SPECIES COMPOSITION, SEASONAL VARIATION, AND CONSERVATION STATUS OF FISH ASSEMBLAGES IN THE UPPER TIEN RIVER, DONG THAP PROVINCE, VIETNAM
Main Article Content
Abstract
The present study investigated the species composition and spatial distribution of fish assemblages in the upper reaches of the Tien River in Dong Thap province. Samples were systematically collected at four fixed sites within the headwater basin from March to August 2025. A total of 86 species, representing 59 genera, 36 families and 14 orders, were recorded. Among these, members of the order Cypriniformes exhibited the greatest species richness (25 species, 29.07%), followed closely by Siluriformes (22 species, 25.58%). Species assemblages displayed marked seasonal shifts, with composition differing between the rainy season and the preceding dry period. Importantly, the survey documented a number of threatened taxa. Several rare species appear on the IUCN Red List (2025) and the Vietnam Red Data Book (2024), underscoring the conservation value of this riverine system. Furthermore, analysis of encounter rates revealed that most species had low to very low frequencies of occurrence, pointing to either naturally sparse populations or anthropogenically induced declines. Overall, these findings provide a baseline for biodiversity monitoring and resource management in the upper Tien River. They highlight the need for integrated conservation strategies that account for seasonal dynamics and protect vulnerable taxa. Continued monitoring is therefore recommended to detect long‐term trends and to inform adaptive management in the face of ongoing environmental change.
Keywords
conservation, Cypriniformes, distribution, fish assemblages, Siluriformes
Article Details
References
Chakraborty, S. K. (2021). Ecology of Fishes of Rivers: Functional Roles. In Riverine Ecology Volume 2: Biodiversity Conservation, Conflicts and Resolution (pp. 187-286). Cham: Springer International Publishing.
Costanza, R., Kubiszewski, I., Paquet, P., King, J., Halimi, S., Sanguanngoi, H., ... & Morell, D. (2011). Planning approaches for water resources development in the Lower Mekong Basin.
Eschmeyer, W.N., Fricke, R., Fong, J.D. (2025). Species by Family/ Subfamily in the Catalog of Fishes. Retrieved August 08, 2025, từ https://researcharchive.calacademy.org/research/Ichthyology/catalog/SpeciesByFamily.asp
Froese, R., & Pauly, D. (2025). Fish Base, World Wide Web Electronic Publication. Retrieved August 08, 2025, from http://www.fishbase.org
Griffin, L. P., Danylchuk, A. J., Casselberry, G. A., Brownscombe, J. W., Robichaud, J. A., Piczak, M. L., ... & Cooke, S. J. (2025). Habitat management and restoration as missing pieces in flats ecosystems conservation and the fishes and fisheries that they support. Fisheries, vuae032.
Hung, L. M., & Hoang, T. B. (2017). Riverbank erosion in the Mekong Delta region and the contributions of science and technology in disaster prevention and damage reduction. Vietnam Journal of Science and Technology 9, 24-46.
Kang, B., & Huang, X. (2022). Mekong fishes: Biogeography, migration, resources, threats, and conservation. Reviews in Fisheries Science & Aquaculture, 30(2), 170-194.
Le, K. N., Son, N. H., Nguyen T. N. H., Le H. A., Tran V. D., Nguyen T. D., Tran D. D., Ha P. H., To T. M. H., Nguyen T. V., Vo T. T., Nguyen T. T., Dinh M. Q. (2018). Fish Species Composition in Hau River Basin at Hau Giang Province. VNU Journal of Science: Natural science and Technology, 34(1), 90-104.
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. (2015). Decision on the announcement of the list of rare aquatic species at risk of extinction in Vietnam that need to be protected, restored, and developed. Ha Noi.
Nguyen, X. D., Quang, N. X., Pham, T. L., & Veettil, B. K. (2022). A Comprehensive Study on Fish Species Composition, Diversity, Migration, Threatened Status, Economic Value and Endemism in the Co Chien River, Ben Tre Province (Mekong Delta), Vietnam. Ocean Science Journal, 57(1), 69-90.
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. (2025). Retrieved August 08, 2025, từ https://www.iucnredlist.org
Tong, X. T., Nguyen, H. D. (2009). Changes in fish composition before and after Dau Tieng lake construction. Ho Chi Minh city of education Journal of Science, 31(3), 29-40.
Tong, X. T., Dao, T. A. P., Nguyen, A. N. (2019). Research on species composition and distribution of fish species in Tien Giang province section of Tien river. Ho Chi Minh city of education Journal of Science, 16(6), 115-132.
Tran, D. D., K. Shibukawa, Nguyen, H. P., Tran, L. X., Mai, H. V. and K. Utsugi. (2013). Fishes of the Mekong Delta, Vietnam. Can Tho University Publishing House, Can Tho. 174 pages.
Tri, N. N., Tu, N. P. C., & Van Tu, N. (2021). An overview of aquaculture development in Viet Nam. In Proceedings International Conference on Fisheries and Aquaculture (Vol. 7, No. 1, pp. 53-73).Tromboni, F., Dilts, T. E., Null, S. E., Lohani, S., Ngor, P. B., Soum, S., ... & Chandra, S. (2021). Changing land use and population density are degrading water quality in the Lower Mekong Basin. Water, 13(14), 1948.
Truong, T. K., Tran, T. T. H. (1993). Freshwater Fish of the Mekong Delta. Can Tho University Publishing House, Can Tho.
Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology. Viet Nam Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved August 08, 2025, from http://vnredlist.vast.vn