Abstract:
Pakistan has introduced several alien exotic fish species e.g. grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella), bighead carp, (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis), silver carp, (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix), common carp (Cyprinus carpio), gold fish (Carassius auratus), and three species of tilapia (Oreochromis aureus, Oreochromis mossambicus, Oreochromis niloticus) in warm waters along with two trout species: the rainbow trout (Onchorynchus mykiss) and the brown trout (Salmo trutta fario) in colder regions for specific purposes like sport fishing, yield enhancement and biological control of aquatic weeds and mosquitoes. The exotic species are becoming invasive in the freshwater biomes of the Punjab and other provinces of Pakistan by reason of their potent reproductive potential and feeding competitions with the native freshwater fish fauna. Resultantly the native fish species viz; Channa marulius, Wallago attu, Rita rita, Sperata sarwari, Gibelion catla, Cirrhinus mrigala and Labeo rohita, which are of economic value are under threat.
Page(s):
435-440
DOI:
DOI not available
Published:
Journal: Journal of Animal and Plant sciences, Volume: 21, Issue: 2S, Year: 2011