Mass larval population of the captive bred stock of Ompok pabda was reared successfully for the first time in India. In order to evaluate the increase of survival and growth rate of the larvae, an ex-situ experiment was continued for about 28 days with the supply of different types of food by maintaining the water quality at standard level (water velocity = 1.01 -1.26 m/s, temperature = 24.0 -29.5°C, DO 2 = 4.8 -6.4 ppm, CO 2 = 1.2 -2.9 ppm, pH = 7.3 -8.5, DOM = 0.94 -2.23 ppm and HCO 3 = 120 -176 ppm) under a specific cycling water-flow system to the larvae. The experiment revealed significantly higher (91.72 %, r = 0.987, P \ 0.01) survival and growth rate of the larvae, when zooplankton along with tubifex were offered as feed. The impact of other feeds such as tubifex (72.28 %, r = 0.822, P \ 0.05), zooplankton (73.42 %, r = 0.762, P \ 0.05), egg custard (56.80 %) and compound feed (34.28 %) were gradually less. Specific growth rate (SGR = 6.39 ± 0.58) was also highest in the larvae fed with zooplankton plus tubifex as feed. The said feed was also effective to increase the body weight at a maximum level. Therefore, the feed prepared through the use of mass cultured zooplankton and tubifex seems to be suitable under specific rearing system to promote aquaculture.

The effect of changing climate will not only be confined to limited production, and the productivity of agricultural commodities, but will also have far-reaching consequences on dairy, meat, wool and other animal products. The impact of climate change on the livestock sector as a whole will be felt more in tropical countries compared to temperate countries, largely because of the structure of production system and economics. The resultant pressure, both direct and indirect, is likely to result in further dilution of livestock diversity, which would specially affect the nutritional security and livelihood of small and marginal farmers. The challenge is to sustain genetic diversity and productivity by different adaptation strategies like production adjustment, breeding strategies, alteration of management systems, developing appropriate policies, scientific intervention and capacity building of livestock owners. In light of concerns over the impacts of climate change and climate variability, this chapter provides an overview of the opportunities for adaptation and mitigation strategies in tropical climatic conditions.

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Aspects of food and feeding biology of the Sperata seenghala of Gomati River of Tripura, a part of Eastern Himalayan hotspot region of India was studied over 12 months. The 176 fish (28.7 cm to 67.4 cm TL) specimens were examined for food composition analysis. Out of these, 21 (12.88%) had full stomach, 33 (18.53%) had empty stomach and 122 (68.58%) had partially-filled stomachs. The percent composition of various food items in stomach content was 7.5% of aquatic plant materials, 15.5% crustaceans, 29% aquatic insects, 6.7% molluscans, debris and detritus 5.3% and 36% fishes. Biomass of fish was highest in comparison to other food items. The alimento-somatic and hepato-somatic indices have every indication that S. seenghala is carnivorous and thus have intense liver activity. This study could render useful information on the food and feeding habits of the studied fish species and provide background biological knowledge for preparing its diet for future aquaculture practices.

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