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
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
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.
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: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.