Bioecological Survey of the Indus Delta Estuary

Abstract

The Indus delta displays an estuarine character in February when salinities were found to range between 31.77 % to 34.51 %• Salinities were, however, higher in May ranging from 37.07 % to ‎38.10 %•Values of surface dissolved oxygen for the month of February were low (2.67, 2.52 and 2.23 ml/1). Seston values in the month of February were low than in May, perhaps because of turbulence in the latter month. Qualitative analysis of phytoplankton from the mouth of the Indus River at Turshian and from Keti Bunder during February and May showed it to be of purely marine nature. Productivity was higher in ‎February than in May. Similarly zooplankton was more diverse in February whereas My. Juvenils of penaeid and caridean shrimps ‎constituted the most valuable resource in the Indus Delta.The small caridean shrimp Leander ‎stylifera was the dominant species of shrimps in February whereas juveniles of the penaeid shrimpMetav Penaeus monoceros dominated in May. In haule of various nets the following ‎species of shrimps were represented: L. styliferia , with an occasional spiceman of M.affinis , ‎M.brevicornis and Penaeus merguiensis. The Juveniles of these shrimps as well as those of to ‎be used a seed in future fish and shrimp culture programmes which may develop in the area . ‎From the standpoint of shellfish farming the discovery of the juveniles of the finest food crab ‎soylla serrate in the estuary is also significant . The estuary also crab serves as a nursery for the ‎juveniles of the gastropod Telescopium telescopium which also has great potential for ‎farming. The present exploratory survey also shows the occurrence of about 25 species of ‎small finfish in the Delta .‎