Colour Skin Corps (dos,ventre) tail feets Weight Size Body tail feets ears skull Teeths (color, length) Teets

1. Colour Skin • Corps (dos,ventre) • tail • feets • Weight • Size • Body • tail • feets • ears • skull • Teeths (color, length) • Teets

2. M.surifer Maxomys Leopoldamys L.neilli L.edwarsi L.sabanus R.tanezumi Rattus sensu stricto Bandicota Berylmys Cosmopolitan Rattus R.Rattus sp R.losea R.exulans R.novegicus B.indica B.savilei B.berdmorei B.bowersi

3. Cosmopolitan Rattus (France, Inde, Madagascar, …)

4. Study of the South Asian Limestone karst biodiversity Dr Johan Michaux, University of Liège, Belgium; CBGP, Montpellier, France

5. Limestone karst are sedimentary rock outcrops that consist primarily of calcium carbonate. They were formed millions of years ago by calcium secreting marine organisms before tectonic movements lifted them above Sea level. Over the years, the softer sediments covering These karst were removed. This process Produced « towers » and « cockpit » karst formations

6. 400 000 KM2 of Limestone karst in South East Asia, mainly in Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam and Laos. Biodiversity reservoirs or « arks » that restock degraded environments during ecosystem reassembly.

7. A very important biodiversity on many different organisms… In Malaysia, 80% of the total land snail fauna occurs on karsts (Clement et al. 2006)

8. In Laos : Laonastes aenigmamus and Saxatilomys (New described families or genera) Also in the mammal fauna… In Thailand : Leopoldamys neilli and Niviventer hinpoon (red list of the IUCN)

9. However, ecosystems still poorly studied : only 1% of the studies developed on the South East Asian Biodiversity were developed on Limestone karsts.

10. An important threat on the limestone karsts : - Limestone quarrying - Destruction of habitats

11. Conservation status Conservation actions proposed by the IUCN and the UNESCO. However, not enough : conservation measures should be taken quickly (42% ofthe South East asian biodiversity could disappear for 2100).

12. ? Research project

13. Study of different organisms • Rodents : Dr J. Michaux (University of Liège,Belgium and Center of Biology and Management of populations, France), Dr S. Morand (ISEM, France) and Dr J.P. Hugot (National Museum of Natural History, France); • Bats : Dr Surachit waengsothorn (Environment, Ecology & Energy Dpt, Bangkok, Thailand); • - Schrews : Dr Violaine Nicolas (National Museum of Natural History, France); • Insects : Dr L. de Harveng (National Museum of Natural History, France) and J.Y. Rasplus (Center of Biology and Management of populations, France; • Mosses : Dr A. Vanderpoorten (University of Liège, Belgium); • Vascular plants : Dr. I. Parmentier (University of Bruxelles, Belgium). • + Lao colleagues

14. Main aims of the research project Inventory of the biodiversity of different organisms from Limestone karst distributed in Thailand and in Laos; Study of the genetic and the eco-ethological characters of some insects, rodents and plant species endemic to these karst regions. Study of the evolutionary histories of different species. Is it possible to distinguish different populations or genetic lineages according to the karst regions where they are living? Evidence of different « Evolutionary Significant Units » and « Management Units »? Proposition of conservation measures for the Biodiversity of these regions.

15. Study of the importance of endemic rodent species from limestone karst as « reservoirs » of pathogens Training of Thai and Lao students on the study of karst biodiversity using different approaches (genetics, morphology…). Training interesting on the conservation but also on the epidemiological point of view.

16. Application : European project « Biodiversa » Project involving European and South East Asian researchers on the Limestone Karst biodiversity Deadline : 3th march 2008