长江安庆新洲水域鱼类群落结构及多样性

沙洲水域环境良好,饵料资源丰富,栖息生境多样,为鱼类的生长繁殖提供了优良的生存环境。为了解长江安庆新洲水域鱼类群落结构特征,于2017年4月、7月、10月和12月对安庆江段新洲水域鱼类群落进行季节性调查。共采集鱼类64种,分属5目11科48属,其中62.5%为鲤科鱼类。以物种数和多样性指数分析群落多样性特征,结果表明新洲水域鱼类种类多样性水平较高。单因素方差分析表明,该群落多样性季节差异显著(P0.05),空间差异不明显。新洲水域鱼类群落优势种为鳊(Parabramis pekinensis Basilewsky, 1855)、鲤(Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus, 1758)、贝氏■(Hemiculter bleekeri Warpachowsky, 1887)、银鮈(Squalidus argentatus Sauvage et Dabry, 1874)和似鳊(Pseudobrama simoni Bleeker, 1864)。4种摄食功能群中,杂食性(42.19%)和肉食性(35.94%)鱼类物种数比例较高;3种生态类群中,淡水定居性鱼类占绝对优势(84.37%);3种栖息水层类型中,底层鱼类物种数比例较高,占37.50%。大型经济鱼类占总渔获物比例低(0.01%),但个体较大,因而相对重要性指数(IRI)高。总体上,新洲鱼类群落多样性和丰富度指数较高,均匀度指数偏低,个体小型化趋势明显。捕捞强度过大、水利工程建设导致的江湖阻隔及外来物种入侵是新洲水域渔业资源衰退的主要因素。由此,建议持续开展长江渔业资源监测,加强长江干流沙洲水域渔业资源保护。     

长江生态考核指标: 基于被动声学监测的长江江豚数量

长江是复杂的生态系统, 但是随着长江生态环境的持续变化, 尤其是人类扰动所致的变化, 长江中的几种极其重要的大型物种先后因此而走向“灭绝”, 或“极可能灭绝”, 或“极度濒危”, 因此在现阶段有必要以现存于长江中的大型物种的生存状况为核心, 建立一项新的生态考核指标, 以综合表征长江生态系统的健康状况和生物多样性的完整性, 为“十年禁捕”和《长江保护法》的顺利实施提供科技支持。长江江豚(Neophocaena asiaeorientalis asiaeorientalis)仅分布于长江中下游及洞庭湖、鄱阳湖, 是长江中极可能仅存的大型水生哺乳动物, 多年来一直受到社会各界的高度关注, 已成为长江“明星”物种。长江江豚种群分布和数量的变化与长江生态环境和鱼类资源的变化密切相关, 具有综合表征生态环境质量和生物多样性及其变化的基本属性。在复杂的水下声环境中, 长江江豚的声纳信号具有独特的时频特征, 具有较强的可监测性和可量化特征, 并且已被广泛应用于长江江豚的被动声学监测、实时识别和群体估算。同时, 在自然水域对长江江豚进行被动声学监测是一项方便和高效的工作。在沿江和沿湖设置一些样地水域, 布置水下声学仪器, 开展长期被动声学监测, 不但可以掌握长江江豚的分布规律、群体规模及其变化, 而且可以为定量分析样地水域生态环境质量和鱼类等水生生物的丰度提供可信的依据, 继而可以为定量评价所监测水域人类活动对生态环境及水生生物扰动提供长期数据支撑。因此, 基于被动声学监测的长江江豚种群数量, 可作为一项重要的生态考核指标, 用于定量评价长江生态环境质量和水生生物多样性及其在时间和空间上的变化, 并用于考核相关保护工作的落实情况和实际的保护效果。     

长江河口湿地鱼类的种类组成及多样性分析

为了解长江河口湿地鱼类种类组成的现状及变化趋势, 作者于2004–2007年间在长江河口湿地设置了33个采样站点, 采用多种调查网具对该水域的鱼类资源状况进行了较为系统的调查。共调查到鱼类123种, 隶属1纲18目46科。结合文献记录, 本地区共有鱼类208种, 隶属2纲22目67科。海鲢(Elops saurus)和印度小公鱼(Sardinella sindensis)为本地区的新记录种。鱼类组成以鲤形目和鲈形目为主; 生态型以淡水鱼类最多。长江南支、北支和口门区水域的种类组成存在一定的差异, 南支常见种以鲤形目鱼类为主, 而北支和口门区以鲈形目鱼类为主。与1990年以前的调查资料相比, 长江河口湿地鱼类物种数有所减少, 其中软骨鱼类和鲀科鱼类下降相对较多。一些重要经济种逐渐变为偶见种, 甚至成为濒危物种, 如鲥(Tenualosa reevesii)、前颌间银鱼(Hemisalanx prognathus)和暗纹东方鲀(Takifugu obscurus)等。导致河口湿地鱼类物种多样性下降的主要原因可能是过度捕捞、水域污染和栖息地丧失等。     

漓江上游鱼类物种组成及其多样性分析

2013年4月—2014年1月,分季度对漓江上游干流及其4条支流(小溶江、川江、陆洞河和黄柏江)进行了4次鱼类物种多样性调查研究,共采集淡水鱼类72种,隶属于4目15科51属。以鲤形目为主,分别占总物种数和总个体数的62.50%和79.78%;鲤科占优势,占总个体数的51.99%;研究区域内以宽鳍鱲Zacco platypus、方氏品唇鳅Pseudogastromyzon fangi、马口鱼Opsariichthys bidens为优势种,分别占总个体数的26.76%、11.92%、10.50%;多样性结果显示:夏季鱼类多样性(Margalef物种丰富度D_(ma),Shannon-Wiener多样性指数H'e,Pielou均匀度指数Je)高于春季和冬季,秋季最低;漓江上游干流多样性高于其他4条支流,黄柏江优势种最明显(Simpson优势度指数λ最高),多样性最低。     

基于GEE和RSEI的长三角一体化示范区生态环境质量动态评估

生态环境质量变化的及时监测与定量评估,可为区域生态环境协同治理与管控政策制定提供决策支持。本研究基于Landsat5/TM和Landsat8/OLI影像,利用Google Earth Engine(GEE)平台和遥感生态指数(RSEI),综合考虑湿度、绿度、干度和热度等多种生态环境要素,对长三角一体化示范区2000—2020年生态环境质量变化进行了评估,并结合GDP和人口数据分析了社会经济因子对生态环境质量的影响。结果表明：绿度是对研究区生态环境质量贡献率最大的指标,且具有正面效应,而热度指标是引起生态环境质量退化的主要因素;研究区生态环境质量总体上处于中等水平,且呈现平稳上升趋势,其中,青浦区生态环境质量上升趋势明显,而吴江区和嘉善县的生态环境质量略有下降;2000—2020年,研究区生态环境质量提高区域面积占比(30.45%)略高于下降区域(28.35%),良好和优等级区域占比由27.34%增至29.79%,在不同时段,区县间和街镇间差异较为显著;人口增长对生态环境质量具有明显的负面影响,而经济发展并未以牺牲生态环境为代价,二者之间表现为脱钩关系。     

塔里木盆地鱼类入侵及区系演变趋势

鱼类入侵是塔里木盆地土著鱼类濒危的关键性影响因素之一,结合历史文献数据及近年调查数据,系统综述了塔里木盆地鱼类入侵现状,并就鱼类入侵引起的鱼类区系均一化问题进行了分析。结果显示,该地区记录鱼类63种,其中土著种19种,入侵种44种。尽管入侵鱼类提升了塔里木盆地鱼类群落属级及科级的多样性水平,但相应的G-F多样性指数却明显下降,表明该区鱼类群落从物种组成简单、分化明显的特点演变为物种成分复杂、分化贫乏的特点。入侵种中源于长江和额尔齐斯河分别有30种(68.2%)和7种(15.9%),源于美欧和亚洲其他区域的有7种(15.9%)。入侵鱼类的进入引起塔里木盆地与其相关区域鱼类区系相似性显著上升(P0.01),并导致该区鱼类区系从单一的中亚高原山区复合体演变为多区系混合体。进一步利用鱼类个体生态矩阵分析方法研究显示,外来种在塔里木盆地适应性广泛,能够占据水域各种栖息生境,显著压缩了土著种的栖息空间,进而通过捕食、食物竞争及其他作用途径严重危及土著鱼类种群的续存,提示须采取有力措施限制入侵种的进一步扩散及对濒危土著物种迅速开展人工保育工作。     

黄浦江和苏州河上游鱼类多样性组成的时空特征

为初步了解黄浦江和苏州河的鱼类多样性组成及其时空分布特征,2005年6月至2006年5月,对黄浦江上游河段的淀峰、松浦大桥两个站点,以及苏州河上游河段的白鹤、黄渡两个站点进行了逐月的鱼类监测。四个站点共采集到鱼类44种,隶属10目14科35属,其中苏州河上游30种,隶属6目10科25属,黄浦江上游39种,隶属10目13科32属。黄浦江上游鱼类的物种多样性明显高于苏州河上游,白鹤、松浦大桥、淀峰之间的鱼类群落为中等相似,黄渡与松浦大桥、淀峰之间的鱼类群落为中等不相似。各站点的鱼类具明显的季节性变化,夏、秋季大于冬、春季。四个站点的鱼类均以杂食性和定居性的物种为主,杂食性鱼类物种数占51.5–62.5%。松浦大桥站的江海洄游性和河湖洄游性鱼类数量明显多于其他站点。鱼类物种的时空重现率计算结果反映了黄浦江、苏州河上游各水域的鱼类群落具相对独立性。初步研究结果表明长期恶化的水质问题和较差的水系连通度可能是影响苏州河上游鱼类多样性的关键因素,而黄浦江具更大水域面积,以及较好水质状况和水系连通度,有利于丰富鱼类多样性。     

运用稳定同位素技术分析三峡坝前水域的食物网结构

选择茅坪水域和香溪河水域作为坝前干支流的代表性水域, 采样分析了碳、氮稳定同位素(δ13C、δ15N), 并据此了解食物网结构。结果显示, 坝前干流水域鱼类δ13C范围是-33.5‰--19.4‰, 支流水域鱼类δ13C为-28.3‰--13.9‰, 两水域同种鱼类δ13C值差异在1‰-8.9‰之间,说明两地同种鱼类食源存在一定差异; 干流鱼类δ15N范围是6.72‰-15.29‰, 支流水域鱼类δ15N范围是4.8‰-14.4‰, 干流鱼类δ15N的平均值(11.1‰)大于支流(10.1‰), 且干流每种鱼类δ15N均大于支流的同种鱼类。对颗粒有机物(POM)的δ15N分析发现, 其范围在3.61‰-5.76‰, 将其作为初级生产者进行相对营养级分析, 干流鱼类的平均相对营养位置为3.00, 食物链长度为4.35; 支流鱼类的平均相对营养位置为2.64, 食物链长度为3.9。在计算得到的反映鱼类群落的营养结构得的碳氮同位素指标中, 香溪河水域食物网的总面积(TA)、平均最邻近距离(NND)和最邻近距离标准差(SDNND)均大于坝前干流水域, 说明坝前干流水域的鱼类营养结构更为冗余。研究表明坝前干流水域食物链长度比香溪河支流水域食物链长度更长; 坝前干流水域食物网结构较香溪河更稳定, 坝前干流不同鱼类的种间竞争较支流水域更激烈, 坝前干支流均存在中间生态位较拥挤的情况。     

梵净山及邻近地区鱼类资源的现状

为了了解梵净山及邻近地区鱼类资源的现状及变化趋势,2001–2003年对这一地区乌江水系和沅江水系鱼类进行了系统的调查。本调查设立了19个调查点,共采集鱼类标本3614号,经鉴定为85种(亚种),分属5目14科61属。除胡子鲇(Clariasfuscus)为外来种外,其他均为土著鱼类。海南拟餐(PseudohemiculterHainanensis)、峨眉后平鳅(Metahomalopteraomeiensisomeiensis)和福建纹胸鱼兆(Glyptothoraxfukiensisfukiensis)为本地区土著鱼类新记录种。鱼类组成以鲤形目鲤科为主体,并以适应急流生活的鱼类占多数,小型野杂鱼类所占比例较高。乌江水系和沅江水系鱼类物种组成存在差异,分别属于长江上游鱼类区系成分和长江中下游区系成分。结果还表明这一地区土著鱼类物种数呈下降趋势,其中鲤形目鱼类物种数减少较多。导致该地区土著鱼类物种数下降的原因是酷渔滥捕和水域生境的破坏。     

赣江鱼类物种更新名录

赣江是长江的主要支流之一, 淡水鱼类多样性极其丰富, 但是目前对于该河流的鱼类多样性还未有充分的了解。本研究于2016年9月至2017年8月对赣江鱼类进行了实地调查, 结合历史文献资料并参考最新的分类学成果, 更新了赣江淡水鱼类名录。结果表明, 赣江共有淡水鱼类180种, 隶属于12目31科93属。其中, 土著鱼类174种, 外来鱼类6种。赣江鱼类以鲤形目为主; 鲤科种类最多, 其次是鲿科。更新的物种名录中, 包含23个新记录土著种, 其中有5个未被描述的新种; 有36个历史资料记载的种类被剔除出物种名录; 25个物种发生了分类地位的变更。此外, 本次调查有28种鱼类未采集到, 说明这些鱼类的种群数量正在急剧下降, 而这些鱼类分别属于洄游性、流水性和产漂流性卵等独特生态类型, 说明赣江鱼类多样性受到了严重的人为干扰。本研究所给出的赣江鱼类的更新物种名录, 可为今后的赣江鱼类多样性保护提供理论基础。     

长江中游浅水湖泊生物完整性时空变化

介绍了采用 Karr提出、经 Fausch等修订后的生物完整性指数 (IBI)进行水环境质量评价的原理和概念 ,并根据长江中游鱼类种类组成特征、可获得数据的类型和资料的性质 ,初步建立了适合长江中游浅水湖泊的 IBI体系。同时 ,以基本保持了长江中游浅水湖泊自然属性的五湖 1978年的调查数据为参照 ,选择长江中游不同类型的浅水湖泊进行了生物完整性时空变化的比较研究。结果表明 :以洪湖为例进行纵向比较 ,在 196 4、1981、1993年和 1998年等 4个不同的年代 ,其生物完整性呈逐步下降的趋势 ;以 2 0世纪 90年代初期的资料进行横向比较 ,三湖连江水库和保安湖的生物完整性表现为一般 ,洪湖为差 ,东湖则很差。上述湖泊所呈现的生物完整性的时空变化趋势与其它相关研究所反映的湖泊水环境质量互为补充验证 ,可以为湖泊管理、持续发展和利用以及水环境保护提供更为充分的科学依据     

水生所与三峡和葛洲坝水利工程中的鱼类保护

葛洲坝和三峡水利枢纽是世界上著名的大型水电工程, 对长江中下游防洪、发电、航运、水资源利用等产生了巨大的综合效益。如何减轻葛洲坝-三峡工程对长江流域生态环境及水生生物的影响经历了漫长而激烈的论证过程。中国科学院水生生物研究所(以下简称“水生所”)自始至终参加了这两个工程的水域生态环境影响评价和鱼类保护工作, 并且做出了重要的贡献。在葛洲坝工程的救鱼对象讨论中, 水生所指出救鱼的主要对象是中华鲟; 在救鱼的措施方面, 水生所科学论证了葛洲坝工程不必修建过鱼设施, 中华鲟在葛洲坝下能够自然繁殖, 中华鲟的救护措施以人工繁殖放流和产卵场的保护为主。在葛洲坝工程建设后, 水生所进一步预测了三峡工程对长江珍稀特有鱼类、重要经济鱼类以及渔业的影响, 并且建议在赤水河建立自然保护区, 作为长江上游珍稀特有鱼类的庇护所; 提出最早的生态调度想法, 通过三峡水库的调度形成人造洪峰, 刺激“四大家鱼”产卵等等。实践证明, 水生所做出的工程影响评价和鱼类保护建议是科学的、符合客观实际的, 对国家的决策起到了重要作用。     

A pilot macroinvertebrate-based multimetric index (MMI-CS) for assessing the ecological status of the Chishui River basin,China

As the only undammed river in the Yangtze River basin and an important rare fish reserve, the Chishui River has attracted the world's attention. It was recently selected as a reference river for a pilot biomonitoring assessment within the European Union-China River Basin Management Programme. As the outcome of the project, a pilot multimetric index (MMI-CS) was developed for future assessment of the ecological status of the Chishui River basin. In this study, eight core metrics were selected and used to build the multimetric system. These metrics included the total number of taxa (TotalTax), the number of taxa of sprawlers (SprwlTax), the number of intolerant taxa (IntolTax), the Hilsenhoff biotic index (HBI), the percentage of Ephemeroptera, Trichoptera and Plecoptera (EPTPct), the number of Ephemeroptera taxa (EphemTax), the percentage of collectors (CllctPct) and the average score per taxon (ASPT). Five ecological status ratings (“Excellent”, “Good”, “Fair”, “Poor” and “Very Poor”) were established. The results of the evaluation showed that the index was reasonable and effective. The results of the assessment showed that sites with higher ecological status were distributed mainly in the upper and middle reaches of the region and that sites with lower ecological status were centrally distributed in the lower reaches. Moreover, the index should be refined and validated using additional datasets obtained in different seasons in the future for routine bioassessment within the framework of sustainable management.     

基于eDNA技术的长江上游珍稀特有鱼类国家级自然保护区重庆段鱼类多样性研究

利用环境DNA宏条形码(environmental DNA metabarcoding;eDNA metabarcoding)检测长江上游珍稀特有鱼类国家级自然保护区重庆段鱼类多样性,探索适用于长江鱼类多样性监测和保护的新方法,为后期长江"十年禁渔"效果评估提供一定的基础资料.研究于2021年3月在保护区重庆段共设置6...     

The Need for Multiple Lines of Evidence for Predicting Site-Specific Ecological Effects

The goal of this paper is to illustrate the value and importance of the “weight of evidence” approach (use of multiple lines of evidence from field and laboratory data) to assess the occurrence or absence of ecological impairment in the aquatic environment. Single species toxicity tests, microcosms, and community metric approaches such as the Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) are discussed. Single species toxicity tests or other single lines of evidence are valuable first tier assessments that should be used as screening tools to identify potentially toxic conditions in a effluent or the ambient environment but these tests should not be used as the final quantitative indicator of absolute ecological impairment that may result in regulatory action. Both false positive and false negative predictions of ecological effects can occur due to the inherent variability of measurement endpoints such as survival, growth and reproduction used in single species toxicity tests. A comparison of single species ambient toxicity test results with field data showed that false positives are common and likely related to experimental variability or toxicity to selected test species without measureable effects on the ecosystem. Results from microcosm studies have consistently demonstrated that chemical exposures exceeding the acute or chronic toxicity concentrations for highly sensitive species may cause little or no ecologically significant damage to an aquatic ecosystem. Sources of uncertainty identified when extrapolating from single species tests to ecological effects were: variability in individual response to pesticide exposure; variation among species in sensitivity to pesticides; effects of time varying and repeated exposures; and extrapolation from individual to population-level endpoints. Data sets from the Chesapeake Bay area (Maryland) were used to show the importance of using “multiple lines of evidence” when assessing biological impact due to conflicting results reported from ambient water column and sediment toxicity tests and biological indices (benthic and fish IBIs). Results from water column and sediment toxicity tests with multiple species in tidal areas showed that no single species was consistently the most sensitive. There was also a high degree of disagreement between benthic and fish IBI data for the various stations. The lack of agreement for these biological community indices is not surprising due to the differences in exposure among habitats occupied by these different taxonomic assemblages. Data from a fish IBI, benthic IBI and Maryland Physical Habitat Index (MPHI) were compared for approximately 1100 first through third-order Maryland non-tidal streams to show the complexity of data interpretation and the incidence of conflicting lines of evidence. A key finding from this non-tidal data set was the need for using more than one biological indicator to increase the discriminatory power of identifying impaired streams and reduce the possibility of “false negative results”. Based on historical data, temporal variability associated with an IBI in undisturbed areas was reported to be lower than the variability associated with single species toxicity tests.     

长江鲟幼鱼的听觉阈值研究

试验采用室内噪声控制的方式模拟野外自然噪声环境, 以长江鲟(Acipenser dabryanus Dumeril)幼鱼为实验对象, 使用TDT听觉测试系统, 在100—500 Hz的刺激频率下, 通过听性脑干反应(Auditory Evoked Potential, AEP法)测定其听力阈值。结果显示, 长江鲟的最敏感频率为300 Hz, 声压为(133±0.5) dB, 听力曲线呈“V”型, 听觉阈值随着频率的不同而发生变化。总体看, 长江鲟听觉阈值较高, 听力较弱, 不能听到500 Hz以上的声音, 其中, 长江鲟的听觉阈值与湖鲟和匙吻鲟等鲟鱼类基本相似, 但比长江中常见的淡水鱼类的听觉阈值高、听频范围窄。研究结果将为长江鲟的野外放归和种群重建提供重要基础资料, 为评价涉渔工程建设运行对长江鱼类的影响提供基础数据支撑。     

Status of research on Yangtze fish biology and fisheries

The Yangtze is the largest river in China and the third largest river in the world. Being pregnant with plentiful fish resources, it is not only the representative of the areas with biological diversity, but also a cradle of freshwater fisheries in China. In the Yangtze, at present, the fishery resources are seriously depleted; the fishery yield by fishing is significantly reduced; significant changes have occurred on the structure of fish community, with decrease in migratory fish species, reduction in the quantity of the populations of rare, peculiar and economically important fish species and increase in the number of exotic fish species, and severe trend in fish stunting. Habitat fragmentation and shrinkage, resources overexploitation, water pollution and invasion of exotic species are the main causes for threatening fish stocks in the Yangtze River. Since 1950’s, a lot of scientific researches have been conducted on biology of fishes from the Yangtze River and its fisheries to provide scientific basis for their protection. In recent years, measures such as closed spring, fish reserves, artificial enhancement & release, ecological rehabilitation, fishery management and international cooperation have played important roles. Nevertheless, researches on fishes from the Yangtze cannot adequately meet the demand for their protection. Especially, those in the aspects of population ecology of Yangtze fishes, species endangerment mechanism, ecological effects of large hydraulic projects and protection strategy are not deep enough. It is recommended that scientific researches should be conducted in comprehensive survey of Yangtze fish resources, fish endangerment mechanism, techniques in artificial enhancement and release of key species, risk assessment of exotic species, ecological rehabilitation of major fisheries functional zones, etc.     

天鹅洲故道水生态研究进展

20世纪90年代初, 湖北长江天鹅洲故道水质良好, 鱼类资源丰富, 被认为是建立长江豚类半自然保护区和四大家鱼种质资源生态库的理想场所, 而对之开展了水生态研究, 之后由于成功实现了长江江豚的迁地保护而受到越来越多的关注。学者们从水质和沉积物等环境因素, 浮游植物、浮游动物、底栖动物和高等水生植物等生物因素, 水体初级生产力、渔产潜力和鱼类等资源因素多角度开展了天鹅洲故道水生态研究。天鹅洲故道水质呈恶化趋势。浮游植物数量增加了2个数量级, 且从单细胞个体转变为多细胞群体, 同时带有胶被的蓝藻在种类和密度上占有绝对优势; 浮游动物优势种呈小型化趋势; 底栖动物密度有所下降; 高等水生植物呈逐渐衰退趋势。鱼类资源量呈下降趋势。根据水质化学和生物学评价结果, 结合天鹅洲故道受人类活动的影响, 本文指出故道与长江阻隔、渔业活动和环境污染是天鹅洲故道水生态面临的主要问题, 其通过水质、饵料和栖息地等方面影响长江江豚的可持续性生存。同时, 提出5个方面的建议: 首先, 实施通江工程, 恢复故道水文特征, 提高故道理化环境异质性; 其次, 控制外源和内源营养负荷, 提高故道水体水质; 然后, 持续监测水质、沉积物和水生生物状况, 建立故道水生态数据库; 再次, 实施生态修复工程, 提高水生生物多样性; 最后, 规范渔业活动, 优化故道渔业资源, 为保护天鹅洲故道水环境质量和水生态健康, 维持江豚可持续生存提供依据。     

Key factors determining water quality,fish community dynamics,and the ecological health in an Asian temperate lotic system

Identifying the key determinants and their impacts on water quality and fish community structure is imperative to environmental assessment and ecosystem conservation. The main objectives of this study were to assess the factors driving water quality, fish assemblages, and ecological health in a temperate lotic ecosystem using a long-term (12 years) dataset. The results indicate that sewage treatment plants significantly negatively impact river water quality and are primary pollution sources. Temporal fluctuations showed that the summer monsoon adversely influenced TN and EC due to dilution effects while increasing the COD and TSS in the water. Annual variations and the Mann–Kendall test demonstrated increasing trends in COD, TN:TP ratio, and CHL-a but a decreasing trend of TP with the impoundment. Artificial barriers (weirs) in the river created more favorable algal growth conditions due to increased water residence time. COD and TSS levels in the river were significantly affected by soil erosion. The environmental disturbance measures index indicated that all sites were severely degraded. Fish composition analysis suggested that exotic fish species such as, Lepomis macrochirus and Micropterus salmoides, dominated the community structure and negatively impacted native species after the installation of weirs. Our findings indicate that fish guilds and the IBI model are controlled by nutrient enrichment, organic matter, algal production, and land use/land cover. Water quality governs the biological health of the river. Overall, evaluation of the river's ecological health based on the multi-metric WPI and the IBI revealed that the river has a “poor” to “very poor” ecological status. The outcomes of this study may aid policymakers in managing and restoring the river.