Distribution and Habitat Analysis for Freshwater Turtles of River Indus and some of its Tributaries in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab, Pakistan
This study was conducted to investigate the relative abundance and habitat analysis of freshwater turtles of Pakistan. Eighty two individuals of seven species of turtles at sixteen different sites in River Indus and some of its tributaries in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Punjab were recorded; these i...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wright State University
2015-10-01
|
| Series: | Journal of Bioresource Management |
| Subjects: |
| _version_ | 1818215908546445312 |
|---|---|
| author | Malik Ghulam Sarwar Fakhar-I-Abbas Inayat Ali Shahjehan |
| author_facet | Malik Ghulam Sarwar Fakhar-I-Abbas Inayat Ali Shahjehan |
| author_sort | Malik Ghulam Sarwar |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study was conducted to investigate the relative abundance and habitat analysis of freshwater turtles of Pakistan. Eighty two individuals of seven species of turtles at sixteen different sites in River Indus and some of its tributaries in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Punjab were recorded; these include both soft and hard shell freshwater turtles. The species documented were, Kachuga smithii, Kachuga tecta, Geoclemys hamiltonii, Aspideretes gangeticus, Aspideretes hurrum, Chitra indica and Lissemys punctata. The L. punctata was the most common, with relative frequency (RF) of 24.4%, followed by A. gangeticus (18.3%), A. hurum (17.1%), C. indica (17.1%), K. smithii (12.2%), K. tecta (7.3%), and G. hamiltonii (3.7%). It was also discovered that District Swabi was the most populous area with three densely populated sites; Yar Hussian stream, Allah Dher River and Badri stream. In order to know the habitat preferences the biotic and abiotic factors of water bodies within the freshwater turtle’s habitat (16 study sites) were also measured. Abiotic factors viz. pH ranges from slightly acidic to basic (6.90-9.43), total dissolved solids (0.28-5.07 mg/L), conductivity (7.33-26.33 mv), dissolved oxygen (0.67-16.40 mg/L), temperature of air (20°C - 40°C) and temperature of water (19°C - 34°C) were recorded. Besides, biotic components including, twenty seven genera of Phytoplankton and sixteen genera of Zooplanktons were also observed in study area. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T06:43:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a5c7be0e2da64689871cf70f282d77ca |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2309-3854 2309-3854 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T06:43:33Z |
| publishDate | 2015-10-01 |
| publisher | Wright State University |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Bioresource Management |
| spelling | doaj.art-a5c7be0e2da64689871cf70f282d77ca2022-12-22T00:34:15ZengWright State UniversityJournal of Bioresource Management2309-38542309-38542015-10-0123566710.35691/JBM.5102.0032Distribution and Habitat Analysis for Freshwater Turtles of River Indus and some of its Tributaries in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab, PakistanMalik Ghulam Sarwar0Fakhar-I-Abbas1Inayat Ali Shahjehan2Barari Forest Management, United Arab EmiratesBioresource Research Centre, Islamabad, PakistanUniversity of Peshawar, PakistanThis study was conducted to investigate the relative abundance and habitat analysis of freshwater turtles of Pakistan. Eighty two individuals of seven species of turtles at sixteen different sites in River Indus and some of its tributaries in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Punjab were recorded; these include both soft and hard shell freshwater turtles. The species documented were, Kachuga smithii, Kachuga tecta, Geoclemys hamiltonii, Aspideretes gangeticus, Aspideretes hurrum, Chitra indica and Lissemys punctata. The L. punctata was the most common, with relative frequency (RF) of 24.4%, followed by A. gangeticus (18.3%), A. hurum (17.1%), C. indica (17.1%), K. smithii (12.2%), K. tecta (7.3%), and G. hamiltonii (3.7%). It was also discovered that District Swabi was the most populous area with three densely populated sites; Yar Hussian stream, Allah Dher River and Badri stream. In order to know the habitat preferences the biotic and abiotic factors of water bodies within the freshwater turtle’s habitat (16 study sites) were also measured. Abiotic factors viz. pH ranges from slightly acidic to basic (6.90-9.43), total dissolved solids (0.28-5.07 mg/L), conductivity (7.33-26.33 mv), dissolved oxygen (0.67-16.40 mg/L), temperature of air (20°C - 40°C) and temperature of water (19°C - 34°C) were recorded. Besides, biotic components including, twenty seven genera of Phytoplankton and sixteen genera of Zooplanktons were also observed in study area.hardella thurjiifreshwater turtlesfreshwater ecosystem. river indus. |
| spellingShingle | Malik Ghulam Sarwar Fakhar-I-Abbas Inayat Ali Shahjehan Distribution and Habitat Analysis for Freshwater Turtles of River Indus and some of its Tributaries in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab, Pakistan Journal of Bioresource Management hardella thurjii freshwater turtles freshwater ecosystem. river indus. |
| title | Distribution and Habitat Analysis for Freshwater Turtles of River Indus and some of its Tributaries in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab, Pakistan |
| title_full | Distribution and Habitat Analysis for Freshwater Turtles of River Indus and some of its Tributaries in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab, Pakistan |
| title_fullStr | Distribution and Habitat Analysis for Freshwater Turtles of River Indus and some of its Tributaries in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab, Pakistan |
| title_full_unstemmed | Distribution and Habitat Analysis for Freshwater Turtles of River Indus and some of its Tributaries in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab, Pakistan |
| title_short | Distribution and Habitat Analysis for Freshwater Turtles of River Indus and some of its Tributaries in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab, Pakistan |
| title_sort | distribution and habitat analysis for freshwater turtles of river indus and some of its tributaries in khyber pakhtunkhwa and punjab pakistan |
| topic | hardella thurjii freshwater turtles freshwater ecosystem. river indus. |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT malikghulamsarwar distributionandhabitatanalysisforfreshwaterturtlesofriverindusandsomeofitstributariesinkhyberpakhtunkhwaandpunjabpakistan AT fakhariabbas distributionandhabitatanalysisforfreshwaterturtlesofriverindusandsomeofitstributariesinkhyberpakhtunkhwaandpunjabpakistan AT inayatalishahjehan distributionandhabitatanalysisforfreshwaterturtlesofriverindusandsomeofitstributariesinkhyberpakhtunkhwaandpunjabpakistan |