So far the accurate identification of fish of Garhwal Himalayas was a challenge as researchers and scientists used to decide the species by their physical features. However, now the list of DNA bar coding of eight major species of Bhagirathi and Alaknanda rivers have been prepared and submitted in USA National Center for Biotechnology Information data base. Now, the species can be recognised the world over while the dwindling species can also be listed.
There is a large variety of fish in Garhwal Himalayas, but to identify the fish in Bhagirathi and Bhilangana rivers here is proving to be a major challenge. Till now the researchers and scientists have been depending on their physical features to decide the species. As a result, many fish species were on the brink of extinction and the fish diversity was also being endangered.
In view of this, scientist in Fish Reproduction and Conservation Biology Research, Zoologist, Prof N K Aggarwal of the HNB Central University’s Swami Ram Teerth campus, Badshahithaul, began a research in this direction. After two years of hard work, he was able submit the list of DNA bar coding of eight major species of Bhagirathi and Alaknanda rivers in USA National Center for Biotechnology Information data base. Now the scientists and researchers can seek the information about the fishes on-line.
Prof Aggarwal said that the bar coding has been completed with the special field in Cytochrome oxidase I and 16S RNA found in the mitochondrial DNA of the genes of these fish. There were over 40 fish species found in the Bhilangana and Bhagirathi rivers of which the main ones are Barilius bendelisis, Barilius shacra, Channa gachua, Crossocheilus latius, Glyptothorax pectinopterus, Noemacheilus montanus, Tor putitora Schizothorax richardsonii, Schizothorax plagiostomus and Garra gotyla.