First population assessment of the Asian Water Dragon (Physignathus cocincinus Cuvier, 1829) in Thua Thien Hue Province, Vietnam
The Asian Water Dragon, Physignathus cocincinus Cuvier, 1829, was originally described from southern Vietnam. Wild populations of this species are strongly affected by harvesting, particularly in central Vietnam, while potential negative impacts are not yet foreseeable. This study provides the first...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Pensoft Publishers
2018-03-01
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| Series: | Nature Conservation |
| Online Access: | https://natureconservation.pensoft.net/articles.php?id=21818 |
| _version_ | 1811247917628915712 |
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| author | Truong Quang Nguyen Hai Ngoc Ngo Cuong The Pham Hoang Nguyen Van Chung Dac Ngo Mona van Schingen Thomas Ziegler |
| author_facet | Truong Quang Nguyen Hai Ngoc Ngo Cuong The Pham Hoang Nguyen Van Chung Dac Ngo Mona van Schingen Thomas Ziegler |
| author_sort | Truong Quang Nguyen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Asian Water Dragon, Physignathus cocincinus Cuvier, 1829, was originally described from southern Vietnam. Wild populations of this species are strongly affected by harvesting, particularly in central Vietnam, while potential negative impacts are not yet foreseeable. This study provides the first population size estimation using a capture-recapture approach and an evaluation of threats to and trade levels in P. cocincinus in Thua Thien Hue Province, central Vietnam. Field surveys were conducted at 14 sites of known occurrences of the species in Thua Thien Hue during April and June of 2016 and 2017. The estimated population size of the species amongst these sites ranged from 232 to 250 individuals. The mean abundance varied from 1.98–2.64 individuals/100 m along inhabited streams. This study revealed harvest activities for local food consumption and to supply the pet trade. Accordingly, imports of several thousand living individuals per year from Vietnam into the EU were documented. It was further demonstrated that the level of negative impacts on different sub-populations is in accordance with respective abundances and the incidence of adults. This finding indicates that rising harvest levels in concert with decreasing habitat quality, might seriously affect the wild population of P. cocincinus in the future. Thus, the authors herein emphasise the necessity for increased conservation measures and for monitoring of the species as well as its natural habitat in order to warrant a sustainable use of the species in the future. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T15:17:54Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e9eddb8dbe1d4cca852ee4b1338eb7ce |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1314-6947 1314-3301 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T15:17:54Z |
| publishDate | 2018-03-01 |
| publisher | Pensoft Publishers |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Conservation |
| spelling | doaj.art-e9eddb8dbe1d4cca852ee4b1338eb7ce2022-12-22T03:27:34ZengPensoft PublishersNature Conservation1314-69471314-33012018-03-012611410.3897/natureconservation.26.2181821818First population assessment of the Asian Water Dragon (Physignathus cocincinus Cuvier, 1829) in Thua Thien Hue Province, VietnamTruong Quang Nguyen0Hai Ngoc Ngo1Cuong The Pham2Hoang Nguyen Van3Chung Dac Ngo4Mona van Schingen5Thomas Ziegler6Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources, Vietnam Academy of Science and TechnologyVietnam National Museum of Nature, Vietnam Academy of Science and TechnologyGraduate University of Science and Technology, Vietnam Academy of Science and TechnologyHue UniversityHue UniversityCologne ZooCologne ZooThe Asian Water Dragon, Physignathus cocincinus Cuvier, 1829, was originally described from southern Vietnam. Wild populations of this species are strongly affected by harvesting, particularly in central Vietnam, while potential negative impacts are not yet foreseeable. This study provides the first population size estimation using a capture-recapture approach and an evaluation of threats to and trade levels in P. cocincinus in Thua Thien Hue Province, central Vietnam. Field surveys were conducted at 14 sites of known occurrences of the species in Thua Thien Hue during April and June of 2016 and 2017. The estimated population size of the species amongst these sites ranged from 232 to 250 individuals. The mean abundance varied from 1.98–2.64 individuals/100 m along inhabited streams. This study revealed harvest activities for local food consumption and to supply the pet trade. Accordingly, imports of several thousand living individuals per year from Vietnam into the EU were documented. It was further demonstrated that the level of negative impacts on different sub-populations is in accordance with respective abundances and the incidence of adults. This finding indicates that rising harvest levels in concert with decreasing habitat quality, might seriously affect the wild population of P. cocincinus in the future. Thus, the authors herein emphasise the necessity for increased conservation measures and for monitoring of the species as well as its natural habitat in order to warrant a sustainable use of the species in the future.https://natureconservation.pensoft.net/articles.php?id=21818 |
| spellingShingle | Truong Quang Nguyen Hai Ngoc Ngo Cuong The Pham Hoang Nguyen Van Chung Dac Ngo Mona van Schingen Thomas Ziegler First population assessment of the Asian Water Dragon (Physignathus cocincinus Cuvier, 1829) in Thua Thien Hue Province, Vietnam Nature Conservation |
| title | First population assessment of the Asian Water Dragon (Physignathus cocincinus Cuvier, 1829) in Thua Thien Hue Province, Vietnam |
| title_full | First population assessment of the Asian Water Dragon (Physignathus cocincinus Cuvier, 1829) in Thua Thien Hue Province, Vietnam |
| title_fullStr | First population assessment of the Asian Water Dragon (Physignathus cocincinus Cuvier, 1829) in Thua Thien Hue Province, Vietnam |
| title_full_unstemmed | First population assessment of the Asian Water Dragon (Physignathus cocincinus Cuvier, 1829) in Thua Thien Hue Province, Vietnam |
| title_short | First population assessment of the Asian Water Dragon (Physignathus cocincinus Cuvier, 1829) in Thua Thien Hue Province, Vietnam |
| title_sort | first population assessment of the asian water dragon physignathus cocincinus cuvier 1829 in thua thien hue province vietnam |
| url | https://natureconservation.pensoft.net/articles.php?id=21818 |
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