A RECENT SURVEY OF FRESHWATER FISHES OF THE PAYA BERIAH PEAT SWAMP FOREST, NORTH PERAK, MALAYSIA

Abstract

An intensive fish sampling study was carried out in the recently disturbed Paya Beriah Peat Swamp Forest to obtain as much information on the fish species still present there. A total of 32 species of fish from 13 families and 23 genera including unconfirmed species of Channidae and Siluridae were recorded during the study. The result from the study showed that there were significant changes to the water quality and fish composition when compared to previous studies. In the first study, Rasbora einthoveni was the dominant species; but in the second and the present study, Trichogaster trichopterus became the dominant species. The loss of endemic and rare species, such as Sphaerichthys osphromenoides (chocolate gourami) and Luciocephalus pulcher (pikehead), from this area may be related to the changes of land use in the study area as most of the natural riparian zone has been destroyed. The changes in land use also changed its water hydrology thus causing irreversible damage to the wetland habitat. Therefore, urgent action should be taken to preserve the survival of such wetland areas to conserve its unique endemic fish biodiversity.

Satu kajian intensif iktiofauna telah dijalankan di Hutan Paya Beriah, yang terganggu baru-baru ini, untuk mendapatkan maklumat tentang spesies ikan yang masih boleh didapati. Sejumlah 32 spesies ikan daripada 13 famili dan 23 genus telah direkodkan semasa kajian ini termasuk spesimen daripada famili Channidae dan Siluridae yang masih belum dapat dipastikan lagi. Keputusan kajian ini menunjukkan bahawa terdapat perbezaan yang nyata terhadap kualiti air dan komposisi ikan jika dibandingkan dengan beberapa kajian terdahulu. Dalam kajian pertama, Rasbora einthoveni merupakan spesies ikan yang dominan, tetapi dalam kajian kedua dan kajian ini Trichogaster trichopterus telah berubah menjadi spesies ikan dominan. Kehilangan beberapa spesies endemik dan jarang dijumpai seperti Sphaerichthys osphromenoides (biji durian) dan Luciocephalus pulcher (tembuk tebing) dari kawasan ini boleh dikaitkan dengan pertukaran guna tanah di kawasan kajian. Kebanyakan zon semula jadi di persisiran sungai telah musnah. Pertukaran guna tanah juga akan menyebabkan perubahan hidrologi sungai yang seterusnya akan menyebabkan kerosakan yang tidak boleh dipulihkan terhadap habitat tanah bencah. Oleh yang demikian tindakan susulan perlu diambil bagi memelihara kelestarian habitat tanah bencah bagi memelihara keunikan biodiversiti ikan spesies endemik.