Ongoing invertebrate extinctions in a Vietnamese/Cambodian karst biodiversity hotspot

• DOI: 10.3897/aca.1.e32232
• Publication Date: 2018-12-07T07:51:08Z
• Authors: Louis Deharveng; Marko Lukić; Mark Judson; Anne Bedos
• Keywords: Endemism; Biodiversity hotspot

The Hon Chong‒Kâmpôt hills form a group of tiny karstic outcrops scattered in the alluvial plain across southwestern border between Vietnam and Cambodia. This hosts an exceptional concentration endemic taxa that have been progressively discovered during past two decades. Remarkable genera millipedes, mites, woodlice beetles, as well many species other arthropod groups are known from deep soil caves this karst. Among them, several remain only single or sites, despite intensive sampling. These under critical threat limestone exploitation. Most them already been, going to be, levelled coming years, plan being leave 3 km 2 unquarried Vietnamese part We describe here patterns endemism threats karst group, summarize attempts made so far avoid what is turning out be one worst mass extinctions documented date.