A Systematic Review on Biodiversity and Ecological Integrity of Himalayan Freshwater Lakes

Parul  Sharma; Chander  Shekhar; Arvind Kumar  Sharma; Akshay  Kumar; Rakesh Kumar  Dorach; Rakesh  Kumar; Sunil  Kumar; Amit Kumar Sharma

doi:10.53623/sein.v3i2.1086

The western Himalayan region, particularly the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, was home to many freshwater lakes that represented ecologically critical systems sustaining high biodiversity and various essential ecosystem services, including nutrient cycling, climate regulation, and livelihood support. These lakes differed in size, altitude, and ecological characteristics. They contained diverse species of plankton and fish, which were key components of the aquatic food web, served as bioindicators of water quality, and played a crucial role in ecosystem functioning. This review aimed to assess the biodiversity and ecological integrity of freshwater lakes, with a focus on understanding the relationship between biological diversity, water quality, and environmental stressors. A systematic literature review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. For data collection, Google Scholar, PubMed, ResearchGate, Scopus, and ScienceDirect databases were searched using relevant keywords. Studies published between 2010 and 2025 focusing on freshwater lakes of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh were included, addressing ecological integrity, including water quality, biodiversity, trophic status, and pollution. The review revealed that these lakes supported diverse and functionally important planktonic and fish communities that regulated primary productivity and acted as reliable bioindicators of water quality. However, increasing anthropogenic pressures, including pollution, urbanisation, overexploitation, and unregulated tourism, were degrading water quality and disrupting ecological balance. Climate change, particularly glacial retreat and shifting precipitation regimes, further exacerbated these impacts, accelerating ecosystem instability and biodiversity loss. Overall, the freshwater lakes of the Himalayan region were under significant stress due to anthropogenic effects and climate change, resulting in declining water quality and biodiversity loss. To prevent further biodiversity loss and maintain ecological integrity, effective conservation strategies, strict policy implementation, and community participation were required to ensure long-term ecological sustainability.

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SUBMITTED: 02 March 2026
ACCEPTED: 30 March 2026
PUBLISHED: 9 April 2026
SUBMITTED to ACCEPTED: 28 days
DOI: https://doi.org/10.53623/sein.v3i2.1086

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Sharma, P. ., Shekhar, C. ., Sharma, A. K. ., Kumar, A. ., Dorach, R. K. ., Kumar, R. ., Kumar, S. ., & Sharma, A. K. (2026). A Systematic Review on Biodiversity and Ecological Integrity of Himalayan Freshwater Lakes. Sustainable Environmental Insight, 3(2), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.53623/sein.v3i2.1086

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A Systematic Review on Biodiversity and Ecological Integrity of Himalayan Freshwater Lakes

Sustainable Environmental Insight

Volume 3 - Issue 2 - 2026

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