Degradation of Aquatic Habitat in Punjab, Pakistan

1. Degradation of
Aquatic
Habitat in
Punjab,
Pakistan

2. Rabia Aslam

3.  Aquatic habitat.
 Aquatic habitat in Pakistan.
 1- River Jhelum.
• Dams and Barrages on River Jhelum.
 2- Sutlej.
 3- Chenab.
 4- Indus.
 Fish species which are present in all rivers of Punjab.
 Aquatic species in Kalar kahar lake.
 Why degradation of Aquatic habitat occure??
• 1- Industrial pollution:
• 2- Agriculture pollution:
• 3- Climate change and its serious impacts:
• 4- Tourism:
• 5- Over exploitation of local fisheries:
• 6- Eutrophication:
 Conclusion:
 Recommendations:

4. Aquatic habitat is a habitat of plants and
animals in water. Areas and surrounding areas
which are permanently covered with water are
included in aquatic habitat.
Water and running water both are also included
in aquatic habitat.

5.  The origin of aquatic habitat of Pakistan starts
from Himalayan and Karakoram range which is
covered with snow. All river system of Pakistan is
linked with these two.
 This system basically consists of 5 rivers
 These are:

6. Jhelum it is almost 774 kilometers long. The
origin of Jhelum river is from South- Eastern
part of Kashmir valley.
 Dams and Barrages on River Jhelum:
Mangla Dam is constructed which is
considered as the world's largest earth-fill
Dam.
Rasul Barrage and Trimmu Barrage are
constructed on River Jhelum.

7. It flows from historic crossroad region
of Punjab which is Northern India and
Pakistan.
It is considered as the part of Himalayas
and in the centre of Suleman Range in
Pakistan. It is 550 kilometers long. Sutlej
is also known as the Red River.

8. It flows in Jummu and Kashmir.
Chenab then join the river jhelum at
Trimmu point.
The length of Chenab River is nearly 960
kilometers long.

9. It is considered as the most largest
river. According to its annual flow it
is considered as the world's 21st
largest river. The total length of this
river is 3,180 kilometers. It runs in
GB, Jammu and Kashmir and joins
the Arabian Sea.

10. Fish species which are present in all
rivers of Punjab:
Family Name Scientific Name Common name
Bangridae Sperata Sarwari Singhari
Chondiae Bastaslo
pakistanicus
Batasio
Channidae Mystus bleekeri Bleekri
Cobitidae Botia birdi Botia
Cyprinidae Systomus sarana Rainbow trout
Osphranomidae Colisa fasciata Bari khangni
Notopteridae Gudusia Palli

11. Other species Fresh Water turtle which are
decreasing….
•Various Reptiles, Amphibians are also
present in these river.
•Some aquatic life in punjab are lilly,
hydrilla, some bird species, some species of
fishes like Channa, Puntius, Catla, Mystus
etc, some species of bryophytes, some turtle
and crocodile species.

12.  Black-crowned night heron (Nycticorax:) live in
fresh water.
 Breeding season of black-crowned night heron are
from March to September. In Pakistan, it breed in lake
side tree groves (Rawal lake, Islamabad).
 Total thirty bird species was recorded by Ali and
Akhtar (2005) from kallar kahar lake. Ali (2007)
recorded 25 water bird species in this lake. Azam et
al., (2008) recorded 23 and (2009) recorded 30 water
bird species.

13.  There are many reasons behind which the aquatic
habitat of Punjab are degraded.
1- Industrial pollution:
Industrial waste is a big problem in the
destruction of aquatic habitat.
Some industrial waste are so toxic that it
cause very fast destruction of aquatic life
and habitat.
Industrial waste also consists of heavy
metals that cause clogging of fishes leads
to death of fishes and other aquatic life.

14. Excessive use of pesticides and fertilizers
in agricultural practices also cause very
bad effect on water bodies.
contaminated water enter in water bodies
like rivers, then the oxygen level of water
decreases.

15. Because of climate change floods
were came and glaciers were melted,
the level of water bodies was rises.
So it causes destruction of ecosystem
of water bodies.

16. Tourism is also a factor of aquatic habitat
destruction
In Asia, economy is somehow depend on
tourism.
So because of making tourism points we
can destruct aquatic habitat and also shore
line. The visitors also disturbs aquatic
habitat by their different practices.

17. Fisheries are a main business of that
people who live near river area.
There are total 200,000 tons meals of
fishes are hunted every year. So
because of so many hunting practices
we can destroy aquatic habitat.

18. Fertilizers from different sources
cause eutrophication. There was
create algal bloom on the surface of
water.
And aquatic life can destroy.

19. It is concluded that the aquatic habitat
was destructed because of our
different practices that are industrial
waste, agricultural practices, tourism,
climate change etc.
 So we should control to destruct
different aquatic habitats and aquatic
life by different methods.

20. Present condition of aquatic life in
Pakistan is not so good. Many aquatic
species of Pakistan are extinct
because of our practices. Different
types of fishes are also endangered.

21.  Prevent Natural Resources.
 Limit use of plastic and disposable
objects.
 Eat environmental friendly fishes.
 Reduce your rubbish.
 Take care of local stream.
 We should create awareness among
public about aquatic life.