A seasonal study on the gut content analysis of catla catla from wan prakalpa reservoir, parli vaijnath, beed district, Maharashtra, India

Understanding the feeding ecology of commercially important fish species is crucial for fisheries management. This study investigated the seasonal dietary composition of the major carp, Catla catla, in the Wan Prakalpa reservoir, Parli Vaijnath, Beed District, Maharashtra, India. Over twelve months (June 2024 to May 2025), 25 fish specimens were collected seasonally. Gut content analysis was performed using the Occurrence Method and the Points Volume Method. The results revealed that Catla catla is a planktivorous fish, with phytoplankton constituting the bulk of its diet (68.2% annually). Zooplankton and detritus comprised 20.5% and 11.3% of the diet, respectively. Chlorophyceae (42.1%) and Bacillariophyceae (39.8%) were the dominant phytoplankton groups. Seasonal variation was evident, with phytoplankton consumption highest in post-monsoon (75.4%) and summer (72.6%) months, while zooplankton intake peaked during the monsoon (28.3%). The Index of Preponderance consistently ranked phytoplankton highest across all seasons. This study confirms the planktivorous, surface-feeding nature of Catla catla and highlights significant seasonal dietary shifts influenced by plankton availability in the Wan Prakalpa reservoir.