Biodiversity in the Padma Distributary of the Ganges River, Northwestern Bangladesh: Recommendations for Conservation

5 Abstract: The Padma River is one of the longest rivers and it is believed to be an important spawning and feeding ground for riverine fish species of Bangladesh. This study analyzed the fish biodiversity and main threats to biodiversity to provide recommendations for conservation in the Padma River. Sampling was conducted fortnightly in the Padma River during March 2009 to February 2010 from fishermen catch landed at different fish landing centers between Binodpur and Godagari, Rajshahi, northwestern Bangladesh. A total of 80 species of fish under 9 orders and 24 families were recorded. Cypriniformes were most dominant order constituting 35% of the total fish population followed by Siluriformes (32.50%), Perciformes (17.50%), Clupeiformes (5.00%), Synbranchiformes (3.75%), Osteoglossiformes (2.50%), Beloniformes (1.25%),…