Modelling the food web for assessment of the impact of stock supplementation in a reservoir ecosystem in India
Abstract
Comparative estimates of trophic status and energy flow were carried out in a tropical reservoir ecosystem in India to assess the impact of fish stocking. Mass-balanced models of the reservoir ecosystem were constructed for two periods – 1982–1983 and 2002–2003 – using ECOPATH software to determine the impacts on different groups before and after stocking. Mixed trophic impact (MTI) analyses indicated that phytoplankton and detritus have a positive impact on most groups. There was a decrease in nutrient flow through the system from pre-stocking to post-stocking (22.28%). The baseline was higher by 0.29% in the post-stock phase indicating maturity. The ecosystem indices tested indicate that the reservoir was in a more resilient state post-stocking than during the pre-stocking phase. The 'health' of the ecosystem showed an improvement, which indicates a positive impact of stocking.
- Publication:
-
Fisheries Management and Ecology
- Pub Date:
- October 2015
- DOI:
- Bibcode:
- 2015FisME..22..359K
- Keywords:
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- ecopath;
- ecotrophic efficiency;
- major carps;
- mass balance modelling;
- omnivory index;
- stock supplementation