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Description |
Geographic Range [top]
Range Description: This species is endemic in Lao PDR. It occurs in the Mekong River at Khong Island - found around the island at Ban Na, Ban Done, as well as the Somphamit Falls, Phapheng Falls and Muang Khong (type locality). Further survey work is required to confirm that the species is not present below the Khone Falls in Cambodia.
Countries occurrence:
Native:
Lao Peoples Democratic Republic
Additional data:
? Estimated area of occupancy (AOO) - km2: 20
? Number of Locations: 1
Range Map: Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.
Population [top]
Population: No information available.
Current Population Trend: Unknown
Additional data:
? Population severely fragmented: No
Habitat and Ecology [top]
Habitat and Ecology: It lives in rapids, shallow rapids and also in quiet water.
Systems: Freshwater
Use and Trade [top]
Use and Trade: No information available.
Threats [top]
Major Threat(s): A 30–32 m high hydroelectric dam is being planned at Don Sahong, on the mainstream of the Mekong River (Baran and Ratner 2007). The project would be less than one kilometre north of the Lao Peoples Democratic Republic/Cambodian border, and will be constructed at Khone Falls in Champasak Province, southern Lao Peoples Democratic Republic (Baird 2009). This is the most advanced of eight hydropower projects proposed for the lower Mekong, and will potentially fragment populations of molluscs that inhabit the region, as well as altering water flow patterns downstream. It is also predicted to severely impact the migrations of many species of fish, with unknown ecosystem-level consequences (Baird 2009). The effects on fisheries are also likely to be serious, with the possible result that local people will switch from fish to other protein sources (e.g., molluscs) to supplement their diet.
The Mekong River Commission has agreed that future water quality threats exist, stemming mainly from upstream Chinese catchment areas. Presently, the water quality of the lower Mekong basin is considered good. Although heavy metal contamination exists around cities, it disappears rapidly downstream. The toxicity of these sediments, however, was not conclusive (MRC 2006). Stretches of the Mekong are flanked by high density farmland and deforestation on both sides, leading to sedimentation and nutrient input. Furthermore, many large dams interrupt the flow of the Mekong along its length, while upstream mining operations are reported to have seriously perturbed macroinvertebratre species assemblages (Vongsombath et al. 2009). The impact of threats on this species is unknown.
Conservation Actions [top]
Conservation Actions: Research is needed into the species current distribution and population trends, as well as its ecology.
Citation: Richter, K. & Köhler, F. 2012. Stenothyra laotiensis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2012: e.T188700A1908675. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012-1.RLTS.T188700A1908675.en. Downloaded on 07 May 2018.
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