Meiofaunal communities in the mangrove – shrimp farms system (MSFS) of Ca Mau province was investigated in 8 ponds (Tam Giang Commune, Nam Can District). Results showed that the meiofauna, especially nematodes at the Tam Giang’s MSFS in Ca Mau mangrove express high densities and biodiversity and nematodes dominate numerically in the mangrove meiofauna (73.69 to 96.2 %). In total, 15 major taxa were found with the dominant taxa belonged to three dominant groups: Nematodes, Copepoda, and Rotifera. The densities of meiofauna ranged from 287 ± 132.9  to 3129 ± 1388.6 inds.10 cm-2. Seventy fifth nematode genera belonging to 24 families with the most important typifying genera were Terschellingia, Daptonema, Parodontophora, Ptycholaimellus, Sabatieria, Hopperia, Anoplostoma, Pseudolella, Gomphionema. The mangrove – shrimp farms system in the study area was characterized by homogeneity and stabilization.

Nematode communities and relevant environmental variables were investigated to assess how the presence of a dam affects the Ba Lai estuary benthic ecosystem, in comparison to the adjacent dam-free estuary Ham Luong. Both estuaries are part of the Mekong delta system in Vietnam. This study has shown that the dam’s construction had an effect on the biochemical components of the Ba Lai estuary, as observed by the local increase in total suspended solids and heavy metal concentrations (Hg and Pb) and by a significant oxygen depletion compared to the natural river of Ham Luong. The nematode communities were also different between the two estuaries in terms of density, genus richness, Shannon–Wiener diversity, and dominant genera. The Ba Lai estuary exhibited lower nematode densities but a higher diversity, while the genus composition only slightly differed between estuaries. The results indicate that the present nematode communities may be well adapted to the natural organic load, to the heavy metal accumulation and to the oxygen stress in both estuaries, but the dam presence may potentially continue to drive the Ba Lai’s ecosystem to its tipping point.

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In recent decades, mangroves have been seriously devastated by shrimp farming development in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta. As a result, integrated mangrove-shrimp farming has emerged as a potential solution to culture shrimps and protect mangroves. The present study aims to understand whether mangrove-to-pond cover ratios influence shrimp yields in an integrated mangrove-shrimp farming system. Five integrated mangrove-shrimp ponds in the Tam Giang Commune, Nam Can District, Ca Mau Province (Southern Vietnam) were chosen for this study. The study estimated that the mangrove-to-pond cover ratios ranged from 42.00 % to 72.50 %. The total shrimp yield per year (kg.ha-1 yr-1 ) was generally high, ranging from 76.62 to 249.09 (including 37.93 to 108.64 for the black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon Fabricius, 1798), and 38.69 to 140.45 for other shrimps, namely Penaeus indicus Milne Edwards, 1837, Penaeus merguiensis de Man, 1888, Metapenaeus ensis (De Haan, 1844), and Metapenaeus lysianassa (de Man, 1888)). Moreover, a strong positive correlation between the mangrove-to-pond cover ratios and the shrimp yields were observed (r > 0.71, P < 0.05). In conclusion the mangrove-to-pond cover ratios have a direct impact on the total shrimp yield. The mangrove-to-pond cover ratios should be 50 % to enhance shrimp yields in this system.

In order to reveal the characteristics of meiofaunal communities (MC) (specifically freshwater meiofauna) and its relationship with salinity gradients, meiofauna samples were collected in September 2015 in Ba Lai river (BLR), Mekong river, Vietnam. A total of 14 meiofaunal taxa were identified. The most dominant group was Nematoda, followed by Nauplii and Rotifera. The MC (specifically nematodes) in BLR were characterized by high abundances and diversities. The characteristics of MC in the downstream site (marine habitats) may be a considerable difference from those in the upstream site (fresh habitats). Abundances and diversities of nematode communities in the downstream site were much higher than observed in the upstream site, especially for abundances. Regarding MC, their abundance in the downstream site was also considerably higher than those in upstream site, whereas their diversity in the downstream site was lower than estimated in the upstream site. Furthermore, the Ba Lai dam (BLD) has the ability to change salinity gradients in BLR, while MC were a strong correlation with salinity. Therefore, the MC and their correlation with environmental variables can be considered as a good tool for the effects of dams on river’s ecosystems. Để xác định các đặc điểm của quần xã động vật đáy cỡ trung bình (đặc biệt là nhóm nước ngọt) và mối liên hệ giữa chúng với độ mặn, mẫu động vật đáy được thu thập vào tháng 09 năm 2015 trên sông Ba Lai, thuộc hệ thống sông Mekong, Việt Nam. Tổng cộng 14 nhóm động vật đáy được ghi nhận, ưu thế nhất là Nematoda, sau đó là Nauplii và Rotifera. Quần xã động vật đáy trên sông Ba Lai có mật độ và đa dạng cao và đặc điểm nhóm nước ngọt (trong đập Ba Lai) khác biệt với nhóm nước mặn (ngoài đập). Mật độ và đa dạng của nhóm Nematoda ngoài đập cao hơn trong đập. Trong khi đó, đa dạng quần xã động vật đáy trong đập cao hơn bên ngoài, mật độ thì ngược lại. Ngoài ra, đập Ba Lai làm biến đổi độ mặn trên sông Ba Lai, trong khi độ mặn có tương quan chặc chẽ với quần xã động vật đáy. Cụ thể, mật độ, đa dạng của quần xã tuyến trùng và mật độ của quần xã động vật đáy cỡ trung bình có tương quan thuận với độ mặn. Ngược lại, độ đa dạng quần xã động vật đáy cỡ trung bình có tương quan nghịch với độ mặn. Cho nên, quần xã động vật đáy có thể sử dụng làm chỉ thị cho tác động của đập chắn lên hệ sinh thái thủy vực.

Abstract:Sub-tidal free-living nematodes in 12 stations along the Saigon River were investigated in both dry and rainy seasons during 2014 and 2015. In total, 157 nematode genera were found to belong to 59 families, and 11 orders of two classes of Enoplea and Chromadorea were identified. The trophic structure of free-living nematode communities was analysed spanning the overall seasons to see that deposit-feeders developed dominantly in the Saigon River indicating their association with food types including particles, bacteria, diatom, etc.. The dominance of deposit-feeders was contributed to a high abundance of genera in each station, including Theristus, Teschellingia, Monhystera, Thalassomonhystera, Paraplectonema, Daptonema, Aphanonchus, Sphaerotheristus, and Geomonhystera. Epistrate-feeder types were found as the second most abundant group. The remaining feeding types, such as chewers and suction-feeders, were in rather low proportion at most stations.

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