	AQUATIC HOTSPOT Ramanathapura

	Setting \| Threats \| Knowledge Individuals \| Habitat \| Life Scape \| Management

Name of the Hotspot	Ramanathapura Fish Sanctuary, Ramanathapura, Arkalgud Taluk, Hassan District.
Focal species	Mahseer – Tor kudhree (Sykes)
Coordinating Team Experience / Expertise	Dr. Madhav Gadgil and team
Investigating Team	S/Shri. H.N. Chandrashekharaiah, M.F. Rahman, K. Shama Bhat, Dr. G.V. Kowtal.
Experience / Expertise	The members of the team have adequate research and development experience in the field of fish and fisheries.
Dates of data collection	From 09.12. 2003 to 12.12.2003
Process of data collection	Field visits and interviews.
Sources of information	• Shri. Nagaraj, Senior Asst. Director of Fisheries. • Shri. Ravindra, Asst. Director of Fisheries. • Shri. Papanna, Asst. Director of Fisheries. • Shri. Devaiah, Fisherman. • Shri. Lakshmappa, Fisherman. • Shri. Javaraiah, Fisherman. • Shri. Thimma Shetty, Fisherman.
Number of man-days consumed in data collection	20 man- days

Location	Ramanathapura, Arkalgud Taluk, Hassan District.
Area (in ha or Sqkm) )	5 ha
Latitude / Longitude.	Lat. 12 0 37', Long 76 0 5'
Village / Town/ Taluk/District	Ramanathapura, Ramanathapura, Arkalgud Taluk, Hassan District.
Maps (kind of maps and the scale)	Enclosed.
Mode of access (Distance from Railway / Bus station)	Located on the road leading from Hassan to Mysore at a distance of 50 Kms. Nearest railway station is Hole- narsipura on Hassan – Mysore route at a distance of 40 Kms.
Facilities to stay closest to the ‘Hotspot'	Inspection Bungalow at Konanoor, 3 Kms from ‘Hotspot', maintained by Irrigation Department and another Travellers Bungalow at Ramanathapura maintained by the Village Panchayat . A Five Star Motel is also there at Hassan.
Tariff (if any) to be paid to visit the ‘Hot spot'	Nil
Controlling authorities	Department of Fisheries.
Class of landscape	Riverine
Water body	Perennial River Cauvery
Human population	1600/-
Presence of Scheduled Tribes or Nomadic Tribes population	Nil
Livestock	Cattle, Buffalo, etc
Irrigation status and major crops	Paddy, Sugarcane, Coconut, Areca, Pulses, Maize, Bajra, Jowar, Tobacco and Mulberry, etc.
Significant forest produce	Nil
Co-operative Societies and transactions	Fishermen Cooperative Society, Konanoor, Arkalgud Taluk, Hassan Dist. having membership strength of 150.
Significant freshwater fish production	The fish catch comprises of major carps, medium carps, cat fishes, air - breathing fishes, weed fishes and prawns .
Disposal of fishing rights (Leasing /Auctioning/ Licences )	Fishermen obtain licences for fishing in river Cauvery, out side the sanctuary area, from the Department of Fisheries
Number and type of fishing crafts	Coracles
Nearest fish landing centre	Ramanathapura, Konanoor.
Availability of fish processing facilities	None
Mining and quarrying activities	Sand quarrying is done in the adjacent Hotspot area.
Sources and extent of air and water pollution	Nil
Prevalence of Human diseases	Nil
Prevalence of livestock diseases	Nil
Educational Institutions	Primary School Upper Primary School Secondary School Higher Secondary school.
Co-operative Society	Fishermen Co-operative Society, Konanoor, Arkalgud Taluk, Hassan District.
Youth clubs	Ramanathapura Yuva Sangha, Ramanathapura, Arkalgud Taluk, Hassan District.
Ladies clubs	Nil
Active NGO's	None

	Name of individual / institutions/agency	Activity with a positive influence on core area	Activity with a negative influence on core area	Activity with a positive influence on zone of influence	Activity with a negative influence on zone of influence
Local individuals					Poaching
Local institutions	i) Village Panchayat ii) Youth Club	Protecting the sanctuary by preventing poaching
Outside individuals
Outside institutions	Society for Advancement of Aquaculture	Providing technical guidance improve the sanctuary and to protect it
Government agencies	Ecology and Environment Department, Department of Fisheries	Providing required assistance.

*Name*	*Age group*	*Sex*	*Community*	*Address of Expertise*
Sri. Narasimha Murthy V.P. Member	55	Male	Brahmin	V.P. Member
Sri. Vijaya Kumar	35	Male		Youth Club Leader
Sri. Nagaraj	48	Male		Sr. Asst Director of Fisheries, Hassan.
Sri. Ravindra	56	Male		Assistant Director of Fisheries, Hassan.
Sri. Papanna	48	Male		Assistant, Director of Fisheries, Hasan
Sri. Devaiah	65	Male		Fisherman Konanoor.
Sri. Lakshmappa	60	Male		Fisherman Konanoor.
Sri. Javaraiah	65	Male		Fisherman Konanoor.
Sri. Thimma shetty	60	Male		Fisherman Konanoor.

1	Preparation of the sketch map of the landscape a. For zone of influence b. For zone of influence	Enclosed Enclosed
2.	Description of Habitat types • Habitat type • Local name (if any)	Riverine Vanhi-pushkarni
3.	Approximate total area (ha)	5 ha
4.	Special significance of the habitat type (if any)	Tor khudree one of the endangered fishes are found in the area. People feed the fishes and worship them.
5.	Management regimes	Department of Fisheries.
6.	Goods and services provided by the habitat	Protected area. The fishes when feed with cooked rice, biscuits, groundnuts, congregate in large In huge numbers and it is a big attraction to the public pilgrims.
7	Bads and disservices provided by the habitat	Nil
8	Significant ecological processes influenced by the habitat type	During monsoon, the river floods the area and during summer, there shall be very low water level as a result of which distress conditions prevails for the fishes in the sanctuary.
9.	Significant man induced processes influenced by the habitat.	Village Panchayat, Local Youth Club and Society for Advancement of Aqua culture have created awareness among general public about the importance of protecting the sanctuary. The Rameshwara temple at Ramanathapura has a very great influence as majority of pilgrims visits the Hotspot also and offer food, in the form of groundnut, biscuits, puffed and cooked rice, coconut oil cake etc.,
10	Interacting individuals and institutions (Local)	The Village Panchayat, Ramanathapura Yuva Vahini Sangha.
11.	Activities	The Youth Club is protecting the fishes by organized watch and ward and feed the fishes when there are no pilgrims.
12	Interacting individuals and institution (External)	Department of Fisheries, Society for Advancement of Aquaculture.
13.	Activities	• Boundaries fixing, • Board indicating “Fishing is prohibited. • Board detailed with names of fishes recorded in the sanctuary.
1	Type and name of the habitat patch	Riverine Vanhi-Pushkarni, Ramanathapura Fish Sanctuary.
2 i) ii)	Change in Area Vegetation strata	The construction of Harangi dam has reduced flow of water in the river and in summery months, it reaches a very low level. The depth is reduced due to siltation and also on account of accumulation of debris. Sparse vegetation has been observed
3. i) ii)	Aquatic habitat change in Catchment area Aquatic fauna	Marginal change Not significant
iii	Aquatic flora	Significant with reduced vegetation patch near about the Hotspot area.
4.	Significant ecological processes influencing the habitat patch.	Nil
5.	Significant man-induced processes influencing the habitat patch	The whole area is declared as a protected zone H.H, the Maharaja of Mysore, under the ‘Provisions' of Section 5(1) of the Mysore Game and Fish Preservation Reg. 11 of 1901, declared it as ‘Fishing Prohibited Area.'
6	Productivity of Goods and Services	Domestic use, washing, Irrigation.
7	Extent of Bads and Disservices	Washing of vehicles, cloths, utensils, and flow of agricultural pesticides.
8.	Reasons for ongoing changes	Failure of rainfall, reduced water flow. Siltation of pool.
9.	Gainers	Pilgrims and Tourist
10	Losers	Nil
11	Desired changes desired future	The flow of water of the river when reduces, people resort to poaching in
12.	Desired management system	the area and also in the upper and lower stretches of the protected zone. In
13.	Suggested component for a feasible management plan for the habitat patch	view of this, there is marked decline in the number of large-sized fish in the sanctuary. Protection provided to the fishes in the area appears not adequate. Feeding of fishes also has come down. When the water level reduces in the river, certain body parts of the fishes gets exposed and are subjected to injury and disease which has proved fatal on many occasions. Since Tor kudree are very much on the decline and Neolissochilus hexagonolepis are in large numbers in the sanctuary; in the interest of protecting the endangered. Tor kh udree, it is necessary to replenish these from other areas of the river. To effectively manage the Vanhi Pushkarni – the fish sanctuary, it is essential to organizing a NGO for protecting the fishes in sanctuary. In addition to organizing feeding of fishes, the NGO will also arrange watch and ward during day and night.

i.PLANKTON:
Phytoplankton
	Myxophyceae: Spirolina,Oscillatoria
	Cholorophyceae : Spirogyra, Ulothrix, Pediastrum, Closterium, Mougeotia
	Bacillariophyceae: Synedra, Asterionela, Cyclotella,Fragillaria
ZOOPLANKTON
	Protozoa: Difflugia
	Copepoda: Diatomus
	Cyclops Rotofera: Diaphnosoma
	Keratella Cladocera: Ceriodaphnia
	Ostracoda: Cypris
II BENTHOS
Insects
	Order: Ephemeroptera
	Family: BAETIDAE
	1. Cloeon spp
	Order: Odonata
	Suborder: Anisoptera
	Family: LIBELLULIDAE
	2. Urothemis signata (Rambur)
	Order: Hemiptera
	Family: GERRIDAE
	3. Gerris spinolae let and Sev.
	Family: NEPIDAE
	4. Laccotrephes maculatus Fabricius
	Family: BELOSTOMATIDAE
	5. Diplonychus annulatum Fabricius
	Family: Corixidae
	6. Micronecta merope Dist
	Order: Coleoptera
	Family: DYTISCIDAE
	7. Dytiscus limbatus Fabricius
MOLLUSES
	Class: Gastropoda
	Subclass: Prosobranchia
	Order: Mesogastropoda
	Family: VIVIPARIDAE
	Subfamily: Bellamyinae
	Genus: Bellamya Jousseaune
	8. Bellamya bengalensis (Lamarck)
	Family: BYTHYNIIDAE
	Subfamily: Bythyniinae s. str.
	Genus: Gabbia Tryon
	9. Gabbia stenothyroides (Dohrn.)
	Family: THIARIDAE
	Subfamily: Thiarinae s. str.
	Genus: Thiara Rosding
	Subgenus: Thiara s. str
	10. Thiara (Thiara) scabra (Mueller)
	Subgenus: Melanoides Olivier
	11. Thiara (Melanoides) tuberculata (Mueller)
	Subfamily: Melanatriinae
	Genus: Sulcospira Troschel
	12. Sulcospira huegeli (Philipi)
	Subclass: Pulmonata
	Order: Bassomatophora
	Family: LYMNAEIDAE
	Genus: Lymnaea Lamarck
	Subgenus: Pseudosuccinea Baker
	13. Lymnaea (Pseudosuccinea) acuminata Lamarck
	14. Lymnaea (Pseudosuccinea) luteola Lamarck
	Family: PLANORBIDAE
	Subfamily: Bulininae
	Genus: Indoplanorbis Annandale and Prashad
	15. Indoplanorbis exustus (Deshayes)
	Class: Bivalvia
	Subclass: Heterodonta
	Order: Veneroida
	Family: CORBICULIDAE
	Genus: Corbicula Megerle von Meuhfeld
	16. Corbicula striatella Deshayes
Fish
	Order: Cypriniformes
	Family: CYPRINIDAE
	Subfamily: Danioninae(=Rasborinae)
	Tribe: Danionini
	Genus: Rasbora Bleeker
	17. Rasbora daniconius (Hamilton -Buchanan)
	Subfamily: Cyprininae
	Trib: Systomini
	Subtribe: Systomi
	Genus: Puntius Hamilton- Buchanan
	18. Puntius ticto (Hamilton- Buchanan)
	Family: BALITORIDAE
	Subfamily: Nemacheilinae
	Genus: Schistura Mc Celland
	19. Schistura denisoni denisoni (Day)
	Order: Cyprinodontiformes
	Family: APLOCHEILIDAE
	Subfamily: Aplocheilinae
	Genus: Aplocheilus Mc Clelland
	20. Aplocheilus lineatus (Valenciennes)
	Family: POECILIDAE
	Subfamily: Poecilinae
	Genus: Gambusia Poey
	21. Gambusia affinis (Baird and Girard)
	Order: Perciformes
	Suborder: Percoidei
	Family: CHANDIDAE (= AMBASSIDAE)
	Genus: Parambassis Bleeker
	22. Parambasis ranga (Hamilton-Buchanan)
Crustacea
	Class: Crustacea
	Subclass: Malacostraca
	Order: Decapoda
	Family: PALAEMONIDAE
	23. Macrobrachium spp.
iii AQUATIC WEEDS
	Family: HYDROCHARITACEAE
	Genus: Hydrilla
	1. Hydrilla verticillata casp.
	Genus: Vallisneria
	2. Vallisneria spiralis Linnaeus
	Family: NAIADACEAE
	Genus: Aponogeton
	3. Aponogeton monostachyon Linnaeus
	4. Aponogeton crispum Thumb
	Genus: Potamogeton
	5. Potamogeton pectinatus Linnaeus
	Family: CYPERACEAE
	Genus: Cyperus
	6. Cyperus distans Linnaeus
	Family: CHARACEAE
	Genus: Chara
	7. Chara zeylanica Wild

iv FISH SPECIES
Scientific Name	Common English Name	Kannada Name
Order : Osteoglossiformes Suborder : Notopteroidei Family : NOTOPTERIDAE Genus : Notopterus Lacepede 1 Notopterus notopterus (Pallas)	Grey Feather back	Chappali
Order : Cypriniformes Family : CYPRINIDAE Subfamily : Danioninae (=Rasborinae) Tribe : Oxygasterini Genus : Salmostoma Swainson 2. Salmostoma acinaces (Valenciennes)	Silver razor belly minnow	Sampaj
Tribe : Danioni Genus : Danio (Hamilton – Buchanan) 3. Danio aequipinnatus (Mc Clelland)	Giant Danio	Arshina Patte
Genus : Rasbora Bleeker 4. Rasbora caverii (Jerdon) 5. Rasbora daniconius (Hamilton- Buchanan)	Scissor-tail Rasbora Black-line Rasbora	Saslu Saslu
Subfamily : Cyprininae Tribe : Cyprinini Subtribe : Cyprini Genus : Cyprinus Linnaeus 6. Cyprinus carpio communis Linnaeus	Common carp	Samanya Gende
Subtribe : Tores Genus : Tor Gray 7. Tor khudree (Sykes)	Deccan Mahseer	Bili meenu
Genus : Neolissochilus Rainboth 8. Neolissochilus hexagonolepis (Mc Clelland)	Katli Mahseer	Bili menu
Tribe : Systomini Subtribe : Systomi Genus : Puntius (Hamilton - Buchanan) 9. Puntius carnaticus (Jerdon) 10. Puntius chola (Hamilton-Buchanan) 11. Puntius sophore (Hamilton - Buchanan) 12. Puntius ticto (Hamilton-Buchanan)	Carnatic carp Swampy barb Spot-fin swampy barb Ticto barb	Machalu Dodda karse Gud pakke Bud Pakke
Tribe : Labeonini Subtribe : Labeones Genus : Labeo Cuvier 13. Labeo calbasu (Hamilton-Buchanan) 14. Labeo rohita (Hamilton-Buchanan)	Calbasu Rohu	Kage Rohu
Subfamily : Oreininae Genus : Garra (Hamilton -Buchanan) 15. Garra gotyla stenorhynchus (Jerdon )	Nilgiris Garra	Kallu korava
Family : BALITORIDAE Subfamily : Nemacheilinae Genus : Schistura Mc Clelland 16. Schistura denisoni denisoni (Day) 17. Schistura semiarmatus (Day)	Nemacheilus Nemacheilus	Murangi Murangi
Genus : Mesonemacheilus Banarascu & Nalbant 18. Mesonemacheilus pulchellus (Day)	Nemacheilus	Murangi
Order : Siluriformes Family : BAGRIDAE Subfamily : Bagrinae Genus : Mystus Scopoli 19. Mystus cavasius (Hamilton-Buchanan) 20. Mystus montanus (Jerdon) 21. Mystus punctatus (Jerdon)	Gangetic Mystus Wynad Mystus Niligiris Mystus	Girlu Girlu Kattalu
Family : SILURIDAE Genus : Ompok Lacepede 22. Ompok bimaculatus (Bloch)	Butter fish	Godle
Genus : Wallago Bleeker 23. Wallago attu (Schneider)	Fresh water Shark	Balae
Order : Cyprinodontiformes Family : APLOCHEILIDAE Subfamily : Aplocheilinae Genus : Aplocheilus Mc Clelland 24. Aplocheilus lineatus (Valenciennes)	Killi fish	Moogu malli
Family : POECILIDAE Subfamily : Poecilinae Genus : Gambusia Poey 25. Gambusia affinis (Baird & Girard)	Gambusia	Sollae-meenu
Order : Synbranchiformes Suborder : Mastacembeloidei Family : MASTACEMBELIDAE Subfamily : Mastacembelinae Genus : Mastacembelus S copoli 26. Mastacembelus armatus (Lacepede)	Spiny Eel	Havu menu
Order : Perciformes Suborder : Percoidei Family : CHANDIDAE ( = AMBASSIDAE) Genus : C handa (Hamilton – Buchanan) 27. Chanda nama (Hamilton-Buchanan)	Elongate Glass Perchlet	Bachinke
Genus : Parambassis Bleeker 28. Parambassis ranga (Hamilton- Buchanan	Glass fish	Bachinke
Suborder : Labroidei Family : CICHLIDAE Genus : Or eochromis Gunther 29. Or echromis mossambica (Peters)	Tilapia	Tilapia
Suborder : Gobioidei Family : GOBIIDAE Subfamily : Gobiinae Genus : Glossgoobius Gill 30. Glossogobius giuris giuris (Hamilton – Buchanan)	Tank Goby	Bhangisidda
Suborder : Anabantoidei Family : ANABANTIDAE Genus : Anabas Cuvier 31 Anabas testudineus (Bloch)	Climbing Perch	Koru meenu
Suborder : Channoidei Family : CHANNIDAE Genus : Channa Scopoli 32. Chana marulius (Hamilton-Buchanan) 33. Channa striatus (Bloch)	Gaint Snake head Stripped Snake -head	Avulu Kuchchu

v CRUSTACEA
	Class: Crustaceae
	Subclass: Malacostraca
	Order: Decapoda
	Family: PALAEMONIDAE
	1. Macrobrachium spp
	2. Caridina spp
	Family: POTAMONIDAE
	3. Paratelphusa spp
	4. Paratelphusa spp
vi AMPHIBIA
	Phylum: Chordata
	Class: Amphibia
	Order: Salentia
	Suborder: Phaneroglossa
	Family: RANIDAE
	1. Rana cynophlyctes Schneider
vii REPTILIA
	Order: Testudinate
	Family: TRIONYCHIDAE
	1. Lissemys punctata (Bonnaterra)
	2. Lissemys punctata granosa (Schoepff)
	Order: Squamata
	Family: COLUBRIDAE
	Subfamily: Homalopsinae
	1. Natrix piscator (Linnaeus)
viii AVES
	Family: PHALACROCORACIDAE
	1. Phalacrocorax fuscicollis
	2. Ahinga rufa
	Family: ARDEIDAE
	3. Ardeola grayii
	4. Ardea alba
ix AQUATIC MAMMAL
	Family: LUTRINAE
	1. Aonyx cinerea nirnai (Pocock)

Most common local name of the species (Language)	Indicated English / Kannada
Scientific name of the species	Indicated
Habitat favoured	Riverine
Value to local community	Religious significance
Major uses / ill effects	Since it is a place where threatened fish species are inhabitating, it is acting as a sanctuary for these fishes and also a place of attraction to the tourists pilgrims etc.
Value of global relevance (as rare, threatened or endangered).	Species of fishes are forced in to pool are endangered, therefore pool should be protected.

a. 1.	Perspective of others Desired response options of different members of local or outside communities / institutions / government agencies / industrial or mining undertaking etc.	Public desire that there should be proper watch and ward prevent dynamiting fishermen should be prevented from fishing in the sanctuary.
2.	Significance of management issues and response options	Protect the fishery, transplant Tor Khudree arrange feedings of fishes and watch and ward.
3.	Management issues pertaining to • Habitat and / or • Species / variety	When the flow of water reduces water from Harangi reservoir may be released. Periodical cleaning and desilting of pool may be undertaken. Tor khudree and in less numbers compared to N. Aexagonalepis. Therefore transplantation of Tor khudree is necessary.
4.	Customary / Administrative	Fisheries Department Temple Authorities.
5.	Since how long the arrangements have been in practice	Since few years, Department of Fisheries has take more interest in protecting the area.
6.	Changes, if any, in management pattern over last 10- 15 / 40-50 years	Nil
7.	Desired changes / Desired future	As in 4 Habitat 11,12 and 13.
8.	Desired management system	As detailed above
b.	Perspective of Investigators	Possibility of artificial propagation of Tor khudree at Harangi may be explored, to transplant the finger lings produced in the farm in this Hotspot.
c.	Desired and feasible patter of management that should be promoted in the opinion of the investigators	A Committee consisting of Revenue Department, Muzarai, Temple Authorities, Village Panchayat, Youth Club, Fisheries Department, and management of the sanctuary.
d.	Suggested strategy for promoting this desired patterns of management and the communication needs for the purpose	As above
e.	Cultural, religious, recreational, scenic, tourist, significance of the hotspot	When the sanctuary is developed and with publicity, it forms a tourist place as also a spot to pursue academic and research activities.
f.	Ecological evaluation of the hotspot	Moderately managed.
g.	Suggested follow up investigations	Periodical monitoring of the fish composition in the sanctuary area.
H	Any other suggested follow up	Govt should arranged desilting of pool and organize watch and ward. Provide assistance to NGO to undertake certain responsibilities. Organized awareness lamps.

Most common name of the species	Indicated
Scientific name	Indicated
Most common local name of variety	Indicated
Existing Management Authority	Department of Fisheries Temple Authorities
Fish breeding season	Post monsoon
Fishing methods	Fishing prohibited in the Sanctuary area.
Current level of abundance	Moderate
Trend in abundance in last 10 – 15 / 40 – 50 years.	Larger sized fishes have declined and population wise too, they have reduced in numbers. Smaller-sized groups are seen in smaller numbers
Significant ecological processes influencing the species / varieties	Reduction of water level in river, siltation of pool etc.
Significant man-induced processes influencing the species / varieties	Poaching, dynamiting, poisoning has resulted in reduced population.
Reasons for the ongoing change	Construction of Harangi Dam, reduced, level of water, siltation.
Gainers : Internal / External	Local people, visitors
Losers : Internal / External	Nature
Desired changes / Desired future	NGO may be entrusted with the feeding watch and ward etc. Required financial assistant may be provided.
Desired management system	A committee may be constituted comprising of officials from concerned Government Department, Temple Trustees and NGOs.
Suggested component for a feasible management plan for the species / varieties	The Vanhi Pushkarni area may have to be adequately deepened to sustain normal fish life. Electrical lights, adjacent to Vanhi Pushkarni area, may be installed to prevent poaching of fishes during nights. To organize periodical desilting and cleaning of the area; people are to be educated about the importance of preserving the sanctity of Vanhi- Pushkarni and the fishes inhabiting. Breeding grounds of the fish of the sanctuary may be identified and protected. The present area of the sanctuary may be extended to 2, Km in both the up- and down streams stretches of the river as number of pools exists within where, fishes, during lean seasons, could take shelter. The NGO undertaking the responsibilities should be financially and physically helped. Department of Fisheries, which has a scheme for the “Improvement of Fish Sanctuaries in the State”, could provide suitable financial support to the NGO in this regard.

The Village Panchayat,