Studies on Spatial and Seasonal Variation of Water Quality and Fish Species Diversity in the Man stream, Shivalik, Himalayas, India Using the ArcGIS Mapping System

The present study assesses the water quality of the Man stream, a significant tributary of the Beas River in Shivalik Himalayas, Himachal Pradesh, by analyzing environmental variables, Water Quality Index (WQI) and fish species distribution using the Geographical Information System (GIS). Water samples were collected from two sites (upstream and downstream), over a year and various physiochemical parameters were analyzed. The study utilized the Canadian Council of Ministers of Environment - Water Quality Index (CCME-WQI) to evaluate water quality, depicting "fair" to "marginal" water quality status. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used to assess the correlation between physiochemical parameters. A total of 23 fish species belonging to 6 orders and 9 families was reported, with Cypriniformes being the dominant order. Diversity indices revealed seasonal variations in fish communities, with the highest dominance index during monsoon and the Simpson and Shannon indices lowest during monsoon and nearly the same during pre-monsoon and post-monsoon with insignificant fluctuations. This comprehensive assessment provides valuable insights for fishery management and sustainable development in the region.