Articles
Cattle and water buffalo densities wading into small village reservoirs of Sri Lanka impact on yields on the culture-based fisheries thereof
Authors:
Asanka D. Jayasinghe ,
University of Kelaniya, Kelaniya 11600, LK
About Asanka D.
Department of Zoology
Department of Limnology and Water Technology, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science & Technology, University of Ruhuna, Wellamadama, Matara 81000
J. Arachchige Athula,
National Aquaculture Development Authority, No. 41/1, New Parliament Road, Pelawatte, Battaramulla 10120, LK
About J. Arachchige
Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Animal Science and Export Agriculture, Uva Wellassa University, Badulla 90000
Sena S. De Silva,
Deakin University, Warrnambool, Victoria 3280, AU
About Sena S.
School of Life and Environmental Sciences
Upali S. Amarasinghe
University of Kelaniya, Kelaniya 11600, LK
About Upali S.
Department of Zoology
Abstract
This study investigated whether allochthonous inputs generated by cattle and water buffaloes grazing in the catchment or wading in the water in small village reservoirs of Sri Lanka can make a significant effect on yields from culture-based fisheries of those reservoirs. The analysis is based on limnological data of 37 randomly selected reservoirs. As culture-based fish yield data were available over the 2002 - 2003 period only for 23 reservoirs, fish yield data from seven more reservoirs were gleaned for the present analysis. Cattle and water buffalo densities (BD) in 37 reservoirs where limnological data were available, were found to be significantly correlated to the biological productivity-related parameters such as chlorophyll-a content. Culture-based fish yield in the 30 reservoirs varied from 54.6 to 1800.8 kg ha-1 and BD associated with the reservoirs studied varied from 0.90 number ha-1 to 216.25 numbers ha-1. Fish yield (FY) was significantly correlated with BD the relationship being, FY = 4.758 BD + 242.740 (R2 = 0.345; p<0.001). The importance of taking into consideration factors such as grazing cattle and buffalo density in preparing management strategies for culture-based fisheries in small village reservoirs is discussed.
How to Cite:
Jayasinghe, A.D., Athula, J.A., De Silva, S.S. and Amarasinghe, U.S., 2018. Cattle and water buffalo densities wading into small village reservoirs of Sri Lanka impact on yields on the culture-based fisheries thereof. Sri Lanka Journal of Aquatic Sciences, 23(1), pp.67–75. DOI: http://doi.org/10.4038/sljas.v23i1.7547
Published on
01 Mar 2018.
Peer Reviewed
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