Status of ornamental fish diversity of Silsakho wetland in Kamrup district, Assam, India.

Silsakho wetland located in South-east direction of greater Guwahati, Assam, is a natural wetland and performs as a water storage basin, holding storm water and flood water. Silsakho wetland has the potential to be developed into a site of tourist interest and can also serve in controlling artificial floods in rapidly developing Guwahati city. There is also a great prospect for ornamental fishery in this wetland which in recent years has become the second most popular hobby of the world. The Silsakho wetland has been a viable abode for a variety of ornamental fishes. Circa 24 ornamental fish species have been estimated in the wetland during the study. The wetland also harbours a great variety of aquatic plants and provides food, shelter and breeding ground for a large number of aquatic fauna. But, recently the existence of many such valuable ornamental fish species has depleted due to considerable changes in the wetland ecosystem. The two most important aspects of degradation of Silsakho wetland are recorded, one being the shrinkage of the wetland due to natural and anthropogenic activities, and the other being degradation of the quality of the wetland environment thereby bringing change among the biotic components of the wetland. It is observed that there is a tremendous anthropogenic influence, particularly in changing the land use pattern and increased built up land within the wetland area, which play a pivotal role in transforming and degrading the wetland, thereby threatening the physicochemical and biological conditions for spawning of these aquatic denizens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]