Freshwater Biota of Thailand:An analysis on research gapAn analysis on research gap

Vachira LHEKNIMVachira LHEKNIMDepartment of BiologyDepartment of Biology,Prince of Songkla University,THAILANDTHAILAND

ObjectivesObjectivesObjectivesObjectives

• to contribute the baseline knowledge on freshwater biota of Thailand and

• to pinpoint areas where ignorance and lack of information make impossible forlack of information make impossible for further understanding of freshwater biodiversity

Thailand Thailand PhysiogeographyPhysiogeography

ThailandThailand: : Freshwater habitatsFreshwater habitats

Thai’s River Basins

SignificantSignificantF h t h bit tF h t h bit tFreshwater habitatsFreshwater habitats

GlobGlobal Levelal LevelGlobGlobal Levelal Level

“RAMSAR Sites”“RAMSAR Sites”NameName ProvinceProvince Area Area

(Km(Km22))YearYear

Kuan Ki Sian of the Thale Noi

Phattalung 4.94 1998

Bueng Khong Nong Khai 22 14 2001Bueng Khong Long NH

Nong Khai 22.14 2001

Nong Bong Kai Chiang 4.34 2001Rai

Princess SirindhornWildlife Sanctuary

Narathiwat 201 2001Wildlife Sanctuary

SignificantSignificantFreshwater habitatsFreshwater habitats

Regional Level

Being nominated as ginternational level

Poorly known FW habitats in ThailandPoorly known FW habitats in Thailand

Limestone cavesLimestone caves

Poorly known FW habitats in ThailandPoorly known FW habitats in Thailand

•• PhytotelmataPhytotelmata: water body held by plantsyy y y p

Freshwater Biodiversity: INVERTEBRATESFreshwater Biodiversity: INVERTEBRATESPhylum Groups of organisms No. known species Est. more speciesProtozoaProtozoa ? ?PoriferaPorifera 5 ?PoriferaPorifera 5 ?CnidariaCnidaria 5 ?PlatyhelminthesPlatyhelminthes 10 ?NemerteaNemertea ? ?NematodeNematode ? ?RotiferaRotifera 320 30RotiferaRotifera 320 30NematomorphaNematomorpha ? ?AnnelidaAnnelida 10 25MolluscaMollusca Gastropoda + Bivalves 280 + 95 10MolluscaMollusca Gastropoda + Bivalves 280 + 95 10ArthropodaArthropoda Cladocera 120 30

Anostraca 3 ?Copepoda 40 30Isopoda 20 20Amphipoda ? ?5D d 140 20Decapoda 140 20Aquatic Insects 300 ?

BryozoaBryozoa 18 ?20

Some being described!Some being described!gg

Freshwater Biodiversity: VERTEBRATAFreshwater Biodiversity: VERTEBRATAyy

Phylum Groups of organisms No. known species Est. more species

CHORDATACHORDATA PISCESPISCES 640640 ?50AMPHIBIAAMPHIBIA 140140 ?20REPTILIAREPTILIA 4141 ?10AVESAVES 120120 -MAMMALSMAMMALS 66 -

Diversity of Aquatic PlantsDiversity of Aquatic PlantsDiversity of Aquatic PlantsDiversity of Aquatic Plants

• Most of aquatic plants from all freshwater habitats have been documented.

Less intension FW AreasLess intension FW AreasLess intension FW AreasLess intension FW Areas

Threats of Freshwater BiotaThreats of Freshwater Biota•• Shallowness of the freshwater habitatsShallowness of the freshwater habitatsShallowness of the freshwater habitats Shallowness of the freshwater habitats

due to sedimentation. due to sedimentation. •• Over harvest in the freshwater systemOver harvest in the freshwater system•• Over harvest in the freshwater system. Over harvest in the freshwater system. •• Increasing of pollution in freshwater Increasing of pollution in freshwater

h bit t f i lt l t d tih bit t f i lt l t d tihabitats from agricultural waste, domestic habitats from agricultural waste, domestic wastes, industrial wastes and aquaculture wastes, industrial wastes and aquaculture

ttwastes. wastes. •• Land use changes, deforestation in the Land use changes, deforestation in the g ,g ,

upper watershed and destruction of upper watershed and destruction of fringing forest around the freshwater fringing forest around the freshwater g gg ghabitats. habitats.

Threats of Freshwater BiotaThreats of Freshwater BiotaThreats of Freshwater BiotaThreats of Freshwater Biota• An increasing in salinity level in the freshwater

system in the northeast of Thailand due to underground rock salt removal practices.

• Reduction in amount of freshwater supplies due to several reservoir constructions in upper

t h d lti i l f h t i t twatershed resulting in low freshwater input to stability of freshwater hydrodynamics and salinity intrusion to freshwater habitatsalinity intrusion to freshwater habitat.

• Freshwater aquatic invasion by invasive alien speciesspecies.

• A lack of knowledge is a warning that may contributes to the other activitiescontributes to the other activities.

Alien Species: Pomacea canaliculataPomacea canaliculatap

Alien Species: Alien Species: Pocilia Pocilia sppspp..pp pppp

Alien Species: Eirrchonia crassipesAlien Species: Eirrchonia crassipes

Alien Species:Alien Species: Mimosa pigraMimosa pigraAlien Species:Alien Species: Mimosa pigraMimosa pigra

Remarks from the Previous StudiesRemarks from the Previous Studies• Most researches on Freshwater Biodiversity in Thailand were

fragmented carried o t in a short period er disperse andfragmented, carried out in a short period, very disperse and difficult to access.

• There were limited of research for management - not being undertaken, or is not accessible.

• Most research publications have identified research topic in small areas, and didn't take any account the effect of the whole basin system.y

• Lack of coupling and interacting studies between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems and related biota of the whole basinand aquatic ecosystems and related biota of the whole basin.

• Previous researches concentrated on species inventory, only f i t ti b t bi l i l h i l dfew on interactions between biological, chemical and physical, have not received sufficient attention.

Further needFurther needFurther needFurther need• Compilation on available research results Co p a o o a a ab e esea c esu s

and put it together as handbook, aiming to provide basic knowledge as starting point forprovide basic knowledge as starting point for further study. For example, to improve the k l d bi l f f h tknowledge on biology of freshwater organisms, we need to fill in the taxonomic gap by providing taxonomic keys.

Further needFurther needBuilding up a Database on Freshwater Biota of Building up a Database on Freshwater Biota of Thailand aims for management and conservationsThailand aims for management and conservations“Data on freshwater species often exist, especially for

th d l d t h t b t th

Thailand aims for management and conservations.Thailand aims for management and conservations.

the more developed catchment areas, but they are frequently widely dispersed in unpublished literature, and are hence effectively inaccessible particularly inand are hence effectively inaccessible, particularly in the places where the greatest increase in development is taking place….. Without access todevelopment is taking place….. Without access to this information, development projects will not be able to mitigate or avoid actions that may g yhave major negative impacts upon wetland biodiversity and the predominantly poor

iti d d t tl d ”communities dependant on wetland resources”-(IUCN, 2008)

Source: IUCN (2008)The state of progress in completion of

comprehensive regional assessments of the

( )

comprehensive regional assessments of the worlds’freshwater fish species

Further needFurther needFurther needFurther need

•• Collaboration in Scientific ResearchCollaboration in Scientific Research -This requires that locals and stakeholders, q ,government agencies, scientists and decision makers are actively involved indecision makers are actively involved in the formulation of the issues.

Th k h f tt tiTh k h f tt tiThank you very much for your attention.Thank you very much for your attention.