Universities Research Journal 2014, Vol. 6, No. 2

Palaemonid Prawns from Mu lUver, Region

Khin Moe Kyi' ThlThi Thaw^, Pwint Thu Aye^, Thin Zar Oo^ Mce Moe Khine^

Abstract Freshwater palaemonid prawns were studied along Mu River during Jime 2012 to April 2013. Five study sites were chosen from Mu River in Sagaing Region, Upper Central . A total of four prawn species were recorded belonging to the family Palaemonidae. Some morphological and morphometric variation were observed in some species. Spatial changes of species occurrence and composition were recorded along Mu River. Key words : Freshwater palaemonids, moiphometric variation, Mu River

Intrdduction The freshwater prawns and shrimps are crustaceans that bdlong to various groups in the large order Decappda and are ecologically ^d economically important. There are about 8,500 species ofdecapods including 2,000 species of shrimps in the marine and freshwater ofthe world (Bello et a/., 2004). Mu River is a river in Upper Central Myanmar. It is a tributary of Ayeyawady. It drains the and part of the dry zone between the Ayeyawady to the east and its Jargest tributary to Ae west, flow directly north to south enter the Ayeyawady-west of Sagaing near . Kabo Weir was constructed on the Mu River between the yems 1901-1907 by the British colonial administration. Among dams on Mu River, Thaphanzeik Dam is the largest and reservoir in the region for irrigation and hydroelectric power (30 MW) and w^ completed in May 2002 (Mimstiy of Agriculture and Irrigation, 2002). Prawns from Mu River provide food as source of protein for local residents as fresh and dried. Sttidy ofprawns at the study sites has not been conducted yet. The present research was conducted with the objectives to record theprawn species from Mu River, describe the morphometric characters and investigate the species composition.

1.PhD Student,, Department ofZoology, University ofYangon 2. Assistant Lecturer,, Department ofZoology, University of Yangon 3,4.Demonstrators,, Department ofZoology, University of Yangon 5.Lecturer, Department ofZoology, University ofYangon Universities Research Journal 2014, Vol. 6, No. 2

Materials.^nd Methods Study area The present study was conducted along Mu River, Sagaing Region, Upper Central Myanmar. It was one ofthe tributaries ofAyeyawady River and about 275km (171 miles) in length. Study sites Five study sites were chosen along Mu River. Site I, Thaphanzeik Dam (95°21.37' E and 23°18.07' N) and Site II, Kintat Detention Dam (95° 22.16' B and 23°12.59' N) were situated at Kyun Hla Township. Site III, Kabo Weir, (95°29.30' E and 22°54.38' N) was located at Kantbalu Township. Site IV, Jei To Mu Vniage, (95°33.17' E and 22°29.27' N) was placed at Shwe'Bo Tovmship and Site V, Njaun Pin Wun Village, (95° 40.64' Eand 21°58.45' N) at Sagaing Township. Site I and II were located above dams with lentic type and the rest sites were below dams with lotic type (Plate 1). Study Period The study periodlastedfrom June 2012to April 2013. Data collection A hundred specimens were collected bimonthly based on fishermen from each study sites. Three kinds of fishing gear were used in sampling of prawns, cast net (in f^t flowing.area), horizontal cylinder trap (Hmjoxm) and (Yin Toon) (in low current and moderate depth). The carapace length (Cl) of fresh specimens was measured with venier caliper. The specimens were preserved in 70% alcohol for further identification. Specimen was identified ^der dissecting binocular microscope (model No-SZ 51). Identification was toilowed after Holthuis (1950), FAO (1983), Jayachandran (2001) and Cai and (2002) mainly based onthe taxonomic characters ofmale. Universities Research Journal 2014, Vol. 6, No. 2

fTthapftsnzeik

ttoniQ

KaboV/Veir

TiolMu

aunq

Plate 1. Map ofstudy sites

Results A total of four Macrobrachhm species belonging to family palaemonidae were recorded from Mu River, Sagaing Region. (Plate 2) Systematic positionof studied"%)ecies phylum Arthropoda

Class Crustacea Order Decapoda Family Palaemonidae

Genus Macrobrachium Bate, 1868 Species M. lamarrei (H. Milne Edwards, 1837) M. lanchesteri (De Man, 1911) ^ M. palaemonoides Uolihuis, 1950 M. unikarnatakae Jalihal, Shenoy &Sonkolli, 1988 98 Universities Research Journal 2014, Vol. 6, No.2

Diagnostic features The diagnostic features of the recorded species were expressed in the Table 1 and Table 2. Morphometric variation Tablet. Diagnostic features ofrecorded species

No. Species name Rostrum Second perelopod Telson

1 M lamarrei Upturned at anterior Carpus1.4 times as Inner spines longer (H.Milne half, slightly longer long as merus and than outer spines Edwards, than end of slightly longer than and the tip of 1837) scaphocerite; 5-8 chela; fingers telson dorsal teeth, 7-8 distinctly shorter ventral teeth than palm

2 M lanchesteri Straight, slightly Carpus 1.4 times as Inner spines longer (De upwards at anterior long as merus and than outer spines Man,1911) one third, reaching longer than chela; and the tip of end ofscaphocerite, 5- finger shorter than telson 7 dorsal teeth, 2-4 palm ventral teeth .3 M. Ddistal J^alfcurved Carpus 1.5 times as Inner spines longer palaemonoides upwards, exceeding long as merus and than outer spines Holthuis, 1950 distal border of distinctly longer and the tip of scaphocerite, 6-8 than chela; finger telson dorsal teeth, 6-8 shorter than palm ventral teeth 4 M. - Moderately long, Carpus1.5 times as Inner spine anikarnatakae slender, extending up long as merus and distinctly longer Jalihal, to antennal scale, 6-8 slightly longer than than outer spines Shenoy & dorsa) teeth,3-4 chela; finger shorter and the tip of Sankolli,1988 ventral teeth. Carapace than palm telson length is smooth, / ' scaphocerite slightly longer than rostrum

Inropr recorded species, M palaemonoides was collected as the en with the smaller meancarapacecarapacelengthlength(7.5with ±4.52± 2.25 mm)1.00 mmwhile,(TableM. Z). Universities ResearchJournal 2014, Vol.6, No.2 99

The diJBferent mean carapace length of M. palaemonoides was found among study sites. The largest carapace length (11.31 mm) of M palaemonoides was observed at site I while the lowest carapace length (3.30 mm) at site V (Table 3). Occurrence ofprawn species along MuRiver All recorded prawns were not observed all study sites along Mu River except site III. Only M. palaemonoidesy^diS found at all studysites. M. lamarrei was observed only at all study sites except Site IV. M. lancl^esteri was occurred at site HI and V. M. mikamatakae was recorded at site ni, IV and V (lower reaches ofMu River) (Table 4). Species composition ^Concerning over all species composition, M. palaemonoides was recorded as the highest (72.38%). Followed by M unikarnatakae (17.85%) and then by M lamarrei (6.45%) while the lowest was M. lanchesteri (3.31%) (Fig.l). Species composition was varied to compare with site by site. M. palaemonoides was recorded as the highest percentage at all study sites. The highest composition was at Site 11 (90.30%), followed by SiteI (89.85%), IV (82.09%) and SiteIII (59.20%) while lowest at Site V(48.20%), downstream of Mu River. M unikarnatakae was observed as the highest composition (35.94%) at Site III (Table 5, Fig.2). Table 2. Morphometric characters ofrecorded prawns species from Mu River, Sagaing Region Carapace Ichium Merus Carpus Propodus Dactylus Species length (mm) < (mm) (mm) Xmm) ( mm) (mm) M. lamarrei 5.66±1.09 3.66±0.40 4,32±0.44 5.99±0.40 2.45±0.24 1.84±0.12

• 4.00-7.50 3.00-4.00 3.50-5.00 5.50-7.00 2.10-3.00 . 1.60-2.00

M lanchesteri 4.52±1.00 2.93±0.55 3.44±0.49 4.94±0.63 1.99±p.39 1.52±0.36

2.90-6.80 2.00-4:00 2.50-4.50 3.30-5.50 1.00-2.50 1.10-2.00

M. palaemonoides 7.50±2.25 5.16±0.76 6.49±0.63 9.63dt0.93 2.32±0.41 3.22±0.27 100 Universities Research Journal 2014, Vol. 6. No. 2

Carapace Ichium Merus Carpus Propodus Dactylus . Species length (mm) (mm) (mm) (mm) ( mm) (mm) 3.30-13.30 3.00-6.50 4.50-7.50 8.00-11.00 3.80-5.00 3.00-4.00

M.unikca7tatakae .5.88±0.74 2.99±0.31 3.81±0.24 5.60±0.43 2.45±0.45 1.77±0,24

4.10-7.10 2.00-3.50 3.50-4.30 4.10-6.00 1.00-3.00 1.00-2.10

Table 3. Comparison ofthe carapace length ofM palaemonoides at study sites

Site! Siten Site m Site IV SiteV

f 11.31i:1.06 6.39±0.80 6.71±0.78 6.93±1.43 6.27=fcl.64

. 9.40-13.30. 5.00-7.00 5.50-8.50 3.90-8.90 3.30-9.00

✓ Table 4. (Dccurrence ofMacrobranchium species in study sites

Species Site I Siten ^ Sitem Site IV SiteV M lamarrei V V V

M. lanchesteri V V . M.palaemonoides < V. V V V M. unikarnatakae V ' V • V Table 5. Species composition ofrecorded prawns (per cent) ateach study site

Species Site I Site n Site III Site IV Site V

^ lamarrei 10.15 9.70 2.43 0.00 10.40

M. lanchesteri 0.00 0.00 2.43 0.00 13.00

M. palaemonoides 89.85 90.30 59.20 82.09 48.20

M. unikarnatakae 0.00 0.00 35.'94 17.91 28.40 Uni\crsiiics Research Journal 2014. Vol. 6. No. 2 101

• Macrobruchiwn lumarrei D .\{acrohrachiiim lancliL'.sleri O\fiu-rohrachiumpalacmoiiUlc.s B Sftivrobrachiiim unikarnatakae

6.45% 17.85% 3.31%

72.38%

Fig. 1. Species composition ofrecorded prawn species along Mu River

MMacrobrachium lamarrei OMacrobrachium lanchesteri OMacrobrachiumpalaemonides MMacrobrachium unikamatakae

.2 20

Site I SiteH Site El Site IV SiteV

Fig. 2. Occurrence of recorded prawns (percent) at each study site Universities Research Journal 2014, Vol. 6, No. 2

'Sy, "V, y' /"-.*• •' 14-}:. Z rT'i.. -'. ; ^ .:-^

P'l-:3K .«• V- - - ^ '• -4

(a) M. lamarrei (male) (b) M. lamarrei (female)

r-'T-'

t ---" • •«

'••: -.•-•< ^rr .•. " - • 4 {^'V. •^: -

1 cm -^^r iV^"' '.':• •:';•'*'••• 1

(c) M. lanchesteri (male) (d) M. lanchesteri (female)

p>'A- . ..

I '• \ '•"^

(e) M. palaemonoides (mate) (f) M. palaemonoides (female)

*.#• Lr F.-' •• "- - rU.:^-;'.- .• . !>' '7

(g) M unil^rnatakae (male) (h) A/, unikarnatakae (female)

Plate 2. Recorded prawn species along Mu River Universities Research Journal 2014, Vol. 6, No. 2 103

Discussion A total offour species, M lamarrei, M. lanchesteri, M. palaemonoides, unikarnatakae were recorded along Mu Riyer during study period. All recorded species were observed in running condition ofSite III, lower reaches ufDams. Cai and Ng (2002) reviewed the taxonomy of the Myanmarese pulaemonid freshwater prawns including M. lamarrei, M. lanchesteri and M. Palaemonoides. Myanmar*workers: Hla Phone (2005), Win Mar (2007) and Mie Mie Sein et al. (2009) recorded the above inehtioned species in Upper Myanmar but M. unikarnatakae was not included Thida Win (2011) recorded M. lamarrei and M. lanchesteri from Chindwin River in Monyawa District, o record concerning M. unikarnatakae was found in the previous study. M. anikarnatakae was found at site III, IV, Vin the present study. Myint Myint Aye (2013) collected isix species of shriinps and eight species of prawns including hd. lamarrei und^r five genera ^d two families from mangrove area ofU-To Creek, Chaung Tha, Ayeyawady Region. Soe Soe Htay (2010) reported that Mlamarrei was observed as the abundance prawn species around Hinthada environs, Ayeyawady egioii Previous and present studies thus showed that M lamarrei, M. lane esteri an M. palaemonoides could be common recorded species in Myanmar. oreover it could be regarded that these freshwater palaemonid prawns were verse m distribution as plenty ofaquatic sources. Win Mar (2007) described that carpus also longer thM merus (1.6 times as long as merus) of Mpalaemonoides in the second pair ofpenopo Slightly variation was found in morphbmetric characters of carpus 1.5 times as long as merus in the present study. Since higher species composition was recorded at all sites except lower reaches ofSite V, .the dominant species was thus could be M. palaemonoides along Mu River. The l^ger specimens and the highest per cent of composition of this species recorded from Site I (Thaphanzeik Dam) and (Kintat Detention Dam) revealed that this species cduld be favoured for reservoir fishery. However there Were only three prawn species observed at pool condition (lentic) ofSite I and II and the more species were distributed in runningcondition(lotic) of lower reaches of Dams. 104 • Universities Research Journal 2014, Vol. 6, No. 2

Roff and Hart (2002) stated that dam can impair river ecosystems particularly fish communities which can be affected by the construction of dam, with the worse situation of multiple dams created along a single river. Welcomme (1985) indicated that fireshwater communities are primarily influenced by the hydrological and physico-chemical characteristics of the aquatic environments related to regime and river geological features. Spatial changes in species occurrence, species composition, and morphological and morphometric variation in some prawn species along Mu River was thus could be determined by different aquatic, environment related with dams. The ongoing research will be focused on* some ecological assessments ofpalamonid prawns firom this river. Acknowledgement We would like to express my indebtedness to Professor Dr. Myin Zu Minn, Head of epartment of Zoology, University of Yangon for her kind permission to conduct this researc . Our sincerely thank to Dr.Thida Lay Thwe, Professor, Department of Zoology, University of Yangon for her encouragement.

References Bello-Olusoji, Omolayo and Aderonkel., 2004. Taxonomical studies on rocky freshwater prawns at Erin- Ijesha waterfalls. Journal of Food,Agriculture & Environment 2{3&A):2%Q-2%'i ai,Y., P.K.L., 2002. The freshwater palaemonid prawns (Crustaces: Decapoda; Caridea) ofMyanmar. Hydrobiologia. 487:59-83. »1983. FAQ Identification sheets shrimps and prawns. Phone, 2005. Studies on the freshwater palaemonid prawn. Genus Macrobrachium, in Myanmar. PhD Thesis. Laboratory ofAquatic Resources Science, Faculty of Fisheries, Kagoshima University, Japan. Holthuis Lb•» io

So® Soe Htay, 2010. Ecological investigation of prawn species (Arthropoda: Decapoda) in Hinthada Environs, Ayeyarwady Division. PhD Thesis. Department of Zoology,University of Yangon. Thida Win, 2011 .Taxonomic study on ficshwater prawns of Township and its environs. A/Res. Department ofZoology, Monywa University. Wui Mar, 2007. Seasonal occurrence of some palaemom'd prawns from Taungthaman Lake with special emphasis on reproductive biology of Macrobrachium palaemonoides Holthuis, 1950. PhD Thesis. Department of Zoology, University.