Annotated checklist of freshwater molluscs from the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia

By

Ng, Ting Hui
Jeratthitikul, Ekgachai
Čhirasak Sutčharit
Chhuoy, Samol
Pin, Kakada
Pholyotha, Arthit
Siriwut, Warut
Srisonchai, Ruttapon
Hogan, Zeb S
Ngor, Peng Bun

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2020

Original Publication

ZooKeys

Volume

958

Pages

107--141

Subjects

Alien species , Bivalves , Cambodia , diversity , economic species , Lower Mekong basin , Snails , Tonle Sap Lake

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.958.53865

 

Abstract

The Tonle Sap Lake in Cambodia is a crucial freshwater biodiversity hotspot and supports one of the world’s largest inland fisheries. Within the Tonle Sap basin, freshwater molluscs provide vital ecosystem services and are among the fauna targetted for commercial harvesting. Despite their importance, freshwater molluscs of the Tonle Sap basin remain poorly studied. The historical literature was reviewed and at least 153 species of freshwater molluscs have been previously recorded from throughout Cambodia, including 33 from the Tonle Sap basin. Surveys of the Tonle Sap Lake and surrounding watershed were also conducted and found 31 species, 15 bivalves (five families) and 16 gastropods (eight families), in the Tonle Sap basin, including three new records for Cambodia (Scaphula minuta,Novaculina siamensis,Wattebledia siamensis), the presence of globally invasivePomacea maculataand potential pest species likeLimnoperna fortunei. This study represents the most comprehensive documentation of freshwater molluscs of the Tonle Sap basin, and voucher specimens deposited at the Inland Fisheries Research and Development Institute, Cambodia, represent the first known reference collection of freshwater molluscs in the country. In order to combat the combined anthropogenic pressures, including invasive species, climate change and dams along the Mekong River, a multi-pronged approach is urgently required to study the biodiversity, ecology, ecosystem functioning of freshwater molluscs and other aquatic fauna in the Tonle Sap basin.