Ecology and Conservation of Freshwater Fishes Biodiversity

• Other Authors: Miranda, Rafael (Editor)
• Format: Electronic Book Chapter
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI - Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute 2022
• Subjects: Research & information: general; count bias; growth zone counts; precision; otolith preparation methods; adaptation; alpine lakes; Cottus gobio; hepatic steatosis; ichthyofauna; trophic guilds; salinity-tolerance; connectivity; Chetumal Bay; Mexico; acoustics; fish density; fish distribution; Mediterranean lake; gut content analysis; Mediterranean rivers; prey richness; trophic niche breadth; Spain; threatened species; conservation planning; climate change; captive breeding; Cottus hispaniolensis; conservation; ecological integrity; fish biodiversity; restoration; river basin management; Yangtze River; Mediterranean ponds; fish; Aphanius iberus; size structure; ecological status; thermal stress; salvage; drought; hypoxia; energy allocation; fecundity; flow regulation; Mediterranean-type river cyprinids; invasive fish; life history traits; methods comparison; population imbalance; stock assessment; sentinel species; longitudinal gradient; human impacts; flow regime alteration; non-native fish; fragmentation; habitat alteration; Segura River basin; Tropical Andes; Manu Biosphere Reserve; Astroblepus; Trichomycterus; Mauritia flexuosa; n/a
• Online Access: DOAB: download the publication; DOAB: description of the publication

Freshwater fishes are the most diverse vertebrate group, with almost 36,000 species described so far, and more species are being discovered all the time, evenly distributed between marine and freshwater habitats. Freshwater ecosystems serve as a habitat for more than 18,000 fish species, occupying less than 1% of the Earth's surface. Among all ecosystems, inland waters are one of the most affected. Wetlands are disappearing three times faster than forests, and freshwater populations decrease faster than terrestrial biodiversity. Nowadays, freshwater fishes may be considered the most threatened vertebrate group. Understanding the ecological subjects, environmental necessities, and pressures of freshwater fishes remains a key concern of their conservation biology. This reprint explores the relationships between environmental issues, freshwater fish biodiversity, and human impacts from different perspectives, but always focuses on the conservation biology of species and ecosystems.A change in mindset is needed to protect biodiversity in the upcoming years. Conservation plans have failed because our current knowledge is deficient and needs to be improved. We need countries to commit to protecting biodiversity and develop realistic targets that can be met while compromising with conflicting needs and interests. The articles included in this reprint emphasize the necessity of having more knowledge to develop conservation strategies. Future conservation targets may be advanced in part based on the knowledge provided by these papers and similar studies to ensure the long-term protection of freshwater fish and other life forms.