A Hotspot of Subterranean Biodiversity on the Brink: Mo So Cave and the Hon Chong Karst of Vietnam
Louis Deharveng,
Cong Kiet Le,
Anne Bedos,
Mark L. I. Judson,
Cong Man Le,
Marko Lukić,
Hong Truong Luu,
Ngoc Sam Ly,
Tran Quoc Trung Nguyen,
Quang Tam Truong,
Jaap Vermeulen
Affiliations
Louis Deharveng
Institut de Systématique, Évolution, Biodiversité (ISYEB), UMR 7205 CNRS, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Sorbonne Université, 57 rue Cuvier, 75005 Paris, France
Cong Kiet Le
Department of Ecology-Evolutionary Biology, Faculty of Biology-Biotechnology, University of Science, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City, 227 Nguyen Van Cu Street, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City 749000, Vietnam
Anne Bedos
Institut de Systématique, Évolution, Biodiversité (ISYEB), UMR 7205 CNRS, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Sorbonne Université, 57 rue Cuvier, 75005 Paris, France
Mark L. I. Judson
Institut de Systématique, Évolution, Biodiversité (ISYEB), UMR 7205 CNRS, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Sorbonne Université, 57 rue Cuvier, 75005 Paris, France
Cong Man Le
Department of Ecology-Evolutionary Biology, Faculty of Biology-Biotechnology, University of Science, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City, 227 Nguyen Van Cu Street, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City 749000, Vietnam
Marko Lukić
Croatian Biospeleological Society, Rooseveltov trg 6, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Hong Truong Luu
Southern Institute of Ecology, Institute of Applied Materials Science, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 1D, TL 29 Street, Thanh Loc Ward, District 12, Ho Chi Minh City 729110, Vietnam
Ngoc Sam Ly
Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Graduate University of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Cau Giay District, Ha Noi 122000, Vietnam
Tran Quoc Trung Nguyen
Southern Institute of Ecology, Institute of Applied Materials Science, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 1D, TL 29 Street, Thanh Loc Ward, District 12, Ho Chi Minh City 729110, Vietnam
Quang Tam Truong
Institute of Tropical Biology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 85 Tran Quoc Toan Street, Vo Thi Sau Ward, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City 722700, Vietnam
Jaap Vermeulen
JK Art and Science, Lauwerbes 8, 2318 AT Leiden, The Netherlands
The southern part of the Mekong Delta Limestones of Vietnam (MDL-HC or Hon Chong karst) comprises numerous small limestone hills. It is a hotspot of biodiversity for soil and cave invertebrates. Here, we synthesize the results of biological surveys carried out in Hang Mo So, the richest MDL-HC cave for troglobionts, and in surrounding karsts. Methodologies for the ecological characterization of species are discussed, with emphasis on parallel sampling (external soil plus cave). Hang Mo So has 27 troglobionts, including many still undescribed. An additional 40 cave-obligate species are known from other caves of MDL-HC. Among them, several are expected to be found in Hang Mo So. Most troglobionts of MDL-HC are endemic. Several relictual taxa without close relatives in Southeast Asia occur in Hang Mo So and in MDL-HC, reflecting an ancient origin of the fauna. The reasons for this richness are uncertain, but the cause of its current destruction—quarrying—is all too evident. Most of the original 4 km2 of the MDL-HC karst has been destroyed or soon will be, ultimately leaving only 1.6 km2 unquarried. Endemic species linked to karst habitats are, therefore, under clear threat of extinction. The Hon Chong karst (MDL-HC) was listed among the ten most endangered karsts on the planet 25 years ago. Today it would probably top the list.
