HR: 08:45h
AN: NB41A-02    [Abstracts]
TI: Assessing Ecological Health of Large Tropical Rivers in Developing Regions: a Case Study from the Mekong.
AU: * Campbell, I C
EM: campbell@mrcmekong.org
AF: Mekong River Commission, P.O. Box 6101, Vientiane, Lao People's Democratic Republic
AU: Resh, V H
AF: University of California, Wellman hall, Berkeley, CA United States
AU: Chessman, B
AF: Department of Land and Water Conservation, Valentine Ave, Parramatta, NSW Australia
AB: Bioassessment tools are being developed to assess the Ecological health of the Lower Mekong River. A multinational team of local specialists has been established working with two international mentors. This approach allows geographical homogeneity of methods, assurance of quality and capacity building. A range of potential indicators were tested in the first year of the program, with benthic and littoral invertebrates, zooplankton and benthic diatoms finally being selected for further development. The first two year's assessments indicate that the health of the Mekong is generally good, with the exception of the Mekong delta, where population density is high and agriculture is most intensive. There is little industry in the Mekong Basin, and as yet no large dams have been constructed. Surveys will be conducted on a three to five year cycle, with different regions in the basin being targeted each year. Development of appropriate metrics to quantify river health is now a priority.
DE: 9320 Asia
DE: 9810 New fields (not classifiable under other headings)
SC: North American Benthological Society [NB]
MN: 2005 Joint Assembly