Ecological status and fishery potential of Deopani a coldwater stream of Arunachal Pradesh, India

Deopani stream, originates in Lower Dibang Valley district of Arunachal Pradesh at a longitude of 95°51′12.96" E and latitude of 28°09′31.58" N at an altitude of 475m msl. Deopani river originates atthe confluence point of two small streams Eze and Erne at a longitude 95°51′16.00" E and latitude of 28°09′34.60". In the present study, physico-chemical regime of Deopani stream was investigated in four different stations from October, 2008 till September, 2009 at an interval of two moths. Stream water with fast current showed water velocity (0.53–5.88 msec-l), temperature (16.3–2.540C), pH (7.0–8.0), alkalinity (32.0–65.0 mg/liter), DO (3.2–14.8 mg/liter) and carbon dioxide (0.32–12.0 mg/liter.) The major fish groups recorded during the study were Glyptothorax (Glyptothorax spp.), Mahseers (Tor putitora, N eolissocheilus hexagonolepis) and Barils (Barilius bendelensis, B. teleo). Among all these fish species, Glyptothorax spp. were to found to be the most common species recorded in all the seasons. The rocky substratum of the stream favors the occurrence of this species. The study reflected that the physico-chemical condition of the stream was in general conducive for aquatic habitat and it harbors very important hill stream fishes like Glyptothorax, Mahseer and BariIs.