Water quality and fish diversity in Korotoa River of Bogura, Bangladesh

Abstract

The study was conducted to explore the physicochemical parameters of water, fish diversity andfisheries resources of Korotoa River at Bogura city of Bangladesh during July 2015 to February 2016. Thewater samples were collected from five sampling stations in the Korotoa River during wet and dry seasons.The results of the study showed that temperature, EC, TDS, DO, BOD, alkalinity, acidity and total hardnessof the Karotoa River water were 25.86ºC, 297.41 ?S/cm, 98.86 mg/L, 2.17 mg/L, 2.64 mg/L, 122.05mg/L, 3.28 mg/L and 75.59 mg/L, respectively. The DO and BOD contents of the river water were foundunsuitable for fisheries when compared with the standard of DoE. A total of ten fish species under six ordersand seven families were identified during the study period. The study also revealed that the most remarkablecause of water quality degradation of the river was waste dumping (58%) followed by urbanization and riverbank erosion. The water quality degradation (46%) negatively influenced the abundance of fish species. Theresults concluded that the water quality of the river is not favorable for production of fishes and other aquaticorganisms. The study suggested that the source of water quality degradation should be closely monitoredtogether with the industrial effluent and/or domestic sewage discharge should be reduced or stopped throughthe initiatives of the local government concerned to maintain sound and healthy ecosystem of the river.