Exploring Fish diversity of Pond ecosystems of Bathinda, Punjab, India
Lakhwinder Singh1 , Veerpal Kaur2 and Ramandeep Achint*
1School of Bio Sciences, RIMT University, Mandi Gobindgarh, Punjab - 147301 (India) lakhwinderchatha790@gmail.com1 2Dolphin (PG) College of Science and Agriculture, Chunni Kalan, Fatehgarh, Punjab - 140406 (India) johalveerpal12@gmail.com *School of Bio Sciences, RIMT University, Mandi Gobindgarh, Punjab - 147301 (India) ramandeepachint@rimt.ac.in Corresponding author*: ramandeepachint@rimt.ac.in
ABSTRACT
Freshwater lentic water bodies such as pond support a diverse array of fish species. Despite their importance, these lentic freshwater ecosystems are facing numerous threats including habitat deterioration, invasive species and climate change. Fish diversity in these ecosystems has been shaped by a complex interplay of local and regional factors. Fish diversity is considered as a diagnostic tool to highlight the impact of environmental changes. This paper describes the analysis of fish diversity in freshwater ponds of Bathinda, Punjab, India, where the studies on fish diversity were conducted during the different months of study i.e (January 2024-June 2025). The factors like water quality, habitat heterogeneity and trophic interactions influencing fish diversity has been examined. A total of five fishes belonging to Cyprinidae family were identified. Very low fish diversity has been observed in Bathinda. Loss of fish species diversity determines the severity of habitat degradation of an aquatic ecosystem. There is needed to take conservation and management efforts to save fish diversity of this area.