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Wetlands Ecology and Management

, Volume 11, Issue 5, pp 273–280 | Cite as

Mechanisms behind changes in fish biodiversity in the floodplains of Bangladesh

  • Gertjan de Graaf
  • Felix Marttin
Article

Abstract

Fish species composition in two permanent floodplains (Beels) was monitored during 1992–1999. In one, small prawns (Macrobrachium spp.) replaced `beel-resident' species such as Puntius sophore, Colisa fasciatus, and Mastacembelus pancalus, while in the other beel no significant changes were observed. The reduction of the water area of the affected beel during the dry season and a resulting increase of the fishing effort was the main cause. The results are discussed in the context of overall developments in floodplain fisheries related to water and fisheries management and led to the formulation of a rapid fish biodiversity method.

Bangladesh biodiversity fishing effort floodplain fisheries species composition water management 
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Copyright information

© Kluwer Academic Publishers 2003

Authors and Affiliations

  • Gertjan de Graaf
    • 1
  • Felix Marttin
    • 2
  1. 1.Nefisco foundationAmsterdamthe Netherlands
  2. 2.Inland Water Resources and Aquaculture service (FIRI)Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United NationsRomeItaly

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