A preliminary checklist of fish species in the peat swamp forest of Ayer Hitam Utara State Park Forest, Johor, Malaysia

Muhammad Fahmi Ahmad, . and Muhammad Rasul Abdullah Halim, . and Mohd Lokman Ilham Norhakim, . and Muhammad Nur Azam Arshad, . and Zahar Azuar Zakaria, . and Intan Faraha A. Ghani, . and Mohamad Aqmal Naser, . and Siti Noratikah Mustafa, . and Muhammad Abu Bakar Abdul Latif, . and Mohammad Noor Azmai Amal, . and Amirrudin Ahmad, . and Khaironizam Md Zain, . (2024) A preliminary checklist of fish species in the peat swamp forest of Ayer Hitam Utara State Park Forest, Johor, Malaysia. Pertanika Journal Tropical Agricultural Science (Malaysia), 47 (1). 251 -270. ISSN 1511-3701

Ayer Hitam Utara State Park Forest (AHUSPF) is an invaluable sanctuary in Johor, the last remaining intact peat swamp forest reserve that hosts many species unique to this distinctive habitat. Some rapid surveys conducted from 2019 to 2022 recorded 40 species of freshwater fish within AHUSPF. Notably, 11 are stenotopic to acid blackwater, and 12 are stenotopic to acid water, most belonging to the family Osphronemidae and Danionidae. The International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List has designated two species, Encheloclarias curtisoma and Betta Persephone, as Endangered, while Betta omega is classified as Critically Endangered. The checklist presented herein was first produced from an inventory study in AHUSPF. The preservation of peat swamp forests in the area is under imminent threat due to the alarming rate of land conversion, forest fires, and the recent potential threat from the red-claw crayfish invasion in the aquatic environment. Hence, continuous monitoring is vital for documenting and updating the conservation status of the fish species. These endeavours will facilitate the development of practical conservation approaches to ensure the long-term sustainability of AHUSPF and its associated species.

Full text available from: Official URL: http://www.pertanika.upm.edu.my/resources/files/Pe...

Abstract

Ayer Hitam Utara State Park Forest (AHUSPF) is an invaluable sanctuary in Johor, the last remaining intact peat swamp forest reserve that hosts many species unique to this distinctive habitat. Some rapid surveys conducted from 2019 to 2022 recorded 40 species of freshwater fish within AHUSPF. Notably, 11 are stenotopic to acid blackwater, and 12 are stenotopic to acid water, most belonging to the family Osphronemidae and Danionidae. The International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List has designated two species, Encheloclarias curtisoma and Betta Persephone, as Endangered, while Betta omega is classified as Critically Endangered. The checklist presented herein was first produced from an inventory study in AHUSPF. The preservation of peat swamp forests in the area is under imminent threat due to the alarming rate of land conversion, forest fires, and the recent potential threat from the red-claw crayfish invasion in the aquatic environment. Hence, continuous monitoring is vital for documenting and updating the conservation status of the fish species. These endeavours will facilitate the development of practical conservation approaches to ensure the long-term sustainability of AHUSPF and its associated species.

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Item Type:	Article
AGROVOC Term:	forest reserves
AGROVOC Term:	peat soils
AGROVOC Term:	freshwater fishes
AGROVOC Term:	species diversity
AGROVOC Term:	ecological factors
AGROVOC Term:	threatened species
AGROVOC Term:	endangered species
AGROVOC Term:	sustainability
AGROVOC Term:	monitoring and evaluation
Geographical Term:	Malaysia
Depositing User:	Ms. Azariah Hashim
Date Deposited:	21 Nov 2025 09:49
Last Modified:	21 Nov 2025 09:49
URI:	http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/2738

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