We explored fish fauna Ganga and Yamuna river in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand, to establish the molecular taxonomy database. A total of 133 samples were collected from various sampling sites along the entire stretch of rivers in district Uttarkashi. A region of cytochrome c-oxidase unit I (COI) gene (655 bp) was amplified using PCR and sequenced (DNA Barcoded). All the sequences have been uploaded into the NCBI GenBank (accession number assigned). Analysis of data generated showed that these 133 samples belonged to 22 species of 4 orders, 14 genera and 8 families. The genetic variability (K2P distance) distribution analysis was also carried out. The average mean distance of 22 species is 0.219 with 0.014 standard error. The mean genetic distance between 22 species ranged from 0.010%-0.362% while the mean genetic distance within the species ranged from 0.0006%-0.0048%. The lowest pairwise genetic distance observed in Schizothorax sinuatus and Schizothorax progastus i.e. 0.010% with 0.003 standard error indicating a closer phylogenetic relationship between Schizothorax sinuatus and Schizothorax progastus than other species which was confirmed by the genetic distance data. Maximum divergence were observed between Danio devario and Channa gachua i.e. 0.362% with 0.028 standard error. The maximum sequence divergence within the species is observed in Barilius bendelisis with 0.0048% while minimum sequence divergence is observed in Tor putitora with 0.0006 of cyprinidae family. Our data suggests that there is high inter-specific sequence divergence as compared to intra-specific sequence divergence and also conclude that COI sequencing (barcoding) was found to be suitable for the identification of fresh water fish species.

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It is universally accepted that humans are having a major impact on every aspect of earth's ecological habitats because humans are engaged in urbanization and anthropogenic activity. All the major watershed areas of Garhwal Himalayan region (Alaknanda, Bhagarathi/Ganges and Yamuna) have witnessed urbanization and anthropogenic activity. One hydroelectric power project (330 MW) is located on river Alaknanda at Srinagar Garhwal in Garhwal Himalaya. The project started during the mid1990s by GVK group and completed around 2014. A long term study on fecundity of Schizothorax sp. at Srinagar Garhwal was carried out between the years 1996 to 1998. This study was compared to other recent studies on same species at same location between the years 2016-19. This period covers the entire timeline of construction phase to commissioning phase of this hydroelectric power project. Various parameters with reference to breeding biology and fecundity were measured from Schizothorax sp. Mature specimens ranging in average weight from 384g to 1482g and average length from 320mm to 544mm were observed. Weight of ovary in the fish fluctuated from 38g to 219g. Fecundity of samples varied from a minimum to 3009 to a maximum of 13649 to 13840. The mathematical relationship of fecundity with other variables viz: fish length, fish weight, ovary weight and ovary length, and between fish weight and ovary weight and ovary length was calculated. The computed relationships were found to be highly significant especially between fecundity and fish length (r=0.940, p<0.01), fecundity and fish weight (r=0.937, p<0.01) and fecundity and ovary volume (r=0.913, p>0.01). The values of regression coefficient (b) and correlation coefficient (r) were computed separately. The data when compared to recent data of other authors reveals that Schizothorax sp. have sustained their fecundity due to their unique adaptive skill but have shifted their breeding grounds slightly. This shifting of breeding ground might be due to anthropogenic activity. Further studies would be needed to see if the breeding grounds are also restored.

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