An evaluation of fluctuating asymmetry for identifying imperiled mahseer (Tor tambroides) populations

The growth of human populations has led to an increase in habitat loss and degradation through activities such as land conversion for agriculture, urban growth, deforestation and overfishing,-potentially impacting species viability. All of these factors can have negative impacts which may-result in reduced performance of fitness components. The developmental stability represents an-integral component of individual fitness and is most often estimated by their level of fluctuating-asymmetry. The aim of this study was to test whether levels of fluctuating asymmetry, reflect-developmental stress caused by overfishing due to the absence and the presence of the regional-mahseer conservation strategies. If imperiled populations could be identified early and management-actions taken to prevent declines, the benefit to the conservation of biodiversity is profound. Three-bilateral meristic characters were counted on each side of the fish: number of gill rakers on the lower-first branchial arch, eyes diameter, and number of pectoral-fin rays. The result showed that adverse-conditions found in unprotected environments such as Manna River affect morphological development of trait of functional importance for fish. There were differences in fluactuating-asymmetry among mahseer, Manna River mahseer exhibited higher value of fluactuating asymmetry-for almost all characters studied with the significant reduced development of locomotive (fins length)-character. Fluctuating asymmetry appears to be a useful indicator for stress-induced developmental-instability in mahseer.