Assessment Of 2022 Flood Effects On Ichthyofauna, Water Quality Parameters And Heavy Metals Level At The Confluence Of River Swat And River Panjkora, KP, Pakistan

Abstract

The present study was designed to investigate the effects of the 2022 flood on fish distribution and water quality at the confluence of River Swat and River Panjkora at Bosaq Malakand, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan from October to March 2023. During the study period, a total of 437 fish specimens were collected belonging to 2 orders, Cypriniformes and Siluriformes, 3 families, Cyprinidae, Sisoridae, and Garinidae, 7 genera, and 7 species i.e., Racoma labiata, Orienus plagiostomus, Glyptothorax cavia, Carassius auratus, Garra gotyla, Labeo dyocheilus pakistanicus, and Tor putitora. The family Cyprinidae was the most diverse family represented by 5 species, whereas Orienus plagiostomus was the most abundant species. The comparative physico-chemical parameters of water were also studied, which were taken from four different sites. The values for water temperature were 7.7-9°C, pH 6.98-7.42, dissolved oxygen 8.5-8.9 mg/l, alkalinity 215-240 mg/l, electrical conductivity 232-238µs, TDS 91-125 ppm, TSS 200-500 mg/l, Total hardness 116-129.98 mg/l, Calcium hardness 73-99.99 mg/l, Magnesium hardness 23-56.7 mg/l, Sodium 3.2-3.7 ppm, Potassium 30-30.4 ppm, Chlorides 15-32.03 mg/l and turbidity of water ranged from 0 to2-12 NTU. After the flood, 2 fish species were not reported from the studied area i.e. Mastacembelus armatus and Chela cachius, which means that the flood has swept away their fingerlings as well as adults. All the water parameters were within normal range during the study period except for the values of Alkalinity, Potassium, TSS, and Turbidity, which were higher than the permissible range. This might be due to floods and low water levels during the study period. Analysis: Heavy metals showed that chromium was higher than permissible limits recommended by WHO recommended standards while the other heavy metals were within the permissible limits. Therefore, it can be concluded that the water in the area is suitable for fish and aquatic life, and fish culture could be promoted in the area.