Fishes sold by local people in the market near the Dong Nai River.

Knowledge of where species occurs is fundamental to biodiversity conservation. The distribution of fishes in Sai Gon-Dong Nai River (Ecoregion No.729), including the threatened fishes are not available because of misidentification, lack of comparative specimens and various nomenclatural reasons (Kottelat et al. 2012). These problems cause conservation status of fish fauna in this river have been assessed as critical and declining. Some threatened fishes are only known from the original literatures, other that are known in the Mekong River but are hypothesized to occur in Sai Gon-Dong Nai River such as Dasyatis laosensis (endangered), Syncrossus beauforti (near threatened), Wallago attu (near threatened).

To conserve fishes in the wild, especially for the threatened fishes, we must know where they occur. This project has two objectives:

(1) Recognizing and collecting fish specimens in the Dong Nai River

(2) Studying on diversity of fish species in the Dong Nai River

Field surveys will be conducted in the Dong Nai River at three sampling sites: upper, middle and lower of this river with different habitats. Fishes will be collected by fishing with fishermen in the river as well as taking in the local markets. Using morphologic and molecular analysis of each specimen, we can provide a checklist of fish fauna in Dong Nai River. The presence of threatened species in the Dong Nai River can be confirmed.

This project also designs some conservation activities. Finding threatened fishes in the wild is expected to precipitate serious conservation attention to these species. In addition, protected area staffs and forestry officials will participate in the project and learn from our team of the national and global importance of the species. This is also an opportunity for my students to join this project as assistants and receive experiences for their conservation career in the future.