Image Driven Hydrological Components-based Fish Habitability Modeling in Riparian Wetlands Triggered by Damming

Abstract

Assessing sh habitability in pursuance of damming for some selected shes in wetland of Indo-Bangladesh barind tract using hydrological ingredients like hydro-period, water depth, and water presence consistency is major focus of the present study. Rule based decision tree modeling has been applied for integrating aforesaid hydrological parameters to nd out habitat suitability for some selected shes like carp shes, shrimps, tilapia and cat shes both for pre-dam and post-dam periods. From this work it is highlighted that damming has accelerated the rate of wetland deterioration in forms of hydrological ow alteration i.e. inconsistency in water presence has increased, hydro-duration became shortened and water depth has attenuated. From the model it is very clear that a small proportion area was considered to be good sh habitat (16.54-39.90%) in pre-dam period, but after damming almost all parts have become least suitable for sh habitability. Field survey has con rmed that shing quantity, growing rate of shes was higher in pre-dam situation but it is reduced gradually during post-dam period. Image driven hydrological parameters to model sh habitability is a new approach but important parameters like food availability, water quality parameters could also be incorporated in order to get better result.

Time distance effect of damming on the degree of hydrological and ecological alteration in floodplain river and wetland

“…Khatun and Pal, (2021) studied the effect of hydrological modi cation on biodiversity and shing habitats and found very adverse results. A sharp decline of suitable sh habitat areas of some commonly found economic shes like carp shes, shrimps, tilapia, and cat shes in India and Bangladesh ood plain was also reported by Khatun and Pal (2022).…”