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[quote=”parosphr” post=347]
Dear All,
As I have indicated to you ealier, I had during the last week the opportunity of visiting the P. tweediei sites (accompanied by O. Perrin). I am happy to inform you that at all three sites known to us, P. tweediei were present, although water levels were still too low. It was especially encouraging to see the relatively large number of juveniles. This is encouraging considering that I have found some of these sites essentially dry almost exactly one year ago.
This shall , by all means, not indicate that the species was “safe”. For some of these sites, the water level seems regulated by locks so, I wonder whether on could not ask for more attention guaranteeing at least a residual flow of water in times of drought. What do you think, Zahar?
I also visited the only P. alfredi site known to me so far. Also this species was found in good numbers. Further research to identify additional biotopes was unsuccessful (mainly because of a car we hired that was not adequate for entering into remote areas).[/quote]
None of us (at least the guys that we know) had made a “detail” survey of the are but I think none the original peat swamp is still standing. The area is basically consist of small towns (such as Pekan Nenas), villages and plantations – oil palm and pineapples; the 2 suitable plants for such acidic soil. To convert the swamp into habitable and plantable areas, a network of irrigation canals were made and these are usually permanent waterways; i.e. no locks, as the function is not to maintain the water levels as in planting ricebut rather to drain the water away.
These areas have probably been there for the past 15-20 years, if not more, and the habitats for the aquatic inhabitants have (I belive) stabilised. That’s why we can still get the paros in front of the village houses (literally!). So, as long as the water flows through the peat soil (within the oil palms and pineapple plantations), the paros will still be there. But for how long? I don’t know.Just got some updates from an old friend about Tg Malim. Yes the area has seen some human activity especially on the northern side of the road from Tg Malim to Sungai Besar. Last weeks, a group of hobbyist went there and could only get very few Betta livida and B hipposideros, but the harveyi was abundant.
This was almost the opposite that what we had a few years back when could hardly get P harveyi but want having a “party” with bettas.
