Disclaimer note - WWF - Pakistan

Detailed Ecological Assessment Report 2008 – Keti Bunder
Tom Robert’s two volumes of Birds of Pakistan comprise of the first complete
account of the avifauna of the country. The first volume contains detailed
descriptions of 347 non-passeriformes and the second volume deals with 313
species of passerines.
Later, Ghalib et al (1999) listed the Birds of Chotiari Wetland Complex based on
their study during 1997. They gave the preferred habitats of the various species,
threats to avifauna and proposals for management of the site. Ghalib and
Bhaagat (2004) dealt with the wetlands of Indus Ecoregion. They gave the list of
important wetlands along with the species of avifauna recorded.
Hasan et al (2005) have listed the fish and birds of Keti Bunder, Shah Bunder and
other parts of the Indus delta. They have recorded 51 species of birds. Khan and
Ghalib (2006) have given the bird population and threats to some selected
important wetlands in Pakistan.
1.3.5 Marine fisheries
Many diverse studies have been conducted on many aspects of fish and fisheries
of the coastal areas of Pakistan. The major bulk of literature is on the biodiversity
of various parts of the coastal areas. The significant work in this regards is that of
Ahmed et al. (1976), Ali and Jafri (1986), Iqbal et al. (1999), Jafri et al. (1999),
Jafri et al. (2000), Jalil and Kamaluddin (1981), Kazmi and Kazmi (1979), Leghari
et al. (1999), Mirza (1986), Niazi (1976), Parashad and Mukerjee (1930), Qureshi
(1965), Siddiqui et al. (1973), Sufi (1957, 1962). Some work on the commercial
fishes has been conducted by Ahmed and Niazi (1988), Bianchi (1985) and Khan
(1999). The limnological aspects of various water bodies have been covered by
Baig and Khan (1976), Baqai et al. (1974 a, b), Dewani et al. (2002), Mahar et al.
(2000) and Nazneen (1995). The water pollution in the coastal area has been
documented by Amjad et al., (1998), Monawar et al. (1999) while aquaculture
aspect is badly lacking and the only work documented is that of Yaqoob (1994).
1.3.6 Phytoplankton
Phytoplankton community structure in lakes appear to be well studied (Smith,
1990). Unfortunately in Pakistan except the work on Nazneen (1974) and Bri and
Nazneen (1979), most of the research works concern with phytoplankton algae of
temporary and permanent ponds. More over these studies are devoted only to the
one species richness and many do not cover the entire seasonal variability. Many
studies on phytoplankton of water bodies of this region appear not to be well
documented from an ecological point of view. The knowledge of temperate lakes
and their phytoplankton is much greater that that of tropical and sub-tropical lakes.
Tropical lakes appear to have different plankton community structure from
temperate lakes and are mostly populated by submerged and emergent
macrophytes.
Nitrogen was reported as the main limiting factor for production in tropical waters
(Payne, 1986). But the shallow lakes of Salado River Basin are rich in both nitrates
and phosphates (Quiros, 1989) and limitation by nutrient is not evidently contrary to
most tropical aquatic eco-systems where nutrients are rapidly mineralized (Fisher,
1978; Junk & Furch, 1991); sediments of these lakes store high amount of organic
matter, mainly derived from macrophytes. Macrophytes appeared as the main
factor influencing structure and abundance of phytoplankton (Izaguirre & Vincour,
1994)/. Lakes with a greater biomass of higher plants showed lower phytoplankton
densities. The influence of macrophyhtes on phytoplankton communities has been
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