Overview
Topic status: We're looking for students to study this topic.
Wild fish populations are the only resource for human food supply that is still harvested from the wild, so understanding the dynamics of wild fish populations is critical for maintaining food supply, fishing industries, and for preserving viable natural populations of harvested species. The snakehead fish Channa striata is one of the most economically important fish in the Mekong River Basin, which is the largest river in SE Asia. Recently, genetic diversity and phylogeographical patterns for the species were characterised across SE Asia. It was found that dispersal among widespread populations is likely to be low, even between sites in a single river system.
This study will build on this previous work to identify stock units for fisheries management across Cambodia and the Vietnamese delta.
The project is laboratory based, and the student will screen genetic variation at 8 microsatellite loci for individuals collected from 9 sites in Mekong River Basin, adding to a data set of 6 sites previously screened (total sample size approx: 700). Genetic analysis will be undertaken to determine fine scale geographical population structuring for this species, and identify units for conservation management. This study will provide information to the Cambodian Department of Fisheries on appropriate scales of management for C. striata in the Mekong Basin.
- Study level
- Honours
- Supervisors
- QUT
- Organisational unit
Science and Engineering Faculty
- Research area
- Contact
- Please contact the supervisor.
Dr David Hurwood
Professor Peter Mather
