Narumon Sangpradub

Freshwater biomonitoring with macroinvertebrates in East Asia

This paper summarizes the history and current status of efforts to implement macroinvertebrate biomonitoring protocols for surface water pollution in China, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mongolia, Russia (Far East), and Thailand. Impediments to biomonitoring in some of these countries include: (1) lack of knowledge about macroinvertebrate fauna and their tolerance values, especially during the aquatic, immature stages; (2) the scarcity of research programs and formal training opportunities for biomonitoring offered in universities; (3) the shortage of high-quality microscopes and other necessary equipment; and (4) limited government understanding and support for biomonitoring, few skilled regulatory staff, and the persistence of old and unusable biomonitoring protocols. A recently established regional network, the Aquatic Entomological Society of East Asia (AESEA), and several major recent publications are helping to coordinate and promote science and technology in East Asia.

Development of rapid bioassessment approaches using benthic macroinvertebrates for Thai streams.

Thailand currently lacks formal bioassessment approaches and protocols to assist management decisions for water quality. The aim of this research is to develop a practical method of rapid bioassessment for a professional level by using benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages for streams in Thailand. Eleven reference and nine test sites were sampled in the headwater streams of the Loei River and adjacent areas to explore the development of a practical protocol. Specific physico-chemical parameters were selected to provide ecological information supplemental to the biological indicators. The biological research was designed around the USEPA Rapid Bioassessment Protocols (RBPs) using the multi-habitat approach. Four fixed-count subsamplings (100, 200, 300 and 500 organisms) were randomly conducted using a standardized gridded pan to evaluate an appropriate level for bioassessment in Thai streams. A 300 organism subsample is adequate for bioassessment purposes in Thai stream (evaluated by calculating dissimilarity values and ordination techniques). A systematic selection of candidate reference sites, metric selection, and index calibration was part of this research. Multimetric and multivariate analyses were examined as a foundation for bioassessment in Thailand. The multimetric approach appears to be more practical for a rapid bioassessment technique. Nine core metrics were identified for biological index score including number of total taxa, Diptera taxa, Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, Trichoptera, and Coleoptera taxa, (%) Plecoptera, (%) Tolerant organisms, Beck’s Biotic Index, (%) Intolerant organisms, Shredders taxa and Clingers taxa were calibrated for the final index. As a result of multimetric and multivariate analyses, family level identification data effectively discriminated reference condition and broad-scale environmental gradients. Hampered by incomplete taxonomic knowledge of benthic macroinvertebrates in Thailand, family-level identification may be sufficient taxonomic resolution for rapid bioassessment in Thailand.

An implementation plan for using biological indicators to improve assessment of water quality in Thailand.

Most national standards for assessment of water quality include physical and chemical indicators relevant to specific pollutants and stressors. However, biological communities reflect not only current conditions of aquatic resources but also change in conditions over time and impacts from multiple stressors. Assessing the health of the aquatic community (that is, bioassessments) has proven to be critical in protecting and maintaining healthy surface waters under the mandates of regulatory frameworks, such as the Clean Water Act in the USA and the Water Framework Directive of the European Union. Whereas, in Thailand water standards, bioassessment is lacking in favor of chemical criteria, only coliform bacteria measurement can be considered a surrogate biological parameter. Our paper argues that incorporating bioassessment will improve water resource condition evaluations and recommends the use of the benthic macroinvertebrate assemblage as a bioassessment framework in Thailand. We discuss the implementation of a bioassessment program that consists of two major components, (a) a scientifically valid technical approach and (b) consideration of technical resources for a cost-effective program. The technical design comprises (1) classification of streams into similar groupings, (2) design of a biological survey, (3) a well-documented sampling protocol, (4) calibration of biological metrics for data analysis, (5) development of criteria for determination of ecological condition, and (6) communication of the results to citizens and policymakers. A cost-effective way to develop a bioassessment program that will improve Thailand’s ability to measure water quality and to make good decisions to attain healthy quality status is to establish partnerships by coordinating efforts and sharing data and technology with adjacent regional environmental offices or provinces. This collaboration would be fostered through a long-term national water resources management strategy and clear definition of goals and desired outcomes that are critical components of the overall National Plan for Ecological Health.

Vietelmis jablonskii , a new species of riffle beetle from Laos and Thailand and new faunistic records on Vietelmis Delève, 1968 from Malaysia (Coleoptera: Elmidae)

A new species of riffle beetle, Vietelmis jablonskii, from Laos and Thailand is described and illustrated. Differences to other Vietelmis species are discussed and an identification key for the Vietelmis is presented. New faunistic records are provided for V. kovaci Kodada & Čiampor, 2000; the genus Vietelmis is newly recorded for Thailand.

Assemblage of aquatic Heteroptera (Gerromorpha and Nepomorpha) in relation to microhabitats in the Phong River, Northeast Thailand

In this study, we explored the composition and assemblage structure of aquatic Heteroptera from 15 sampling sites along the Phong River, Thailand, during the rainy (July 2011), cool (December 2011) and hot (March–April 2012) seasons. A total of 8399 individuals, belonging to 54 species and 12 families of aquatic Heteroptera were recorded. The Kruskal–Wallis test indicated significant difference in total number of species and total number of individuals of aquatic Heteroptera among microhabitat types (P < 0.05). Stepwise multiple regression and canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) ordination show that characteristics of microhabitats including percentage of gravel, percentage of aquatic macrophytes covering the water surface and percentage of shading from riparian vegetation determine aquatic Heteroptera assemblage structures. From this study, microhabitats have more effect on aquatic Heteroptera than water pollution.

Five new species of the genus Cheumatopsyche (Trichoptera: Hydropsychidae) from the Phetchabun Mountains, Thailand.

Five new species of the genus Cheumatopsyche (Trichoptera: Hydropsychidae) from the Phetchabun Mountains, Thailand, are described and illustrated. The national parks and wildlife sanctuaries in the Phetchabun Mountains are recognized as areas with a high density of endemic species deserving protection. Four new species of Cheumatopsyche (C. recta, C. diversa, C. triangula, and C. tongto) have been found in Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary, Phu Kradueng National Park and Thung Salaeng Luang National Park; a fifth new species (C. cava) has been found in Phu Kradueng National Park. Describing hydropsychid species is important not only to study diversity and distribution but also to facilitate eventual descriptions of larvae for use in freshwater biomonitoring programs to detect pollution.