ADDITIONAL DATA ON SPECIES COMPOSITION OF FISH IN TIEN HAI WETLAND NATURE RESERVE, THAI BINH PROVINCE

Mangrove forests are important for many fish species, but this information is still poorly understood in Vietnam. Tien Hai Wetland Nature Reserve is located in the core areas of the Red River Delta Biosphere Reserve, where mangrove forests are presented. To provide fundamental data for a better understanding of the role of mangroves for fishes, three surveys in March, July, and August 2019 at 5 stations within Tien Hai Wetland Nature Reserve were conducted. A total of 817 individuals were collected and 65 species belonging to 54 genera, 28 families of 11 orders were identified. Of the 11 orders, Perciformes was the most diverse in a number of families, and Gobiiformes was dominant in the number of species. Of the 65 species, three were listed in Vietnam Red Data Book (2007), i.e., Bostrychus sinensis as CR level, Clupanodon thrissa as EN level, Konosirus punctatus as VU level, and an invasive alien species (Oreochromis mossambicus). The present study added 15 species to the study site and 10 fish to the lowland of the Red River in comparison with previous works. In the additional list, there were some typical species, which are associated with mangrove forests, such as Escualosa thoracata, Muraenichthuys gymnopterus, and 17 species of gobies. The ichthyofauna in Tien Hai Wetland Nature Reserve was different from Phu Long mangrove forests (in Hai Phong), and significantly different from Van Uc estuary (in Hai Phong) and Bung Binh Thien wetland (in An Giang). These findings will be valuable for fish conservation and fisheries resources development in the study area.