The first part of the project of the team 4 of BOREA in Solomon Islands and entitled: “Filling gaps and improving knowledge of freshwater fauna: a way forward for improving management of rivers of the Solomon Islands “ is completed.
The main objective of the project was to inventory freshwater fishes and crustaceans in Solomon priority sites. Though, it proposes management solutions that will assist environmental managers, land-owners, local communities and all those interested in sustainable freshwater management. This work clearly provides help to raise awareness and gain an understanding of the rich freshwater biodiversity present in most rivers and streams of Solomon and provides important information concerning conservation and management actions that where needed (life traits, protection of catchment areas, etc..).
Three field missions were done between 2014 and 2016 on the islands of Choiseul, Kolombangara, Ranongga and Vella Lavella and it was a great harvest of new species or occurrences. Indeed, to sum up, for the Solomon Islands, 69 fish species, including 6 new species for science were discovered and 20 were new occurrences. For crustaceans, 43 species were inventoried, and all are new occurrences, as nothing was known for the Solomon Islands prior to our study; and 4 are new species for science.
Solomon Islands thus are a new endemism hotspot for freshwater species and this has not been suspected to date. This study also showed that the evolution and dispersal processes of these freshwater species are closely intertwined; the understanding of the mechanisms structuring their distribution in the Indopacific zone and their endemicity could not be apprehended without the study of the peripheral regions.
Many rangers and guide were trained, studies were managed together with local NGO’s and protected areas, and conferences were done in each village, to local authorities and at the Honiara University. Many scientific papers are in progress, several were alreadypublished and a book on this extraordinary faune is on going.
Because of this program, our local partner has been recently honored at the last mondial IUCN meeting and recognised by CEPF (Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund) as one of 16 local heroes for the biodiversity conservation.
Contact: Philippe Keith, keith@mnhn.fr and Clara Lord, clara.lord@mnhn.fr
