Diversity of fish species in the Tekam and Salan Rivers, Jerantut Pahang / Mohd Shahrul Azli Ab Rajab

Sampling on the diversity of fish fauna were conducted in Tekam and Salan
rivers, Jerantut Pahang. Fish were sampled from six stations from three different
zones of the rivers, namely the upper site, middle site, and lower site. A total of 16
fish species belonging to seven families were recorded. Analyses based on the
number of individuals caught showed that 80% of total catch was represented by
the Cyprinids. Labiobarbus leptocheilus, Cyclocheilichthys heteronema, and
Puntius marginatus were the most distributed occurring within Tekam river being
present in the upper, middle, and lower site of the river, while Hemibagrus
nemurus, Pristolepis fasciatus, Puntius schwanenfeldii, and Rasbora lateristriata
were the most distributed within the Salan river occuring in all the zone
sites. Overall, fish species diversity, species richness and evenness were higher at
Tekam river compared to Salan river, although occurrences was significantly
more abundant in Salan river. The causes of the differences could be due to
hydrographic conditions such as temperature, pH and dissolve oxygen. In both
rivers, temperature recorded ranged from 25°C - 26.9 ° in both. Water pH value
varies between 6.52 to 6.97 and dissolved oxygen ranges from 4.93 mg/l to 6.83
mg/l. Thus, river physical and biological factors influence the occurrence,
distribution, abundance and diversity of river tropical fishes.