Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences

The Korean Society of Fisheries and Aquatic Science (한국수산과학회)
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Distribution pattern and population dynamics of Brown trout (Salmo trutta) and Snow trout (Schizothorax richardsonii) in Punatsangchhu River, Bhutan

  • Rupesh Subedi (Conservation Biology, College of Natural Resources, Royal University of Bhutan) ;
  • Dhan Bdr Gurung (Department of Forest Science, College of Natural Resources, Royal University of Bhutan) ;
  • Kinzang Namgay (Forestry, College of Natural Resources, Royal University of Bhutan) ;
  • Laxmi Sagar (Conservation Biology, College of Natural Resources, Royal University of Bhutan) ;
  • Rinchen Dorji (Natural Resource Management, College of Natural Resources, Royal University of Bhutan) ;
  • Tshering Pem (Biodiversity Officer, National Biodiversity Center) ;
  • Namkha Gyeltshen (Forestry, College of Natural Resources, Royal University of Bhutan)
  • Received : 2023.07.15
  • Accepted : 2024.02.16
  • Published : 2024.07.31
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Abstract

Among larger species of fish found in Punatsang chhu, Brown trout (Salmo trutta) and Snow trout (Schizothorax richardsonii) are notable species. Snow trout is a native species, whereas Brown trout is an introduced species. Brown trout is noted to have a negative impact on the population of native species worldwide. This study studied the population dynamics and structure of these species to detect if the introduced species affected the native species adversely. The study was conducted on a 30 km stretch of Punatsang chhu including its major and minor tributaries at about their confluences. In total, 56 sample plots of a 200 m sampling stretch were studied with a 200 m distance between each stretch. Length, weight, maturity, and sex data for both species were collected along with the habitat and water parameters. The two species were found to prefer different areas within a single stretch with a rare overlap. Snow trout were found to be distributed widely within the basin whereas Brown trout were only found in altitudes higher than 1,000 masl ($\overline{x}$ = 1,231.77) and in turbid waters (p = 0.009). Recruitment of Snow trout was not good whereas recruitment of Brown trout was good. Length-frequency graphs indicated good inverse J distribution for the Snow trout population and sporadic for Brown trout. There is an effect of Brown trout introduction to the Snow trout living in the study area. Places invaded by Brown trout have a lesser presence of Snow trout compared to places not invaded by these species.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

The research was funded by the World Wildlife Fund, Bhutan. The name of the grant agreement is "Research on Distribution Pattern and Population Dynamics of Brown trout (Salmo trutta) and Snow trout (Schizothorax richardsonii) in Punatsang Chhu" and the grant number is BT10971.

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