Rajender Pal, Harinder Singh Banyal and Shivali Sharma
Abstract
The present research work was done during 2023-24 to assess the fresh water fish diversity of an unexplored fresh water stream Rissa, tributary of Son stream, which is a part of Beas riverine system in Sarkaghat tehsil of Mandi district, Himachal Pradesh. Present research paper gives an account of fish faunal diversity in relation to selected physicochemical parameters (Water Temperature, pH, TDS, Total Alkalinity, and Total Hardness). Altogether, 10 species of fish fauna representing 4 orders and 5 families were recorded, which is the first record from the stream. Cypriniformes order was recorded to be the most dominant order, followed by order Siluriformes, Synbranchiformes and Beloniformes. Threat status analysis as per current IUCN Red List criteria showed that, out of 10 species, one belonged to Endangered (EN), two species belonged to Vulnerable (VU), one belonged to Not Evaluated (NE), one belonged to Data Deficient (DD) and remaining five belong to Least Concern (LC) category. The different diversity indices have been used to assess the fishfaunal diversity. An analysis of threats to fish faunal diversity has also been presented.