Assessment of the Nutritional Significance, Ecological Importance and Environmental Stressors Affecting Channa punctatus (Bloch) in Freshwater Ecosystems

Assessment of the Nutritional Significance, Ecological Importance and Environmental Stressors Affecting Channa punctatus (Bloch) in Freshwater Ecosystems Dr. Kumari Priya* Channa punctatus (Bloch), commonly known as spotted snakehead, is an important freshwater fish species with considerable nutritional, ecological and economic significance. The species contributes to freshwater food-web dynamics and represents a valuable source of animal protein and essential nutrients for human populations. However, increasing anthropogenic pressure on freshwater ecosystems has resulted in deterioration of water quality through domestic sewage, agricultural runoff, pesticides, fertilisers, industrial discharges and other environmental contaminants. The present study is designed to provide an integrated assessment of the nutritional significance, ecological importance and environmental stressors affecting C. punctatus in selected freshwater ecosystems. The investigation encompasses assessment of physicochemical characteristics of water, nutritional composition of fish muscle, ecological characteristics of the species and selected physiological, biochemical and histopathological responses to environmental stress. Haematological parameters, biochemical indicators and oxidative-stress biomarkers will be considered to evaluate the physiological condition of the fish, while histopathological examination of selected organs will provide evidence of tissue-level responses. The nutritional assessment will focus on proximate composition and selected mineral characteristics, whereas ecological assessment will consider habitat association, occurrence and environmental relationships. The integrated evaluation is intended to establish the relationship between environmental quality and the biological condition of C. punctatus. The study is expected to contribute to understanding the consequences of freshwater ecosystem degradation for an ecologically important and nutritionally valuable fish species and may provide useful information for environmental monitoring, fish conservation and sustainable freshwater-resource management. *(Asst. Professor), (Department of Zoology), H.D. Jain College Ara, Email [email protected]