Mar Biodiv

DOI 10.1007/s12526-016-0613-z

ORIGINAL PAPER

Finfish diversity and seasonal abundance in the largest arid

mangrove forest of the Indus Delta, Northern Arabian Sea
Shabir Ali Amir 1 & Pirzada Jamal A. Siddiqui 2 & Rafaqat Masroor 1

Received: 3 May 2016 / Revised: 27 October 2016 / Accepted: 21 November 2016

# Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2016

Abstract Finfish composition and seasonal abundance was diversity, providing ideal habitat for a nursery rather than a
studied in the world largest arid mangrove ecosystem of the fishing ground and propose it to be a marine protected area
Indus Delta, Pakistan. Sampling was done from February (MPA).
2010 to July 2011 in a narrow creek with thick mangrove
forest and in a wide creek with sporadic patches of mangrove Keywords Indus delta . Mangrove forest . Finfish
forest along its banks. The sampling revealed 84 fish species, assemblages . Environmental parameters . Canonical
corresponding to 2,274 individuals in 60 genera and 29 fam- correspondence analysis . Pakistan
ilies, weighing a total of 217 kg. A minimum of 8 species were
recorded in December 2010 while a maximum of 32 species
were recorded in April 2010 (average 21 ± 5.8). The most Introduction
speciose families were the Mugilidae (9) followed bythe
Sciaenidae (8) and the Ariidae (7), the remaining 26 families Estuaries, creeks and shallow coastal water areas are part of
being represented by 1–5 species. The average sizes of 28 the life cycles of many juvenile fishes of marine habitat,
dominant species in the collection ranged from 76.9 to which, as they increase in size or become mature, migrate into
284.6 mm (SL), consisting mostly of juveniles. Relative abun- deeper, offshore waters. These areas are known to be highly
dance (%) and relative biomass (%) of species was between productive and are often called nursery grounds where juve-
0.04 and 9.1 and 0.01–12.14, respectively. The Pearson cor- nile fishes grow rapidly by having abundant food resources,
relation of 0.52 (r2 0.27) was observed among the environ- and a favorable environment like low water currents, shelter
mental parameters and found significant between temperature and protection against predation. In addition to these juvenile
and dissolved oxygen (p < 0.03). The canonical correspon- marine fishes, some estuarine fishes are permanent inhabitants
dence analysis showed strong relationships of different salin- and spend their entire life in the estuaries (Vendel et al. 2003;
ity and temperature ranges with the diversity and biomass Blaber et al. 2000). Nevertheless, a number of marine finfish
composition. The species occurrence frequency was 69% in species also visit estuaries on a daily or seasonal basis for
the wide creek and 31% in the narrow creek. We conclude that feeding or breeding purposes (Chowdhury et al. 2011). A
the Indus Delta is a highly productive zone in terms of fish number of studies on fish composition associated with estuar-
ies and creek systems have been carried out in order to explore
Communicated by R. Thiel the dependency of fishes on their habitat and environment
(Little et al. 1988; Ntiba et al. 1991). Estuarine ecosystems
* Shabir Ali Amir with mangrove forests provide a dynamic habitat for aquatic
[email protected] life (Hossain et al. 2012; James et al. 2007). Environmental
factors (biotic and abiotic) influence their major role in struc-
1
Pakistan Museum of Natural History, Garden Avenue, Shakarparian, turing the spatial and temporal occurrence of a fish species in a
Islamabad, Pakistan certain habitat (Jung and Houde 2003; Azevedo et al. 2007).
2
Centre of Excellence in Marine Biology, University of Karachi, However, recent studies which have explored that occurrence
Karachi, Pakistan or abundance can be influenced by a variety of ecological
 Mar Biodiv

processes as well as evolutionary and geographical circum- mydas) and four species of mangrove including Avicennia
stances (Azevedo et al. 2007). To describe fish assemblages marina, Aegiceras corniculatum, Ceriops tagal, and
with their explanatory factors, some studies have focused on Rhizophora mucronata inhabit this system, although, due to
environmental influences on assemblage structure whereas tampering of the environment and overexploitation by man,
others have only described seasonal and spatial patterns eight mangrove species were previously reported to occur in
(Azevedo et al. 2007). As shallow coastal waters and creek the Indus delta (Mukhtar and Hannan 2012). Recently, the
areas are more vulnerable to environmental degradation and Indus Delta was proposed as a Marine Protected Area
habitat alteration, fish assemblage studies with such parame- (MPA) by Siddiqui et al. (2008) owing to its peculiar habitat
ters are very important. These productive areas are generally and flora and fauna and to acknowledge the importance of this
in stress mainly due to growing human demands, ultimately Delta by the Government of Pakistan. Three sites in the Indus
creating pressure, causing declines in fish production and Delta, i.e. Keti Bunder, Shah Bunder and Cut Manarki Chach
exerting a continuous threat for the entire marine ecosystem were declared as Wildlife Sanctuaries in 1972.
(Reum and Essington 2011). The major populations of fishing communities in the Indus
The significance of mangrove swamps for the occurrence Delta are settled in the Keti Bandar area. There are four major
of fish species/populations varies with respect to several envi- creeks in the Keti Bundar area including Hajamro, Khobar,
ronmental conditions including the availability of freshwater, Chann, and Kangri. Keti Bandar is an important fish landing
seasonal variations in temperature and changes in water level/ site and has great ecological and economic significance due to
tidal variations of the entire ecosystem (Faunce and Serafy associated mangrove populations and its ideal grounds for
2006; Blaber et al. 2000). A number of finfish species declared fishing practices. More than US$100 million per annum are
in the IUCN Red Data List inhabit mangrove-associated en- earned through fishery production from these ecosystems
vironments ranging from least concerned to critically endan- (Saifullah 1997). In spite of the overwhelming importance of
gered species, including the critically endangered Fin-joined the ecologically rich ecosystems of Keti Bandar, there is an
Goby (Gobulus birdsong), the endangered Roughnose almost complete lack of information regarding the ichthyofau-
Stingray (Pastinachus solocirostris), the near-threatened na and their seasonal occurrences. However, a comprehensive
Mangrove Whipray (Himantura granulate) and many more. study based on 3 years sampling of the pelagic fish fauna of
Fish inhabiting mangrove swamps have to cope with vari- the Korangi-Phitti creek systems was carried out by Khatoon
ations in tidal habitat in which the mangroves are alternately (2006), who recorded 86 species of fishes in 57 genera and 35
exposed and inundated by tides which cause significant families. Other sporadic work on the occurrence of finfish
changes in the associated fish fauna (Shahraki et al. 2016; species in the saltwater creeks of Sindh include Ayub and
Sheaves 2005; Rooker and Dennis 1991). Zakaria and Ahmed (2001), Ahmed and Abbas (1999, 2000), Ahmed
Rajpar (2015) assessed the faunal diversity of Marudu Bay (1980), Ahmad (1988), Ahmad et al. (1984) and Iqbal et al.
mangrove forest, Sabah, Malaysia, and found a number of (1999). The objectives of the present study were to determine:
associated fauna including 36 fish species. The mangrove for- (1) the finfish community structure (diversity, biomass and
est of the Persian Gulf is also included in the arid zone and size-related distribution patterns), (2) the effects of spatial
faces scarcity of freshwater and occasional rains that have and temporal variations on fish populations within dense and
already restricted mangrove species diversity to 2, i.e. thin mangrove forests, and (3) the role of environmental pa-
Avicennia marina and Rhizophora mucronata) (Shahraki rameters in structuring the fish species community in the
et al. 2016). Laroche et al. (1997). Weis et al. (2009) has also Indus Delta creek areas? Fishing gear efficiency was not the
examined mangrove fish assemblages in the western Indian objective of the present studies and hence was not evaluated.
Ocean.
Pakistan is located at the northern boundary of the Arabian
Sea and is bestowed with more than a 1000-km-long coastline Materials and methods
under the jurisdiction of two provinces, Sindh and
Balochistan. On the southeast coastline of Sindh there is a Study area
large fan-shaped delta known as the Indus Delta (a Ramsar
site in the Arabian coastal biogeographic region), that covers The study was conducted in the Keti Bandar, which is a well-
an area of about 41,440 km2 (16,000 square miles) supporting known fish landing site in the Indus Delta. Mangroves cover
the largest arid mangrove forest in the world (Hogarth 2007). about 160,000 ha of the Indus Delta where a high-salt-tolerant
There are 17 major and innumerable minor creeks emerging species of mangrove Avicennia marina dominates, occupying
from the Indus Delta system. A number of internationally about 95% of the tree cover (Farooqui et al. 2013; Barkati and
protected animals and plants are part of this ecosystem. Rahman 2005). Low availability of freshwater from the River
Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins (Sousa chinensis), Bottle- Indus, low and irregular precipitation and high humidity round
nosed Dolphins (Tursiops sp.), Green Turtles (Chelonia the year makes the Indus Delta mangroves the largest arid
Mar Biodiv

mangrove forest in the world. Mangrove forest in the area can out at sunrise (dawn) the following day (Acosta and
be categorized into dense mangrove, normal mangrove and Appledoorn 1995). In the narrow creek, a tidal trap net
sparse vegetation (Ansari 1987). The bottom soil of the man- (locally known as Dora Jall) was operated to collect fish
grove swamps is fine alluvium derived from land drainage and samples on five occasions (from February 2011 to
erosion (Barkati and Rahman 2005). July 2011). The tidal trap net was used locally to target
Generally, fishes are indiscriminately caught by the the fishes in a narrow channel. This net was installed
local fishermen through the operation of purse-seine during low tide at the mouth of the channel with the help
nets (locally known Katra nets) and the installation of of two bamboo poles fixed at the extreme end of the
large estuarine set-bag nets (locally known Bhola mouth opening. Nylon (multifilament, polyamide) netting
Gujja). Very small, and illegal, mesh sizes (3.75– 8–10 m height, having a length more than the channel
7.5 mm) are used in the netting of these gears mouth with a mesh size of 40 mm (stretched) was usually
(Waryani et al. 2015) which retain every life form that used and was also attached with upper and lower ropes.
enters in the range of these fishing gears including ju- During installation of the tidal trap net, both sides of the
venile and undersized fishes (Ahmad and Hasan 1997). upper and lower ropes were attached to the bamboo poles
In the post-monsoon season, around 100–200 beach and netting, with the ropes between the poles submerged
seine and estuarine bag nets are regularly operated in in the mud. After initial installation of the net during low
the surrounding areas of Keti Bandar. tide, the fishermen waited for the extreme high tide and
To study the area, two different types of ecological location then tightened the upper rope. The lower rope with the
were selected. One sampling station was located in a narrow netting is always fixed to the bottom whereas only the
creek with thick mangrove forest (24°09′25.387″N, 067°25′ upper rope with netting was tightened on the upper por-
24.42″E; near Hajamro creek) and the second was in a wide tion of poles. The fishermen ensured that the height of the
creek (24°04′51.159″N, 067°26′26.008″E; near Khobar netting remained higher than the extreme high tide.
creek) with thin patches of mangrove forest along its banks During low tide, all trapped fishes that have entered the
(Fig. 1). channel were harvested. The tidal trap net was best oper-
ated during spring tide when the channel at low tides is
Sampling methods maximally drained.

Environmental parameters Sample processing and data analysis

Environmental parameters including salinity (optical refrac- All the fish samples were counted, wet-weighed (in g and
tometer; model S-Mill-E), temperature (glass mercury ther- measured for standard length (in mm). The total catch/
mometer), dissolved oxygen (portable meter; model biomass of each sampling month was also recorded (in kg).
MO128) and pH (pH measuring strips) were recorded during Species identification was done mostly with help of the fish
each sampling. The pH values remained at approximately 7 identification sheets of Bianchi (1985) and Fisher and Bianchi
throughout the sampling and were not included in the data (1984). Diversity indices (Shannon and Weaver 1963) and
analysis. evenness were calculated for the 17 months to explore chang-
es in fish composition using PAST software. One-way
Fish sampling ANOVA tests with post-hoc t tests was performed (in Excel
2013) for the number of species, number of individuals and
Monthly fish samples were collected from two selected biomass. The assemblage patterns of abundant fish species
creeks of Keti Bandar during 17 months, from February (counts of individuals) in relation to environmental parameters
2010 to July 2011. To represent the maximum demersal (salinity, temperature and dissolved oxygen) and fishing
fish composition, two types of fishing gears were used for grounds (narrow creek and wide creek) were analyzed through
the sampling. For sampling in the wide creek, a gillnet canonical correspondence snalysis (CCA) in XLSTAT
was operated ionce each month from February 2010 to v.2014.1.04. Prior to the CCA, the statistical significance of
January 2011. Gillnets (monofilament, plastic) of three each of three variables was tested by a Monte Carlo permuta-
mesh sizes (39, 60, and 90 mm), each with a length of tion test (Bonaca and Lipej 2005). Only the most abundant
60 m having 80 meshes in depth and 0.7 hanging ratio species (28; Table 1) having more than 0.66% cumulative
were used. All gillnets of different mesh sizes were joined relative abundance were considered in the CCA. For ease of
together to form a single sheet during operation. Gillnets the representation of each species on the ordination map, a
were set parallel to the bank of the creek during low tide specific code was allocated to each of the 28 species by
in shallow water. The setting time of the gillnets was selecting the first two letters from the genus and the first two
usually before sunset (dusk) and the hauling was carried letters from the specific name.
 Mar Biodiv

Fig. 1 Fish sampling sites at Keti Bandar, Sindh Coast, Pakistan, showing the thick mangrove patch in a narrow creek and the thin mangrove patch in a
wide creek

Results temperatures of 17 and 19 °C were recorded in the winter

season in December 2010 and February 2011, respectively.
Environmental parameters The maximum water temperature of 32 °C was recorded in
June 2010. The recorded dissolved oxygen values in the sur-
The sampling data of 17 months for the environmental vari- face water ranged from 10.0 to 16.0 mg/lit (mean 12.7,
ables including salinity, temperature, and dissolved oxygen SD.1.8, p < 0.0001); the minimum values were recorded in
are represented in Fig. 2. The salinity values recorded at all March 2010 and maximum in May 2011. There were no sig-
sampling locations ranged from 10 to 42 ppm (mean 35, SD nificant correlation observed among the environmental pa-
9.3, p < 0.0001). The minimum salinity (10 ppm) was record- rameters except between temperature and dissolved oxygen
ed in September 2010 while very high salinities (42 ppm) (Pearson correlation 0.52, p < 0.03, r2 0.27).
were noted during February–May 2010 and January 2011.
The salinity remained around 40 ppm during most of the year Fish assemblage and biomass
while the influx of freshwater from Indus River causes low
salinity (10–15 ppm) in the Indus Delta during August 2010 to A total number of 84 finfish species were recorded from Keti
September 2010 (Fig. 2). The area experiences longer summer Bandar creek area, corresponding to 2,274 individuals in 60
season (March to October) usually with high temperatures and genera and 29 families, and weighing 216,799 g (Table 2). A
shorter winter season (November to February). The observed minimum number of eight species were recorded in December
water temperature during the study period ranged from 17 to 2010 and a maximum number of 32 species were recorded in
32 °C (mean 26.1, SD 4.4, p < 0.0001). Minimum April 2010 (average 21 ± 5.8). The total number of individuals
Mar Biodiv

Table 1 Information on the most

abundant species with their Most abundant species Species Standard length minimum– Average length Standard
specific code (for CCA analysis in code maximum (mm) (mm) error
Fig. 5), maximum and minimum
standard lengths, mean and Acanthopagrus ACAR 73–185 122.65 ±1.00
standard errors arabicus
Acanthopagrus berda ACBE 100–212 130.56 ±4.88
Anodontostoma ANCH 70–136 95.77 ±0.89
chacunda
Arius maculatus ARMA 110–365 216 ±3.13
Brachirus orientalis BROR 93–310 180.49 ±8.09
Chelon parsia CHPA 98–171 131.44 ±4.95
Chelon subviridis CHSU 70–218 159.15 ±4.14
Cynoglossus arel CYAR 140–288 209.44 ±7.48
Cynoglossus CYPU 97–185 129.28 ±2.38
puncticeps
Daysciena albida DAAL 116–345 229.93 ±4.35
Eleotheronema ELTE 100–324 170.83 ±5.70
tetradactylus
Ilisha megaloptera ILME 100–173 131.55 ±1.50
Johnius belangerii JOBE 90–184 128.61 ±1.88
Johnius sina JOSI 87–181 123.87 ±3.11
Kathala axilaris KAAX 73–190 123.1 ±3.23
Leiognathus equulus LEEQ 50–122 76.90 ±1.43
Lutjanaus johnii LUJO 77–219 168.52 ±2.06
Nematalosa nasus NENA 113–188 155.77 ±2.93
Osteogeneiosus OSMI 135–277 178.67 ±6.12
militaris
Platycephalus PLIN 170–505 284.68 ±11.99
induicus
Plicofollis platystomus PLPL 194–268 220.4 ±5.50
Plicofollis tenuispinis PLTE 86–134 114.94 ±3.11
Pomadasys kaakan POKA 63–157 122.92 ±2.69
Scatophagus argus SCAR 49–101 77.93 ±1.4
Sillago sihama SISI 108–192 166.17 ±2.81
Sparidentex SPJA 140–265 199.56 ±4.27
jamalensis
Tenualosa illisha TEIL 141–256 173.66 ±10.59
Thryssa hamiltonii THHA 72–215 149.88 ±2.03

in a month varied between 24 (December 2010) and 277

(November 2010) with an average of 146 ± 74.6. The total
catch/biomass in each sampling month ranged from 3.0 kg
(December 2010) to 31.46 kg (August 2010) (Fig. 3).
The monthly data including the number of species, number
of individuals and biomass were statistically significant. One-
way ANOVA for 17 months data among three datasets con-
taining the number of species (diversity), number of individ-
uals (abundance) and biomass were found to be overall sig-
nificant (p < 0.0001) ,while post-hoc t tests (two-sample
assuming equal variances) between all three datasets were also
found to be significant (p < 0.0001–0.013). Number of spe-
Fig. 2 Observations of environmental parameters including salinity,
temperature and dissolved oxygen during monthly fish sampling in the
cies, number of specimens and total biomass, recorded for
Keti Bandar from February 2010 to January 2011 in a wide creek and 12 months sampling in the wide creek from February 2010
from February 2011 to July 2011 in a narrow creek to January 2011, showed a sharp decline in December 2010
 Mar Biodiv

Table 2 Recorded finfish species

from two creeks of Keti Bandar Family Species Number Biomass Relative Relative WC(+)
from February 2010 to July 2011 (g) abundance biomass SC(*)

Ariidae Plicofollis dussumieri 4 192.48 0.18 0.09 +

Ariidae Plicofollis tenuispinis 16 471.67 0.70 0.22 +
Ariidae Netuma thalassina 15 887.61 0.66 0.41 +
Ariidae Arius arius 14 1190.77 0.62 0.55 +
Ariidae Osteogeneiosus 32 1549.64 1.41 0.71 +
militaris
Ariidae Plicofollis platystomus 21 3104.67 0.92 1.43 +
Ariidae Arius maculatus 112 23,714.81 4.93 10.94 +
Belonidae Strongylura 2 129.78 0.09 0.06 +
strongylura
Carangidae Scomberoides 1 18.57 0.04 0.01 *
commersonnianus
Carangidae Carangoides 1 20 0.04 0.01 +
praeustus
Carangidae Caranx sexfasciatus 3 232 0.13 0.11 +
Centropomidae Lates calcarifer 3 1258 0.13 0.58 +*
Clupeidae Hilsa kelee 1 23.28 0.04 0.01 +
Clupeidae Sardinella sindensis 1 74 0.04 0.03 +
Clupeidae Tenualosa ilisha 15 2296.48 0.66 1.06 +
Clupeidae Nematalosa nasus 36 3257.29 1.58 1.50 +*
Clupeidae Anodontostoma 142 3973.1 6.24 1.83 +*
chacunda
Cynoglossidae Cynoglossus dubius 1 61.42 0.04 0.03 +
Cynoglossidae Cynoglossus 14 828.57 0.62 0.38 +*
bilineatus
Cynoglossidae Cynoglossus 42 879.89 1.85 0.41 +*
puncticeps
Cynoglossidae Cynoglossus arel 29 1870.12 1.28 0.86 +
Dasyatidae Himantura walga 1 49.65 0.04 0.02 +
Dasyatidae Himantura bleekeri 1 251 0.04 0.12 +
Drepaneidae Drepane longimena 1 39.54 0.04 0.02 +
Engraulidae Coilia dussumieri 1 16.28 0.04 0.01 +
Engraulidae Thryssa setirostris 3 55 0.13 0.03 +
Engraulidae Thryssa mystax 7 190 0.31 0.09 +
Engraulidae Thryssa hamiltonii 193 9098.73 8.49 4.20 +*
Gerreidae Gerres limbatus 6 135.48 0.26 0.06 +*
Haemulidae Pomadasys stridence 1 20.42 0.04 0.01 +
Haemulidae Pomadasys kaakan 72 4550.91 3.17 2.10 +*
Harpadontidae Harpadon nehereus 12 1184 0.53 0.55 +
Lactariidae Lactarius lactarius 2 77 0.09 0.04 +
Leiognathidae Eubleekeria splendens 3 157 0.13 0.07 +
Leiognathidae Karalla dussumieri 9 281 0.40 0.13 +
Leiognathidae Leiognathus equulus 77 1298.51 3.39 0.60 +*
Lutjanidae Lutjanus russelli 1 20 0.04 0.01 *
Lutjanidae Lutjanus 9 1402.03 0.40 0.65 *
argentimaculatus
Lutjanidae Lutjanus johnii 134 21,414.65 5.89 9.88 +*
Mugilidae Valamugil speigleri 2 37 0.09 0.02 *
Mugilidae Chelon macrolepis 1 41.3 0.04 0.02 +
Mugilidae Chelon planiceps 1 171 0.04 0.08 +
Mugilidae Liza carinata 7 242.5 0.31 0.11 *
Mugilidae Moolgarda cunnesius 4 280 0.18 0.13 *
Mugilidae Chelon melinopterus 7 623.76 0.31 0.29 +*
Mugilidae Chelon parsia 16 838.06 0.70 0.39 +*
Mugilidae Ellochelon vaigiensis 10 1612 0.44 0.74 +*
Mugilidae Chelon subviridis 71 6855.79 3.12 3.16 +*
Muraenesocidae Muraenesox cinereus 1 254 0.04 0.12 +
Paralichthyidae Pseudorhombus 1 65 0.04 0.03 +*
elevatus
Paralichthyidae Pseudorhombus arsius 3 337.82 0.13 0.16 +
Platycephalidae Grammoplites scaber 6 400.69 0.26 0.18 +
Platycephalidae Grammoplites 9 636.45 0.40 0.29 +*
suppositus
Platycephalidae Cociella crocodila 13 2663 0.57 1.23 +
Platycephalidae Platycephalus indicus 35 10,272.28 1.54 4.74 +*
Mar Biodiv

Table 2 (continued)
Family Species Number Biomass Relative Relative WC(+)
(g) abundance biomass SC(*)

Polynemidae Filimanus similis 4 134.43 0.18 0.06 +

Polynemidae Leptomelanosoma 2 993 0.09 0.46 +
indicum
Polynemidae Eleutheronema 47 5149.5 2.07 2.38 +*
tetradactylum
Pristigasteridae Pellona ditchela 3 69 0.13 0.03 +
Pristigasteridae Ilisha megaloptera 117 4130.09 5.15 1.91 +*
Pristigasteridae Ilisha striatula 11 271.96 0.48 0.13 *
Scatophagidae Scatophagus argus 83 2700.07 3.65 1.25 *
Sciaenidae Otolithes ruber 2 277 0.09 0.13 +
Sciaenidae Nibea soldado 7 737 0.31 0.34 +
Sciaenidae Paranibea 4 854.5 0.18 0.39 +
semiluctuosa
Sciaenidae Protonibea diacanthus 1 1350 0.04 0.62 +
Sciaenidae Johnius sina 48 2147.45 2.11 0.99 +*
Sciaenidae Johnius belangerii 88 3912.55 3.87 1.80 +*
Sciaenidae Kathala axillaris 85 4347.44 3.74 2.01 +*
Sciaenidae Daysciena albida 97 26,327.9 4.27 12.14 +*
Serranidae Epinephelus coioides 4 1187.66 0.18 0.55 +
Serranidae Epinephelus tauvina 5 2073 0.22 0.96 *
Sillaginidae Sillago sihama 44 2295.82 1.93 1.06 +*
Soleidae Solea ovata 4 62 0.18 0.03 +
Soleidae Solea elongata 3 280 0.13 0.13 +
Soleidae Brachirus orientalis 39 7314.73 1.72 3.37 +*
Sparidae Acanthopagrus sheim 2 384 0.09 0.18 +*
Sparidae Sparidentex hasta 4 875 0.18 0.40 +
Sparidae Acanthopagrus berda 76 6061.68 3.34 2.80 +*
Sparidae Sparidentex 46 13945 2.02 6.43 +*
jamalensis
Sparidae Acanthopagrus 207 16,606.3 9.10 7.66 +*
arabicus
Synanceiidae Pseudosynanceia 7 324.55 0.31 0.15 +
melanostigma
Terapontidae Terapon jarbua 4 80.6 0.18 0.04 +*
Trichiuridae Lepturacanthus savala 5 301 0.22 0.14 +*

WC Wide creek, SC, Narrow creek

and a rising trend from August 2010 to November 2010. The Species diversity
5 months sampling in the narrow creek from February 2011 to
July 2011 (sampling was not done in June 2011) showed a In April 2010, a total of 240 individuals in 32 species were
nearly smooth trend in number of species, specimens and total recorded for which the Shannon–Weiner diversity index (H)
biomass. was highest (3.034), whereas la ower value (1.76) was

Fig. 3 Details of monthly fish

sampling in the Keti Bandar from
February 2010 to January 2011 in
a wide creek and from February
2011 to July 2011 in a narrow
creek showing the number of
species/biomass (in kg) on the
right axis and number of
specimens on the left axis
 Mar Biodiv

observed in July 2011. The fish diversity was generally higher 9.1% was of Acanthopagrus arabicus which contributed with
in the wide creek compared to the narrow creek area, except in a maximum of 207 individuals. The overall relative biomass
April 2011 (H = 2.49). The maximum value for evenness was from 0.01 to 12.14%. The relative biomass of species that
(e^H/S) was recorded in December 2010; where the recorded appeared just once ranged between 0.01 and 0.62%, whereas
number of species was lowest and the specimens were evenly the highest relative biomass of 12.14% was of Daysciena
distributed among the species. Generally, uniform evenness albida which contributed 26,328 g to the total landing weight.
values were encountered in the narrow creek as opposed to
fluctuating values in the wide creek area (Fig. 4).
Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA)
Correlations between environmental parameters
and species composition The CCA analysis revealed that finfish species were linearly
related to the sites/environmental variables and this was sig-
No significant correlations were found between environmen- nificant (p < 0.007). The CCA matched 43% of constrained
tal parameters and species composition except among salinity inertia (linearly correlated with the sites/environmental vari-
and biomass (Pearson correlation 0.55, p < 0.022, r2 0.3) and ables) and 57% unconstrained inertia (linearly uncorrelated
temperature and number of specimens (Pearson correlation with the sites/environmental variables). Results of eigenvector
0.49, p < 0.046, r2 0.24). There was also a correlation between analysis of four axes (F1, F2, F3 and F4) are shown in Table 3,
number of species and number of specimens (Pearson corre- while the ordination map is represented in Fig. 5.
lation 0.5, p > 0.039, r2 0.25) and between number of speci- The species collected from August to December 2010 were
mens and biomass (Pearson correlation 0.58, p > 0.015, r2 grouped on the upper half of the F1 axis and showed correla-
0.33). tions with the low salinities (10–38 ppm) and low tempera-
tures (17–30 °C); dissolved oxygen (11–14.8) had no signifi-
Family–wise abundance and biomass cant variation. On the lower portion of the F1 axis, samples
collected during March–July 2010 are reflected. Species in
The most abundant families recorded in the Keti Bandar area these months were correlated with high salinities (35–
during the entire study period are as follows: the family 42 ppm) and high temperatures (25–32 °C). The correlation
Sparidae had the highest abundance (335 individuals; between species and dissolved oxygen (10–15) was nearly
37,872 g), followed by the Sciaenidae (332 individuals; similar as in the upper portion of F1 axis. The environmental
39,953 g), Ariidae (214 individuals; 31,112 g), Engraulidae variables, such as salinity (38–40 ppm), temperature (19–
204 individuals; 9360.01 g), Clupeidae (195 individuals; 30 °C) and dissolved oxygen (11–16), recorded in February–
9624.15 g), Lutjanidae (144 individuals; 22,837 g), July 2011 were on the higher ranges on the F2 axis. The
Pristigasteridae (131 individuals; 4471.05 g), Mugilidae (119 species collected from August to December 2010 showed cor-
individuals; 10,701 g) and Platycephalidae (67 individuals; relations with the low salinities (10–38 ppm) and low temper-
13,972 g). Percent relative abundance and relative biomass atures (17–30 °C); dissolved oxygen (11–14.8 mg/L) had no
of each species are depicted in Table 2 and Figs. 4, 5). The significant variation. Species in these months correlated with
overall relative abundance ranged between 0.04 and 9.1%. high salinities (35–42 ppm) and high temperatures (25–
The species represented just once contributed 0.04% in rela- 32 °C), but correlations with the species and the dissolved
tive abundance, whereas the highest relative abundance of oxygen (10–15 mg/L) was nearly similar to those of the sam-
pling months from August to December 2010 (Fig. 5)
The 28 most abundant species were considered in the CCA
because they were more likely to reveal structural patterns in
the fish assemblages. The average sizes of 28 dominant spe-
cies in the collection ranged from 76.9 to 284.6 mm (SL),
consisting mostly of juveniles (Table 1).
All the catfishes of the family Ariidae were only collected
from the wide creek. They were abundant in size ranging from
juveniles to mature and several specimens were even fully
mature. Arius maculatus (216 mm SL) was abundant in
May, August and October 2010; Osteogeneiosus militaris
(178.6 mm SL) in April 2010; Plicofollis platystomus
Fig. 4 Shannon–Weiner diversity index and evenness of monthly fish
(220 mm SL) in August and November 2010; and
sampling in the Keti Bandar from February 2010 to January 2011 in a P. tenuispinis (114.9 mm SL) was found to be abundant in
wide creek and from February 2011 to July 2011 in a narrow creek April 2010.
Mar Biodiv

Fig. 5 Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) ordination map of the different sampling locations (wide creek, narrow creek). Sampling
28 most abundant species with respect to environmental parameters and months from March to July 2010 are reflected on the lower part of the
sampling locations. Sites representing the sampling months (1–12 in the F1 axis. Sampling months from August to December 2010 are grouped
wide creek and 13–17 in the narrow creek); objects are the species codes on the upper part of the F1 axis. The environmental variables are
as mentioned in Table 1; variables are the environmental parameters reflected by the higher ranges (salinity 38–42 ppm, temperature 25–
(dissolved oxygen, salinity and temperature); categories are the two 32 °C, dissolved oxygen 11–16 mg/l) of the F2 axis

The two species of family Sparidae, Acanthopagrus are generally considered as highly productive zones and the
arabicus and A. berda, were mostly (90%) caught from the finfish species have definite associations with the specific
narrow creek. Sub-adult specimens of these species were re- estuarine/creek environments (Blaber et al. 1995; Wallace
corded in catches from February to July 2011. Another sparid et al. 1984), which is in agreement with what this study has
fish, Sparidentex jamalensis, was mostly caught (95%) in revealed with respect to wide and narrow creeks. In the current
large sizes (average size 199.5 mm SL) from the wide creek study, we selected two mangrove areas, one with dense and
during August and October 2010. The species of the family other with thin mangrove cover. Fish were caught with gillnets
Sciaenidae, Daysciena albida, was also caught abundantly and a tidal trap net to investigate the role of temporal
(98%) in large sizes (average 229.9 mm SL) during August variations and environmental conditions on the fish
and October 2010 from the wide creek. Table 1 shows details assemblages and biomass in the Indus Delta creek area.
of abundant species, specific codes and length ranges, where- Shahraki et al. (2016) investigated the role of temporal varia-
as relative abundance, relative biomass and their occurrence in tions and creek elevation in shaping fish community structures
the narrow creek, the wide creek or in both areas is presented in four intertidal mangrove creeks in the Strait of Hormuz,
in Table 2. Qeshm Island, Iran (western Indian Ocean). They used
block-net sampling (15–25 m in length, 4 m high, 12 mm
stretched mesh size) and showed that the fish population struc-
Discussion ture (diversity and biomass) is influenced temporally by three
factors, tides, diel variations, and seasons. However, their
This study was conducted to explore the diversity and distri- study showed less fish diversity (29 species dominated by
bution of demersal finfish species and to assess the spatial and Mugilidae, which constituted 62% of biomass and 41% by
temporal variations in species composition with environmen- abundance) compared to the present study, although both
tal parameters of two selected creeks. Creek/estuarine areas studies were carried out in arid mangrove forests sharing
 Mar Biodiv

Table 3 Results of the main ordination for the canonical agreement with other previous studies conducted in creeks
correspondence analysis
in, for example, Bangladesh (98 species, Naff estuary;
Inertia Permutation test Chowdhury et al. 2011), SW Madagascar (60 species;
Laroche et al. (1997) and Pakistan (86 species, Korangi-
Value Percentage Permutations 1000 Phitti Creek; Khatoon 2006). The higher numbers of species
Total 2.884 100.000 Pseudo F 2.050
reported by Khatoon (2006) from the Korangi-Phitti creek
Constrained 1.232 42.708 p-value 0.007
was probably due to the fact that the sampling was carried
Unconstrained 1.652 57.292 alpha 0.05
out over a period of 3 years and included mud skipper species,
Narrow creek −0.470 0.170 −0.225 −0.179
which were not considered in the present study. Although no
clear structuring effect of salinity, temperature and turbidity on
Eigenvalues and percentages of inertia the assemblage of fishes has been reported (Laroche et al.
1997), the CCA analysis conducted in the present study
F1 F2 F3 F4
Eigenvalues 0.593 0.274 0.214 0.151 depicted a correlation between relative abundance or species
Constrained inertia (%) 48.118 22.239 17.402 12.241 composition and salinity and temperature in relation to wider
Cumulative % 48.118 70.357 87.759 100.000
and narrow creeks. In addition, the effects of temporal and
Total inertia 20.550 9.498 7.432 5.228
special variations on fish assemblages were apparent at both
Cumulative % 20.550 30.048 37.480 42.708
sampling sites. More than 68% of fish catches were recorded
from the wide creek compared with around 32% from the
narrow creek area. Higher fish catches from the wide creek
Regression coefficients may be due to intensive sampling (12 months) as compared to
F1 F2 F3 F4 5 months sampling in the narrow creek. Our study showed
Salinity −0.161 −0.719 0.728 0.633 differences in species with respect to location of collection site
Temperature 0.123 −0.835 −0.435 −0.669 (i.e. wide and deeper creek vs. narrow and shallow creek). For
Dissolved oxygen 0.041 0.243 1.295 −0.037 example, family Arridae comprising five species showed a
Wide creek 0.470 −0.170 0.225 0.179 close association with the wide creek area and was not repre-
Narrow creek −0.470 0.170 −0.225 −0.179 sented in the narrow creek samples. Likewise, Dayscina
albida and Sparidentex jamalensis were abundant in the wide
creek as opposed to Pomadasys Kaakan, Lutjanus johnii and
common mangrove species (Avicenna marina and Acanthopagrus arabicus which were abundant in the narrow
Rhizophora mucronata). Contrary to the results of Shahraki creek. Similarly, variations in the species composition and
et al. (2016), we found Mugilidae as the most speciose family, richness have been attributed to fishing efforts, type of fishing
but the highest relative abundance and biomass were recorded gear used and the duration of sampling, and such data do not
for Scienidae (RA = 14.5, RB = 18.4) and Sparidae (RA = 14.7, always characterize the fauna adequately (Laroche et al.
RB = 14.5). 1997).
Hossain et al. (2012) recorded 53 species in the Meghna Patterns of environmental variations influenced the species
river estuary (Bangladesh), of which Oxyurichthys microlepis, composition (from 8 to 32), number of individuals (from 24 to
Hemiarlus sona, Arius thalassinus, Batrachocephalus mino 277) and biomass (from 3 to 30 kg) during the 17 months
and Arius caelatus were the major species constituting more sampling. Sampling months from August to November 2010
than 6% for both spatio- and temporal scales. They found that reflected high species diversity, number of specimens and fish
water temperature and rainfall were the major influencing fac- biomass; this period also coincides well with the peak fishing
tors for species distribution. In our present study, we also season in Pakistan where maximum fishing activities and fish
found members of the family Ariidae (Plicofollis platystomus, landings have already been reported (Hayat 2003). Similarly,
Osteogeneiosus militaris and Arius maculatus) in the wide during the summer monsoon (May–September), upwelling
creek in abundance, whereas none was collected from the occurs off the Oman coast and low-oxygenated cool water is
narrow creek. We noted that water temperature was the prime up-sloped on the continental shelf of Pakistan which probably
important factor in shaping the temporal and spatial compel the fish fauna to move towards near-shore shallow
distribution of the ichthyofauna. Mandal et al. (2013) studied waters (Rangoonwala and Ahmed 1999). Harpadon nehereus
ichthyofaunal diversity in a mangrove-based estuary of the generally inhabit deeper off-shore waters and have been re-
Sundarbans mangrove forest, India. They noted the occur- ported to gather as large shoals in deltas of rivers to feed
rence of about 267 species of fishes. They also reported that (Yamada et al. 1995). This species appeared in our collection
juveniles of 82 species had declined significantly due to wild in July and August 2010 from the wide creek area and has
harvest of lucrative prawn seeds. The present study reports 84 been reported to be caught mainly from the Sindh coast and is
fish species from the Indus Delta creek area which is in being overexploited (Kalhoro et al. 2013). The bottom
Mar Biodiv

substrate/structure may also influence the occurrence and practiced in other countries, to ensure the conservation
composition of this species (Garces et al. 2006). Sciaenids of the marine environment and natural heritage (Siddiqui
and sparids are abundant on muddy bottoms and in estuaries et al. 2008), and to stop or minimize losses incurred
(Blaber 1997; Garces et al. 2006). A similar scenario is also through irresponsible fishery practices.
revealed in our data as the sciaenids constitute the highest
biomass and sparids were caught in the highest numbers.
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smaller-sized fish (e.g., A. lableatus) occurred in mangrove-
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