New Records of Rotifer Fauna in the Upper Cambodian Mekong River Basin

Abstract

Rotifer samples were seasonally collected in 2010 from ponds, lakes, reservoirs and rivers in the upper part of the Cambodian Mekong River in Kratie, Stung Treng and Ratanakiri Provinces. A 30 μm mesh plankton net was used to collect samples. The water quality parameters: temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, turbidity and dissolved oxygen were also collected from each of the sampled sites. A total of 175 species of Monogononta Rotifers were found, 64 of which were new Cambodian species records. This investigation brings the total number of rotifers identified from Cambodia to 260 species. Of the 4 habitat types, ponds had the highest species richness, followed by lakes, reservoirs and rivers.