Dr. Apinun Suvarnaraksha from Maejo University in Thailand paid a visit to Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IHB) during September 4 and 8. 

The four-member delegation led by Dr. Apinun Suvarnaraksha from Maejo University in Thailand paid a visit to Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IHB) during September 4 and 8. During his visit, Dr. Suvarnaraksha gave a presentation entitled “Freshwater Fishes Diversity in Thailand: Mekong, Chaophraya and Salween river basin”.

Dr. Apinun Suvarnaraksha conducted studies of the biodiversity of freshwater fish in Mekong, Chaophraya and Salween river basins. Both Mekong and Salween River originate in China, known as Lanchang River and Nu River respectively. Dr. Suvarnaraksha has, for the first time, conducted a comparative study on the biodiversity of freshwater fish in Mekong, Chaophraya and Salween river basins, where boast a rich diversity of freshwater fishes. The number of freshwater fish in this regions is more than 850. His studies are of significance to the planet biodiversity inventory and conservationof freshwater fishes.  

The richness of species biodiversity in the South Asia Sub-Continent which is located in the south side of the Himalayas is ranked third in the world’s “biodiversity hotspots” whereas studies on biodiversity of this regions are relatively less. It is believed that more studies will be focused on the biodiversity of species in this regions. At present, there are 1,260 recorded species of freshwater fishes (560 endemic species) in this regions, accounting for 10% of the total number of freshwater fish species of the world.   

The four-member delegation led by Dr. Apinun Suvarnaraksha later had a field trip with the members from the Research Group of Fish Taxonomy and Evolution at IHB. They also visited the Museum of Aquatic Orginisms located in the Institute. Prof. Zhang E, principal investigator of Research Group of Fish Taxonomy and Evolution, together with Prof. Li Zhongjie, deputy director of the Center for Freshwater Ecology at IHB, discussed on the possibility of academic exchanges and cooperation in the studies of fish diversity of Mekong River and between IHB students and the students from Maejo University.  

Dr. Apinun Suvarnaraksha is currently Assistant Professor of Maejo University. His general research interests are biology and life history of fish, fish taxonomy, evolution and ecology of fish. 

The four-member delegation led by Dr. Apinun Suvarnaraksha had a field trip with the members from the Research Group of Fish Taxonomy and Evolution at IHB.