Freshwater fishes distribution and diversity status of Mullameri River, a minor tributary of Bheema River of Gulbarga District, Kamataka

Freshwater fishes distribution and diversity status of Mullameri river, a minor tributary of Bheema River of Gulbarga district, Karnataka was studied from April 2006 to March 2008. During the study period fourteen freshwater fish species have been recorded. Monthly sampling was carried out in three sites. The result of the study reveals the occurrence of fourteen fish species belonging to five orders. The order Cypriniformes was dominant with seven fish species followed by order Siluriformes with four species, and the order Channiformes, Mastacembeliformes and Osteoglossiformes each with one species. The percent representation of different families of fishes is depicted in pia chart. Fish diversity was assessed by calculating the various diversity indices such as Shannon - Weiner biodiversity index (H), Simpson's Dominance Index (D), Simpson's index of diversity (1-D), Pielous Evenness and Margalef index of species richness.