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Ecohydrology and fisheries of the upper Brahmaputra basin

Author

Listed:
  • Sanchita Boruah

    (Dibrugarh University)

  • S.P. Biswas

    (Dibrugarh University)

Abstract

The Brahmaputra changes its course and pattern along with its current flow very frequently especially in its upper stretches and this has a strong bearing on its hydrobiology. The hydro-geological pattern of the Brahmaputra has resulted in a possible zonation of the river into five major types of fish habitat. Altogether 167 fish species have been recorded from the upper Brahmaputra of which about 30 percent may be considered as ornamental varieties. Again, according to their seasonal availability, the fish fauna has been grouped into four principal categories. Among all the hydrological factors, flood impulse is probably the strongest factor that regulates other limnological conditions and faunal distribution. Usually, there are three or four high floods between May and October and fish migration is intimately related to this flood regime. During the dry season fishing is mostly restricted to near the confluents of tributaries or channels and also at river meanders. However, large-scale felling of trees in the catchment areas and construction of embankments along the river banks have altered the riverine ecosystem drastically, as a result of which, the river has become heavily silted and the connecting channels of the floodplain lakes are also dammed. Consequently, fishes and other megafauna are deprived of adequate water cover, food supply and breeding grounds. An ecohydrological approach has been advocated for habitat restoration.

Suggested Citation

  • Sanchita Boruah & S.P. Biswas, 2002. "Ecohydrology and fisheries of the upper Brahmaputra basin," Environment Systems and Decisions, Springer, vol. 22(2), pages 119-131, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:envsyd:v:22:y:2002:i:2:d:10.1023_a:1015369313873
    DOI: 10.1023/A:1015369313873
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. S. P. Biswas & Debajit Baruah & Ananda Hazarika, 2000. "An experimental study of soil conservation using herbaceous plants in Majuli Island, Assam, India," Environment Systems and Decisions, Springer, vol. 20(1), pages 19-27, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Biswas, S. P. & Singh, A. Santoshkumar, 2022. "Ecosystem Services of Riverine Wetlands with Special Reference to the Upper Brahmaputra Basin," Indian Journal of Agricultural Economics, Indian Society of Agricultural Economics, vol. 0(Number 3), September.
    2. Wazir Singh Lakra & Uttam Kumar Sarkar & Rupali Sani Kumar & Ajay Pandey & Vineet Kumar Dubey & Om Prakash Gusain, 2010. "Fish diversity, habitat ecology and their conservation and management issues of a tropical River in Ganga basin, India," Environment Systems and Decisions, Springer, vol. 30(4), pages 306-319, December.
    3. Animesh Gain & Heiko Apel & Fabrice Renaud & Carlo Giupponi, 2013. "Thresholds of hydrologic flow regime of a river and investigation of climate change impact—the case of the Lower Brahmaputra river Basin," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 120(1), pages 463-475, September.

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    1. Biswas, S. P. & Singh, A. Santoshkumar, 2022. "Ecosystem Services of Riverine Wetlands with Special Reference to the Upper Brahmaputra Basin," Indian Journal of Agricultural Economics, Indian Society of Agricultural Economics, vol. 0(Number 3), September.
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