Fish Biodiversity of the Barandu River in Buner District: Morphological and Molecular Analysis

Abstract

Background: Aquatic fauna makes a prominent contribution to the ecosystem, as it is friendly towards the terrestrial mode of life in multiple ways. Out of the huge aquatic fauna, fish are immense and peculiar, as they have both nutritional and economic value for terrestrial inhabitants.Methods: The current study focuses on morphological identification and molecular analyses. During the study period, ranging from January to December 2023, a total of 193 species were collected from the River Barandu.Results: The current study identified 12 species belonging to 4 orders, 5 families, and 12 genera in the river Barandu. The family Cyprinidae, being the most common, shows 9 species. Family Nemacheilidae, Mastacembelidae, Cichlidae, and Channidae  were represented by a single species each. Three species, i.e. Salmostoma baccila, Paraschistura abdoii, and Tariqilabeo latius, were further identified via genetic profiling. With the effective use of the COI gene as a genetic marker and phylogenetic analysis, the monophyly of most taxa and distinct clades was confirmed.Conclusion: Our current study emphasised the importance of conservation and measures to preserve the fauna of the research site, which is occasionally threatened by several factors, excessive fishing, habitat destruction and climatic uplift. The study boosts our understanding and equips us with crucial knowledge for upcoming breakthroughs on the ecological significance and evolutionary history of fish fauna in the River Barandu.