Molluscan diversity in Borda Dam at Wani Taluka of Yavatmal District, Maharashtra, India
S.B. Patharde1 and P.M. Telkhade2
1Depatment of Zoology, Sardar Patel Mahavidyalaya, Chandrapur - 442401 sbpatharde44@gmail.com1 , Mob. 9371452526 2Department of Zoology, Dr. Khatri Mahavidyalaya, Chandrapur - 442401 pravintelkhade201@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
As environmental indicators, molluscs recycle nutrients and provide sustenance for some aquatic creatures, which is a critical part of their role in maintaining the aquatic ecosystem, and their production is a crucial component in the aquatic fauna’s food chain. The loss and degradation of aquatic habitats by human activity has put several species of freshwater molluscs at risk. Hence, it is imperative to study the ecology, diversity, abundance and distribution of molluscan species. The current study aims to explore diversity of molluscan fauna in Borda dam. The research was done between June 2022 and May 2023. A total of 16 molluscan species from 8 families and 6 orders have been identified. The family Thiaridae and Unionidae has the maximum number of species among all 8 families of 16 species. Sites I and II contained 56.25% each of the molluscan species, while sites III and IV had 50% and 62.50% of the species density, respectively. The results of this study may help conserve and manage the local molluscan fauna more effectively