A trip down the river: in-situ conservation using the river corridor

Ahyaudin Ali and Amir Shah Ruddin Md. Sah. (2001) A trip down the river: in-situ conservation using the river corridor. [Proceedings Paper]

Peninsular Malaysia is bisected by the Main Range (Banjaran Titiwangsa) that spawned large river systems such as the Perak, Pahang, Kelantan and Terengganu Rivers. Lacking in lakes and other large natural water bodies, these rivers instead provide various ecosystems and niches resulting in many diverse and unique fish species. Other collateral wetland ecosystems linked to these river systems, such as Tasik Bera and Tasik Cini and the numerous freshwater and peatswamps, flood plains and oxbow lakes also provide important habitats and niches for the survival of aquatic species. If these river systems are looked upon as corridors with a landscape continuum that changes in character as the river flows towards the sea, the conservation and management of the fish communities thus become inter- linked and inseparable from the maintenance and conservation of these varied landscapes. Therefore, in-situ conservation of fish fauna is dependent on how land and water resources are managed along these river corridors and their collateral ecosystems. As a river flows from the headwater stream towards the estuary with the adjacent mangrove and fringing reef ecosystems, it becomes clear that the river continuum concept not only applies to the ecology of the river but also to the way in which the river corridor itself is managed. Since river corridor ecosystems not only play an important economic role for the country but also function as centers of aquatic biodiversity, sustainable management and wise use of these corridors are needed. In this paper, we discuss the results of our 15-year study on the Perak River corridor ecosystem on fish biodiversity and ecology and proposed steps to be taken for a successful in-situ conservation of ichthyofauna in Malaysia.

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Abstract

Peninsular Malaysia is bisected by the Main Range (Banjaran Titiwangsa) that spawned large river systems such as the Perak, Pahang, Kelantan and Terengganu Rivers. Lacking in lakes and other large natural water bodies, these rivers instead provide various ecosystems and niches resulting in many diverse and unique fish species. Other collateral wetland ecosystems linked to these river systems, such as Tasik Bera and Tasik Cini and the numerous freshwater and peatswamps, flood plains and oxbow lakes also provide important habitats and niches for the survival of aquatic species. If these river systems are looked upon as corridors with a landscape continuum that changes in character as the river flows towards the sea, the conservation and management of the fish communities thus become inter- linked and inseparable from the maintenance and conservation of these varied landscapes. Therefore, in-situ conservation of fish fauna is dependent on how land and water resources are managed along these river corridors and their collateral ecosystems. As a river flows from the headwater stream towards the estuary with the adjacent mangrove and fringing reef ecosystems, it becomes clear that the river continuum concept not only applies to the ecology of the river but also to the way in which the river corridor itself is managed. Since river corridor ecosystems not only play an important economic role for the country but also function as centers of aquatic biodiversity, sustainable management and wise use of these corridors are needed. In this paper, we discuss the results of our 15-year study on the Perak River corridor ecosystem on fish biodiversity and ecology and proposed steps to be taken for a successful in-situ conservation of ichthyofauna in Malaysia.

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Item Type:	Proceedings Paper
Additional Information:	Available at Perpustakaan Sultan Abdul Samad, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43000 UPM Serdang, Malaysia.Call Number QH75 A1I61 2000
AGROVOC Term:	rivers
AGROVOC Term:	physiographic features
AGROVOC Term:	ichthyofauna
AGROVOC Term:	ecohydrology
AGROVOC Term:	in situ conservation
AGROVOC Term:	biodiversity conservation
AGROVOC Term:	planning
AGROVOC Term:	data collection
AGROVOC Term:	observation
Geographical Term:	Malaysia
Depositing User:	Ms. Azariah Hashim
Date Deposited:	29 Aug 2024 08:14
Last Modified:	29 Aug 2024 08:14
URI:	http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/1134

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