The ecosystems investigated include all aquatic environments, from brackish to fresh waters, whether in rivers, lakes or underground. The areas visited are :

1. the coastal rivers in the Kumawa massif, in the surroundings of the Nusa Ulan village,
2. the upstream part of the River Faria, in the North-west of Kumawa,
3. the coastal rivers of the Arguni Bay,
4. the seepages in the surroundings of Lake Sewiki and the village of Urisa,
5. the isolated Lake Kuweri and the rivers in the surroundings of the Murano village,
6. Lake Kamaka and its surroundings,
7. the underground area of High Lengguru and its surroundings,
8. the isolated Lake Mbuta,
9. the fragmented and underground rivers of Tanjung Bay cape.

This team is assigned to collect the largest possible number of fish, crustacean and shellfish living in fresh or brackish waters, whether in surface or underground habitats.

Ichthyology team at Wermura river
© Gilles Segura

The specimens, which will be collected using electro-fishing equipment or other appropriate fishing gear (nets, hoop nets, etc.), are destined to molecular analysis. The carcasses will be preserved for further morphological analysis and collections. Each specimen will be photographed according to the same protocols set for the other teams.

(a) Melanotaenia ajamaruensis | (b) Melanotaenia ammeri | (c) Melanotaenia goldiei | (d) Melanotaenia kamaka
© Laurent Pouyaud

Team members