List of Carnivores in U Minh Thuong National Park

42 species of grass, 28 species of sedge, 12 species of Asteraceae, 12 species of legume, 7 species of coffee. U Minh Thuong has a diverse and rich flora including many rare and endemic species. In 2000, Tran Triet recorded 226 species of vascular plants. Among them, the pointed duckweed is rare in Southeast Asia, but very common in UMT National Park.

In 2003, the Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources inherited this information and supplemented it, increasing the number of plants to 299 species and 102 families.

The survey in August 2009 added a total of 387 species belonging to 108 families, including 13 endemic species and 5 rare species, to the total number recorded in the entire region.

This is a plain area, a coastal strip of land, so the high abundance belongs to families suitable for the plain ecosystem, acid sulphate soil, peat, and flood-resistant such as: daisy family, grass family, sedge family. Many types of mangrove forests such as: Rhizophora family, Verbena family, and Avicennia genus.

In the area, there is only one species recorded in SDVN, 2007, VU level is endangered: Com Canh Uot, Com family, tree has narrow distribution in Dong Thap Muoi area, suffers from flooding in the rainy season.

Fauna

Initial survey results have shown that the fauna in U Minh Thuong National Park is considered to have the highest biodiversity in the Mekong Delta region, as follows:

Mammal Group : Through research results, it has been recorded that in U Minh Thuong National Park there are 32 species belonging to 13 families, 7 orders, 12 species listed in the Vietnam Red Book and IUCN. Of which, there are 10 species of carnivores belonging to 4 families, 4 species of which are listed in the Vietnam Red Book 2007, 7 species are listed in Decree 32/2006/ND/CP of the government. Some very rare species in the country are also found here such as: Hairy-nosed otter, small-clawed otter, fishing cat, large-spotted walking civet...

Table 2.3: List of carnivorous animals in U Minh Thuong National Park

STT

Name	Carnivora	Rarity
Name	Carnivora	SD 2007	Decree 32
1	Small clawed otter	Weasel Family	VU	IB
2	Hairy-nosed otter	Weasel Family	EN	IB
3	Civet	Civet Family
4	Large spotted mongoose	Civet Family	VU	IIB
5	mongoose	Civet Family
6	Civet	Civet Family
7	Crab hooker	mongoose family
8	mongoose	mongoose family
9	Cat	Cat family		IB
10	Fishing Cat	Cat family	EN	IB

Maybe you are interested!

(According to VNU Science Journal, Natural Sciences and Technology 25

(2009) pp. 40-44)

Rarity: SD 2007, Vietnam Red Book 2007 VU: Vulnerable

EN: Critical

NDD32: List of rare and precious forest animals and plants issued under Decree 32/2006/ND-CP dated March 30, 2006 of the Government.

IB: strictly prohibit exploitation and use for commercial purposes IIB: restrict exploitation and use for commercial purposes

Thus, in U Minh Thuong National Park, the number of carnivores accounts for 25.6% of the total number of carnivorous species in Vietnam (10/39), the highest among national parks and nature reserves in the Mekong Delta region, but much less than other regions in the country (compared to 22 species in Ta Dung mountain area in the Central Highlands, 27 species in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park in the Central region, 22 species in Huu Lien nature reserve). However, the number of individuals of a species of animal here is quite high compared to

with other regions, especially some rare species such as: small-clawed otter, hairy-nosed otter, fishing cat, large spotted mongoose.

The richness and diversity of the mammal fauna at U Minh Thuong National Park is demonstrated in the table below:

Table 2.4: Wild animal resources in some national parks nationwide

National Park Name	Species	Surname	Set	% of species nationwide
1	UMT National Park	32	13	7	14
2	Ba Vi National Park	43	21	8	19
3	Cat Ba National Park	20	10	5	9
4	Ben En National Park	53	21	10	23
5	Bach Ma National Park	55	23	9	24

(According to the report of the conference on sustainable ecotourism in Vietnam)

Bird group

According to the assessment report of the bird fauna of U Minh Thuong National Park by Tran Van Thang (May 2011). A total of 152 bird species belonging to 39 families were recorded during the survey. Combined with the previous bird fauna monitoring results of Nguyen Phuc Bao Hoa and Tran Van Thang (1999-2003), Buckton et al (1999), Saford (1997), there were 20 more bird species. The total bird species composition in U Minh Thuong National Park up to this point is up to 172 species belonging to 42 families. Of the 152 bird species recorded during the above survey, 2 bird species (Kingfisher Ceryle rudis and Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo) were recorded as additional species for the bird fauna of U Minh Thuong National Park. Two species of birds, the Wild Goshawk and the Crested Goshawk recorded by Safford in 1996-1997, were also recorded in this survey but were not recorded in previous bird surveys and monitoring.

Of the 172 bird species recorded in U Minh Thuong National Park, 19 species are considered to be of important conservation value. Of these 19 species, 9 species are listed as globally threatened or endangered by IUCN, of which 3 species are considered “vulnerable” and 7 species are considered “vulnerable”. Six species are listed in the Vietnam Red Book (2007) with a threat level of R. Seven species have a population size exceeding 1% of their population in the region.

Southeast Asia and the World. Southeast Asia and the world populations based on estimates from Wetlands international (2000).

Table 2.5: Important bird species for conservation in UMT National Park

STT

Vietnamese name	IUCN Red Book 2000	Vietnam Red Book 2007
1	Black-tailed Straight-billed Sandpiper	Near-threatened
2	Grey-headed Fish Kite	Near-threatened
3	Black Eagle	Vulnerable
4	Snake neck	Near-threatened
5	Fire Heron
6	Big Egret
7	Little stork
8	Stork
9	Stork
10	Black Quail
11	Black-headed Ibis	Near-threatened
12	Grey-legged pelican	Vulnerable	R
13	Black Cup
14	Cup base		R
15	Indian stork	Near-threatened	R
16	Stork		R
17	White-necked crane		R
18	Java push	Vulnerable	R
19	Golden Dragon	Near-threatened

(According to the Bird Fauna Assessment Report of U Minh Thuong National Park)

Reptiles and amphibians

Table 2.6: Comparison of reptiles between U Minh Thuong National Park and other national parks and nature reserves.

Location

Area (ha)	Classification level
Area (ha)	Number of sets	Number of family	Number of species
Sand fairy	74,219	3	17	79
UMT National Park	21,107	2	11	31
A Luoi (Hue City)	116,642	2	13	49
Spring - Massage	18,806	2	15	56

Source: Biology Journal 24(2A),2000

Through the table, we can see that U Minh Thuong National Park has a relatively small area compared to other national parks and nature reserves. However, in general, the number of reptiles here is relatively rich in species, with 31 species belonging to 11 families and 2 orders. In addition to 31 species of reptiles, U Minh Thuong National Park has 7 other amphibian species, a total of 38 species. Of which, 20 species are threatened with extinction in the country and in the world. The species that need special priority include: reticulated python, king cobra, toothed turtle, black-backed box turtle, three-hour turtle and horseshoe crab.

Aquatic group

U Minh Thuong National Park is a flooded forest with rich flora and fauna, a place of exchange and transition between two ecosystems of saltwater and freshwater, containing all the ecological factors of salt, brackish, and fresh water, making the ecosystem here complex.

In March 2002, a forest fire occurred, the ecosystem changed a lot, after a long time of pumping salt water to fight the fire and keep the forest warm, the entire freshwater system of U Minh Thuong National Park was converted to a brackish-salt ecosystem (salinity 5-15%). The aquatic ecosystem changed a lot, following an undefined trend due to the mixing of fresh-brackish-salt ecosystems, leaning more towards salinity. However, aquatic resources in general and the zooplankton ecosystem in particular are always changing under the impact of

Climate change, annual rainfall and sunshine regimes and human impacts, the resilience of the ecosystem, including aquatic organisms, is a reality.

Through two surveys in August and November 2004 in U Minh Thuong National Park, 75 species of zooplankton were identified, belonging to 6 groups: Protozoa, Rotatoria, Cladocea, Copepoda, Ostracoda and larvae. The group with the highest number of species is Rotatoria: 29 species, accounting for 38.7%, followed by Cladocera with 21 species, accounting for 28.0%. The remaining groups such as Protozoa, Copepoda, Ostracoda and Larvae have fewer species, ranging from only 2-10 species, reaching a rate of 2.7% - 13.3%.

Table 2.7: Species composition of zooplankton in U Minh Thuong National Park

Species group	Year 2002		2004
Species group	Number of species	Proportion (%)	Number of species	Proportion (%)
1	Protozoa	0	0	2	2.7
2	Rotatoria (Rotatorium)	5	14.3	29	38.7
3	Cladocera (crustaceans)	5	14.3	21	28.0
4	Copepoda (crustaceans)	18	51.4	10	13.3
5	Ostracoda (shelled crustaceans)	0	0.0	4	5.3
6	Larvae	7	20.0	9	12.0
Total		35	100	75	100

(According to the Assessment Report of the Floating Fauna of UMT National Park)

Insect group

Based on the nomenclature according to Bingham (1897) - Hymenoptera Order, Distant (1906) - Rhynchota, Pautian (1945) - Coleoptera Order, Akinobu (1967) - Coleoptera Order, Dang Thi Dap (1981) - Coleoptera Order, Liyongxi Zhou Zhihong et al. (1990), Shusiro Ito et al . (1993) and Le Xuan Hue (2000) - Hymenoptera. The identification results are as follows:

There are a total of 172 species belonging to 53 Families and 12 Orders. The Coleoptera has the largest number of families and species (57 species belonging to 14 families). The next largest Orders are the Heteroptera (39 species, 10 families), the Hymenoptera (24 species, 8 families), the Diptera (21 species, 4 families), the Orthoptera (11

The orders Mantoidea (6 species, 2 families), Homoptera (6 species, 5 families), and Odonata (5 species, 2 families) have only 1 species. The orders Blattoidea, Neuroptera, and Dermapter have only 1 species. The order Ephemeroptera has 2 specimens collected but not identified.

Only six aquatic species have been identified, two in the families Belostomatidae and Dytiscidae, and one each in the families Hydrophilidae and Gerridae.

Table 2.8: Insect Orders in UMT National Park with corresponding number of species and families

Department (scientific name and Vietnamese name)	Number of specimens identification	The number they set name	Number of species specified name
1	Orthoptera - Order Straight Wings	103	4	11
2	Blattoidea - Order Cockroaches	12	1	1
3	Mantoidea - Order Praying Mantis	15	2	6
4	Neuroptera - Neuroptera	12	1	1
5	Homoptera - Order of Wings	34	5	6
6	Heteroptera - Order Hemiptera	105	10	39
7	Coleoptera - Beetles	265	14	57
8	Hymenoptera - Order of Hymenoptera	98	8	24
9	Diptera - Order Two Wings	72	4	21
10	Odonata - Order Dragonflies	35	2	5
11	Dermaptera - Order of Skin Wings	3	1	1
12	Ephemeroptera - Order Mayflies	2	1	0
Total		756	53	172

(According to the Project Report on Conservation and Development of Kien Giang Biosphere Reserve)

Two insect species in U Minh Thuong National Park are listed as threatened in the Vietnam Red Book (2000):

Mantis religiosa (Praying Mantis) – Level V (Vulnerable), found in grasslands near the Management Board headquarters and Checkpoint 4, low abundance.

Lethocerus indicus ( Cà cương) – R (Rare). Recorded only by observation by local people. The characteristic feature of its scent gland is its favorite use in Vietnamese dishes. The Cà cương is threatened by

Overhunting; pesticides and herbicides; or strong light intensity also harm this insect species.

Fish group

U Minh Thuong Nature Reserve was established in 1992 in Kien Giang province. This is a wetland system surrounded by a system of dykes and canals. Aquatic resources here play a very important role compared to other natural resources, which is a source of protein and income for the community in the area.

Research results show that there are 66 fish species, of which 9 species have economic value, exploited in U Minh Thuong nature reserve: Snakehead fish, Day fish, Sac Ran fish, Ro Dong fish, Tre Vang fish, Tre Trang fish, That Lat fish, Sac Buom fish and Sac Diep fish.

2.2.2.2. Topography, geomorphology

- The topographic structure here is quite complex, reflecting the complex geological history of the region. The U Minh alum forests as well as the alum forests in the Mekong Delta are closely related to the history of the formation of this vast delta. From the neotectonic geological activities at the end of the Cenozoic era, two uplifted blocks of South Central and Southeast Vietnam along with Eastern Cambodia were created, the middle block collapsed with the lower Mekong River (including the main Mekong - Bassac rivers and tributary systems), deposited with sedimentary layers nearly a million years ago. Following these neotectonic movements was the period when the sea advanced into the continental shelf, then the sea retreated, leaving newly exposed land on depressions such as Dong Thap Muoi, Tu Giac Long Xuyen and deeper in the U Minh area. The huge volume of alluvium and sediment of the Mekong River basin is concentrated and forms the Mekong Delta, especially due to the resonance effect of the ocean currents in the southern East Sea, most of this alluvium is transported down and towards the southwest, creating the land called Ca Mau peninsula (formed more than ten thousand years ago).

The original forest layer in U Minh has collapsed and then been buried, gradually a new layer of vegetation appears on the sediment layer, which can also be called the original forest layer on the next formed soil layer. The forests were buried before

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