CONCEPT OF KEYSTONE SPECIES AND ASSESSMENT OF FLOWS (HIMALAYAN SEGMENT-GANGA RIVER)

Transcription

1 CONCEPT OF KEYSTONE SPECIES AND ASSESSMENT OF FLOWS (HIMALAYAN SEGMENT-GANGA RIVER) Feb. 2015

2 MAJOR HYDROLOGICAL PROJECTS ON THE UPPER STRETCHES OF RIVER GANGA a. Alaknanda b. Bhagirathi

3 River, function and services Rivers- Constitute a lotic series of water Constant motion, with longitudinal, lateral and vertical connectivity Functions and services Provide habitat for aquatic biological communities and maintain a good biodiversity Maintain a flow regime Nurture flood plains and combat land erosion by sea Replenish nutrients in flood plains Recharge ground water Support livelihood and meet the needs of drinking water, agriculture, industry and community Assimilate waste and purify itself Facilitate navigation, recreation, tourism and play an important role in economics, culture and spiritual life of society

4 Fluxes of C, N, P, S Transport of Elements Features of biochemical Cycling Energetic Nutrients Salinity Decomposables Recalcitrant Dissolve Gases Toxicants Interactions Production Consumption Mass balance Chemical Characteristics Functional Components Structural Components Flow Subsystems E c o s y s t e m s Abiotic Sediment Load Habitat Culturable Non Culturable Biotic Fresh water Estuarine Wetlands Terrestrial Decomposers Bacterial Producers Flowing Storages/Pondages Consumers Fungus Permanent Main Stem Transient Diara Lands Riparian Cultivated Forests Grasslands / Scrublands Phytobenthos Artificial Natural Farakka to Gangasagar Hoogly - Matlah Phytoplankton Macrophytes Zooplankton Macroinvertebates Vertebrates Zoobanthos Aquatic Tributaries Extra Aquatic Fish Gangotri To Farakka Higher Vertebrates Metals Pesticides

5 MAINTENANCE OF NATURAL ORDER Preserve natural ecology because it has a priori right Or Preserve the natural ecology to provides goods and services Missions Aviral Dhara Nirmal Dhara Eco-restoration

6 SALIENT FEATURES OF THE UPPER GANGA STRETCH Features UGB-1 UGB-2 UGA-1 UGA-2 UG-3 Location N 30 59'56.2 E 78 54'56.5 to N 30 55'15.4 E78 40'43.2 N 30 55'15.4 E 78 40'43.2 to N 30 08'49.5 E 78 35'51.9 N " E 79 29'43.22" to N " E 79 34'32.59" N " E 79 34'32.59" to N " E 78 36'3.71 N 30 08'49.5 E 78 35'51.9 to N 29 57'20.1 E 78 10'56.3 Altitude (amsl) 3037 m 1945 m 3208 m 1443 m 476 m Water temperature C C C C ( C) Water velocity (m/s) Substrate Environmental management class Boulders, cobbles, pebbles B (Epirhithron) Cobbles, pebbles, gravel, sand C (Metarhithron) Boulders, cobbles, pebbles B (Epirhithron) Trophic class Ultra-oligotrophic Oligotrophic Ultraoligotrophic Cobbles, pebbles, gravel, sand C (Metarhithron) Oligotrophic Rocks, Cobbles, pebbles, gravel, sand D (Hypo Metarhithron) α-mesotrophic

7 SALIENT FEATURES OF UPPER GANGA (GANGOTRI TO HARIDWAR U/S BHIMGODA BARRAGE) Cold water: Temperature range (4.3 C-21.3 C) Low depth, High velocities 2.0 to 3.3 m/sec Major habitat: Rapids, riffles and pools Substrate: Mature boulders, rocks, stones and pebbles Flows obstructions due to run of river projects Significant length devoid of water Most of the water stored in Reservoirs and flows in Tunnels Confluence of two head streams Bhagirathi and Alaknanda at Devprayag. High flows in Alaknanda and reduced flows in Bhagirathi River Ultra-oligotrophic in UGA-1, UGB-1 Oligotrophic in UGA-2, UGB-2 and UG3

8 BIOLOGICAL DISTRIBUTION OF PHYTOPLANKTON AND PERIPHYTON AT DIFFERENT STRETCHES ON RIVER GANGA Sub-Stretches Algae Ratio Total Taxa Diatoms (D) Green algae (G) Blue green algae (BGA) (D:G:BGA)* UGB-1 (Gangotri-Gangnani) 100:6: UGB-2 (Ganganani-Devprayag) 100:17: UG-3 (Devprayag-Haridwar) 100:14: UGA-1 (Mana-Vishnuprayag) 100:16: UGA-2 (Vishnuprayag-Devpayag) 100:4: *(D: Diatoms: Bacillariophyceae; G: Green algae: Chlorophyceae; BGA: Blue Green algae: Cyanophyceae) BIOLOGICAL DISTRIBUTION OF ZOOBENTHOS AT DIFFERENT STRETCHES ON RIVER GANGA Sub-Stretches Plecoptera Tricoptera Ephemeroptera Diptera Odonata Hemiptera Coleoptera UGB-1 (Gangotri-Gangnani) UGB-2 (Ganganani-Devprayag) UG-3 (Devprayag-Haridwar) UGA-1 (Mana-Vishnuprayag) UGA-2 (Vishnuprayag-Devpayag)

9 BIOLOGICAL DISTRIBUTION OF FISHES IN UPPER GANGA River/ Stretch Fish families Characteristics STRETCHES (No. of taxa) species Keystone species Bhagirathi/ Fish not reported generally however few Brown Trout have been cited (Gangotri-Gangnani)/ UGB-1 Bhagirathi/ Schizothorax (Gangnani-Devprayag)/ UGB-2 Cyprinidae (23) Trout richardsonii Balitoridae (6) Sissoridae (6) Schilbeidae (1) Total Taxa: 36 Bhagirathi/ Schizothorax (Devprayag-Haridwar)/ UG-3 Cyprinidae (25) Trout richardsonii Alaknanda/ (Mana-Vishnuprayag)/ UGA-1 Balitoridae (4) Mahseer Tor putitora Sissoridae (3) Bagridae (2) Belonidae (1) Mastacembelidae (1) Cobitidae (1) Clariidae (1) Schilbeidae (1) Total Taxa: 39 Fish- Not reported Alaknanda/ (Vishnuprayag-Devprayag)/ UGA-2 Cyprinidae (26) Trout Sissoridae (7) Balitoridae (6) Cobitidae (3) Amblyceptidae (1) Total Taxa: 43 Schizothorax richardsonii Predominant in stretch Gangnani- Uttarkashi Gangnani- Devprayag Devprayag-Haridwar Vishnuprayag-Devprayag

10 TERMINOLOGY UNDER FOCAL SPECIES CONCEPT Indicator species:- A species or group whose status provide information on the general conditions of ecosystem and of other species in the system. Characteristic species/ group:- A species/ group which is specific to its existence in an ecosystem by their distinctive distinguishing and unique presence. Keystone species:- A species that has disproportionately large effect on the environment relative to its abundance. Such species are described as playing a critical role in maintaining the structure of an ecological community, affecting many other organisms in an ecosystem and helping to determine the types and numbers of various other species in the community. Flagship species:- A species used as a focus of a broader conservation campaign, which is able to capture the imagination of the public and induce people to support conservation. Umbrella species:- Species selected for making conservation related decisions, typically because protecting these indirectly protects many other species that make up the ecological community of its habitat.

11 CRITERIA FOR SELECTION OF KEYSTONE SPECIES Compatibility with existing substrate and habitat Position in biota as well as dominance (species richness) Size and age distribution: availability of suitable conditions for adults/ brood/ spawn/ juvenile stages (fries and fingerlings) Trophic status and availability of preferred food RET (Rare, Endangered and Threatened species) status Migration routes for feeding and breeding. Survival for existence

12 Keystone species Snow Trout Schizothorax richardsonii Ecological Requirements Organism Maximum Size Size (mm)/age Distribution Schizothorax richardsonii mm (max. 509 mm) * Period including the migration 285/2+ to 3 + Years 450/3+ to 4+ Years 505/5+ Years Water Temp. Substratum Spawning Period Food and Feeding Adult Preference C Boulders and stones covered with slimy algal material Aug.- Oct. Herbivorous: feed on algae, periphyton, bottom feeder, Diatoms (>90%), Green algae ( 6.0%), Desmids ( 1.0%) Adult prefers deep pools and runs (1-3 m); It migrates to lower reaches of the stream for breeding

13 Keystone species Golden Mahseer Tor putitora Organism Maximum Size Size (mm)/age Distribution Tor putitora mm (max. 610 mm) 130 to 430/1+ to 3+ Years 340 to 670/4+ to 6+ Years 580 to 1000/7+ to 9+ Years Water Temp. Substratum C Pitted rocks and stones covered with periphytic and filamentous algae Spawning Period* Food and Feeding May Sep. Omnivorous (Green algae, insects); Diatoms ( 85%); Green algae ( 4.0%), Desmids ( 3.0%); Water column feeder Adult Preference Adult prefers deep waters (pools and runs 1-3 m), while brooders migrate to shallow stream for breeding; Breed at graveled surface depth m period * Period including the migration

14 Riffle Rocks and Pebbles Pool Riffle Location Riffle Silt Pool Riffle HFL D1 D2 D3 D1- Depth of water required during lean period (Nov to May). The level is defined considering 0.5 meter water depth above the bed level. D2- Depth of water required for spawning of keystone species. The level is defined considering 0.8 meter water depth above bed level. D3- Depth of water required for inundation of some riparian vegetation for days in a year. The level may be variable depending on the inundation of riparian vegetation.