (Salmo trutto fario) observed in Jhala downstream of Bhaironghati, Nautiyal et al. (2007)

UG II (G ANGNANI TO D EVPRAYAG )  Influence of Barrages and dams (Maneri Bhali I and II Projects, and Tehri and Koteshwar Dams)  Major habitat: Rapids, riffles and pools  Substrate: Mature cobbles, pebbles and boulders  Devprayag predominated by rocky substrate Water quality  Clean and clear water with high transparency at most of the places  Moderate current velocity 1.0 – 3.3 m/s  Water temperature ranges between °C  Higher water temperatures (in the range °C) have also been recorded at Tehri Biotic components  The biota consists of periphyton, phytoplankton, zooplankton and vertebrate population essentially fish  Periphyton is represented mainly by diatoms Achnanthidium sp., Navicula sp. and Cymbella sp.  The phytoplankton is also dominated by diatoms  The zoobenthos are dominated by may fly (Ephemeroptera) and dipterans  Zooplankton is not conspicuous except the occasional presence of ciliates viz. Colpidium and Peramecium sp.

UG II (G ANGNANI TO D EVPRAYAG ) B IOTIC COMPONENTS  The vertebrate population is represented by fish, mainly carps; the most typical being Trouts (Schizothorax sp., Schizothoraichthys sp., Garra sp.), Sissoridae (Pseudecheneis sp., Glyptothorax sp.) Balitoridae (Nemachelius sp.) and Mahseer (Tor sp.)  The fish population is dependent on periphyton, plankton and zoobenthos at the level of producers and primary consumers  The fishes migrate towards upper reaches in August-October in search of suitable breeding environment  The migration of fish for breeding has been largely altered by the barriers and diversions (barrages, dams and tunnels)

UG III (D EVPRAYAG TO H ARIDWAR )  Devprayag is the confluence point of the rivers Bhagirathi and Alaknanda  Before reaching Rishikesh, it joins a tributary, Nayar, which is reported as breeding ground for the of Mahseer (Tor sp.)  Major habitat: Rapids, riffles and pools  Substrate: Mature cobbles, pebbles and boulders Water quality  Clean and clear water with high transparency and moderate depth at most of the places  The current velocity m/s and water temperature varies between 15-23°C Biotic components  Phytobenthos, phytoplankton, zooplankton, zoobenthos and fishes constitute the biota in this stretch  Phytobenthos are mostly represented by diatoms. The number of taxa varies from 10 to 77  The phytoplankton comprises mostly Bacillariophyceae,Chlorophyceae and Cyanophyceae have also started appearing  Zooplankton is scanty consisting of ciliates. A few rotifers and crustaceans also are reported  In zoobenthos, may fly (Ephemeroptera) is dominant, though odonata have started appearing  Important fishes reported in this sub stretch include minor carps (e.g. Barilius sp., Puntius sp.), major carps (Labeo sp.), Mahseer (Tor sp.), catfishes and an exotic fish (Cyprinus carpio)

B IOLOGICAL C OMMUNITY OF U PPER G ANGA P HYTOPLANKTON (A LGAE ) 1.Total number of genera and species increases from the zone UG1 to UG3. 2.Diatom (Bacillariophycae) constitutes dominant group in all the zones (Cymbella sp., Navicula sp. and Synedra sp) 3.The number of species in green algae (Chlorophyceae), blue green algae (Cyanophycea) & euglena (Euglenophyceae) increase from UG1 to UG3 Diatom (Bacillariophyceae) Green algae (Chlorophyceae)

Diatom (Bacillariophyceae) Blue green algae (Cyanophyceae) 1.Total number of genera and species increases from the zone UG1 to UG2 and decrease to UG3 due to river enters in to gorge and lack proper substratum. However, maximum is present at UG2 2.Diatom (Bacillariophycae) is dominant group in all the zones and number of species (Achnanthes, Navicula and Cymbella sp. 3.The number of species in green algae (Chlorophyceae) and blue green algae (Cyanophyceae) increases from UG1 to UG3. B IOLOGICAL C OMMUNITY OF U PPER G ANGA P HYTOBENTHOS (A LGAE )

1.Total number of orders and families increases from UG1 to UG2 & decrease at UG3. 2.May fly (Ephemeroptera) and two wing fly (Diptera) are dominant at UG2. 3.The number of families in stone fly (Plecoptera) decreases, while Dragon & damsel fly (Odonata) increases from UG1 to UG3 due to lack of preferred substrate May fly ( E phemeroptera ) Stone fly (Plecoptera) B IOLOGICAL C OMMUNITY OF U PPER G ANGA Z OOBENTHOS (M ACROINVERTEBRATE )

C HARACTERISTIC T AXA IN U PPER G ANGA Characteristic Taxa Dwelling Habits & Habitat Feeding Habits & Habitats Breeding ground Zone s Diatoms (Bacillariophyceae) Riffles, rapids & pools Producers: Riffles, rapids & pools Riffles, rapids & pools UG1, UG2, UG3 Stone fly (Plecoptera) Rapids, riffles, rock & boulders Predators, Stony substrate (B; C) at depth of <0.50 m Stony substrate (B; C) UG1 May fly (Ephemeroptera) & Two wing fly (Diptera) Rapids & riffles / cobble, pebble Collectors In food chain, stony and soft substrate mainly at bank of the river at depth of <0.50 m Stony substrate (Cobble; Boulder; Pebbles) UG2 Two wing fly (Diptera) & May fly (Ephemeroptera) Stony & soft (sand) substrate mainly <0.50 m Stony & soft (sand) at depth of <0.50 m Stony & soft (sand) substrate UG3 Snow Trout (Schizothorax sp.) Prefer 1-3 m deep pools Herbivorous Stony substrate of 1-3m UG2 Mahseer (Tor sp.)1-3 m large size deep pools with rocky bottom Omnivorous (green algae, insects), column & mid water dweller Breed on graveled surface depth m UG3

C HARACTERISTIC F ISH OF U PPER G ANGA  Name-Schizothorax richardsonii  Common Name- Snow trout  Size mm (max. 509 mm)  Characteristic Features: Herbivorous: feed on algae, periphyton, bottom feeder, inferior mouth with hard cartilaginous disc adopted for scrapping. Spawning period from September - November at stony substrate with shallow water (riffles, rapids) and moderate flow. Fecundity eggs /female, water temperature 8-28 o C. Adult prefers deep pools and runs (1-3 m), while juveniles and early stages prefer shallow pools with substratum consist of cobbles with small boulders and take shelter underside of large boulders. It migrates to higher reaches of the stream for breeding (Shrestha and Khanna 1976; Singh 2008)  Name-Tor putitora  Common Name-Golden Mahseer  Size mm (max. 450 mm). Hamilton (1822 recorded 9 feet; 271cm)  Characteristic Features: Omnivorous (Green algae, insects) Spawning period May to September and breed at graveled surface depth m period. Adult prefers deep waters (pools and runs 1-3 m), while brooders migrate to shallow stream for breeding. Fingerlings and juveniles feed in shallow stream, grow there and return to deep waters in the main river. It migrates to side streams and tributaries for breeding in shallow clear water having stony substratum and moderate velocity and rich benthic life, water temperature o C. (Shrestha and Khanna 1976; Singh 2008)

C ONCLUSIONS UG I: G ANGOTRI TO G ANGANI  Biota is dominated by diatoms (Bacillariophyceae > 90%) in both phytoplankton and periphyton. Other class of algae was conspicuous by their absence since they cannot grow at such low temperature and high velocities  The predator, stone fly (Plecoptera) is top consumers in food chain due to absence of fish population UG II: G ANGANI TO D EVPRAYAG  Green algae (Chlorophyceae) make their presence but diatoms (Bacillariophyceae) still continue to dominate in both plankton and periphyton communities  May fly (Ephemeroptera) and two wing fly (Diptera) are dominant taxa in zoobenthos community  Zooplanktons in the form of protozoans (Ciliates) have started to appear  The zone is suitable for Trout fish because of moderate water temperature and water velocity. UG III: D EVPRAYAG TO H ARIDWAR  Diatoms continue to dominate in both Plankton and Periphyton community with blue green (Cyanophyceae) and green algae (Chlorophyecae) also appearing  Two wing fly (Diptera) are dominant and odonata (Dragon fly and Damsel fly) have made their appearance downstream of Rishikesh  Mahseer is an important and typical fish of this reach followed by minor and major carps.

T HANK Y OU