Unravelling blue landscape fragmentation effects on ecosystem services in urban agglomerations

Sustainable Cities and Society, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 102, P. 105192 - 105192

Published: Jan. 10, 2024

Language: Английский

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One-quarter of freshwater fauna threatened with extinction

Nature, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 8, 2025

Abstract Freshwater ecosystems are highly biodiverse 1 and important for livelihoods economic development 2 , but under substantial stress 3 . To date, comprehensive global assessments of extinction risk have not included any speciose groups primarily living in freshwaters. Consequently, data from predominantly terrestrial tetrapods 4,5 used to guide environmental policy 6 conservation prioritization 7 whereas recent proposals target setting freshwaters use abiotic factors 8–13 However, there is evidence 14–17 that such insufficient represent the needs freshwater species achieve biodiversity goals 18,19 Here we present results a multi-taxon fauna assessment The IUCN Red List Threatened Species covering 23,496 decapod crustaceans, fishes odonates, finding one-quarter threatened with extinction. Prevalent threats include pollution, dams water extraction, agriculture invasive species, overharvesting also driving extinctions. We examined degree surrogacy both (water nitrogen) species. good surrogates when prioritizing sites maximize rarity-weighted richness, poorer based on most range-restricted they much better than factors, which perform worse random. Thus, although priority regions identified tetrapod broadly reflective those faunas, given differences key habitats, meeting cannot be assumed sufficient conserve at local scales.

Language: Английский

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The potential for nature-based solutions to combat the freshwater biodiversity crisis

PLOS Water, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 2(6), P. e0000126 - e0000126

Published: June 8, 2023

Enthusiasm for and investments in nature-based solutions (NBS) as sustainable strategies climate adaptation infrastructure development is building among governments, the scientific community, engineering practitioners. This particularly true water security water-related risks. In a freshwater context, NBS may provide much-needed “win-wins” society environment that could benefit imperiled biodiversity. Such conservation benefits are urgently needed given ongoing biodiversity crisis, with declines species their habitats occurring at more than twice rate of marine or terrestrial systems. However, to make meaningful contributions safeguarding biodiversity, clear links must be established between applications priorities conservation. this paper, we link common six priority actions life by science n highlight research knowledge will necessary bring bear on crisis. particular, illustrate how can play direct role restoring degraded aquatic floodplain ecosystems, enhancing in-stream quality, improving hydrological connectivity ecosystems. System-level monitoring ensure deliver promised ecosystems species.

Language: Английский

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Is it a new day for freshwater biodiversity? Reflections on outcomes of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework

PLOS Sustainability and Transformation, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 2(5), P. e0000065 - e0000065

Published: May 17, 2023

The 2022 United Nations (UN) Biodiversity Conference of the Parties (COP) to UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) recognized for first-time 'inland waters' as a distinct realm in terms setting targets and process monitoring conserving them their biodiversity.It is common environmentalists environmental scholars bemoan things that they care about, but have been forgotten, ignored, or excluded when it comes decisions, development policy.Often those concerns focus specific taxonomic group species, locality, particular decision, regional national policy.However, rarely do an entire occurs around globe.By 'realm' we are referring terrestrial, freshwater, marine ecosystems.Equally important, some key messages Kunming-Montreal GBF were picked up at Water March 2023, first such meetings almost 50 years, which commits global water action agenda restore protect freshwater ecosystems component sustainable development.Here, draw attention CBD included language recognizes inland waters own merits (i.e., realm) within Global Framework (GBF) [1] was submitted by President COP 15, held Montreal, December 18, 2022.Previously, inherently-and our opinion, mistakenly-considered part terrestrial realm.Concerns existed about lack 2011-2020 Aichi Targets [2].These redressed recognizing need move beyond reference simply 'land sea,' place more biodiversity.In particular, now explicitly focused two text from Target 2 3).Target 2: Ensure 2030 least 30 percent areas degraded water, coastal under effective restoration, order enhance biodiversity ecosystem functions services, ecological integrity connectivity.

Language: Английский

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The relationships between biotic uniqueness and abiotic uniqueness are context dependent across drainage basins worldwide

Landscape Ecology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 39(4)

Published: April 5, 2024

Abstract Context Global change, including land-use change and habitat degradation, has led to a decline in biodiversity, more so freshwater than terrestrial ecosystems. However, the research on freshwaters lags behind marine studies, highlighting need for innovative approaches comprehend biodiversity. Objectives We investigated patterns relationships between biotic uniqueness abiotic environmental drainage basins worldwide. Methods compiled high-quality data aquatic insects (mayflies, stoneflies, caddisflies at genus-level) from 42 spanning four continents. Within each basin we calculated (local contribution beta diversity, LCBD) of insect assemblages, types heterogeneity, LCEH), categorized into upstream land cover, chemical soil properties, stream site landscape position, climate. A mixed-effects meta-regression was performed across examine variations strength LCBD-LCEH relationship terms latitude, human footprint, major continental regions (the Americas versus Eurasia). Results On average, LCBD LCEH were weak. direction varied among basins. Latitude, footprint index, or location did not explain significant variation relationship. Conclusions detected strong context dependence Varying conditions gradient lengths basins, historical contingencies, stochastic factors may these findings. This underscores basin-specific management practices protect biodiversity riverine systems.

Language: Английский

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Aquatic connectivity: challenges and solutions in a changing climate

Journal of Fish Biology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 105(2), P. 392 - 411

Published: April 7, 2024

The challenge of managing aquatic connectivity in a changing climate is exacerbated the presence additional anthropogenic stressors, social factors, and economic drivers. Here we discuss these issues context structural functional for biodiversity, specifically fish, both freshwater marine realms. We posit that adaptive management strategies consider shifting baselines socio-ecological implications change will be required to achieve objectives. role renewable energy expansion, particularly hydropower, critically examined its impact on connectivity. advocate strategic spatial planning incorporates nature-positive solutions, ensuring mitigation efforts are harmonized with biodiversity conservation. underscore urgency integrating robust scientific modelling stakeholder values define clear, Finally, call innovative monitoring predictive decision-making tools navigate uncertainties inherent climate, goal resilience sustainability ecosystems.

Language: Английский

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Bending the curve of global freshwater biodiversity loss: what are the prospects?

Biological reviews/Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Sept. 2, 2024

ABSTRACT Freshwater biodiversity conservation has received substantial attention in the scientific literature and is finally being recognized policy frameworks such as Global Biodiversity Framework its associated targets for 2030. This important progress. Nonetheless, freshwater species continue to be confronted with high levels of imperilment widespread ecosystem degradation. An Emergency Recovery Plan (ERP) proposed 2020 comprises six measures intended “bend curve” loss, if they are widely adopted adequately supported. We review evidence suggesting that combined intensity persistent emerging threats become so serious current projected efforts preserve, protect restore inland‐water ecosystems may insufficient avert losses coming decades. In particular, climate change, complex harmful impacts, will frustrate attempts prevent from already affected by multiple threats. Interactions among these limit recovery populations exacerbate declines resulting local or even global extinctions, especially low‐viability degraded fragmented ecosystems. addition impediments represented we identify several other areas where absolute scarcity fresh water, inadequate information predictive capacity, a failure mitigate anthropogenic stressors, liable set limits on biodiversity. Implementation ERP rapidly at scale through many dispersed actions focused regions intense threat, together an intensification ex‐situ efforts, necessary preserve native during increasingly uncertain climatic future which poorly understood, emergent interacting have more influential. But implementation must accompanied improve energy food security humans – without further compromising condition Unfortunately, political policies arrest environmental challenges change do not inspire confidence about possible success ERP. parts world, Anthropocene seems certain include extended periods uncontaminated surface runoff inevitably appropriated humans. Unless there step‐change societal awareness commitment biodiversity, established methods protecting bend curve enough continued degradation loss.

Language: Английский

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Developing geospatial tools to identify refuges from alien trout invasion in Australia to assist freshwater conservation

Marine and Freshwater Research, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 76(4)

Published: Feb. 24, 2025

Context Introduced fish have caused significant range reductions for many native fish, with threatened species now found in headwater refuges, protected by in-stream barriers such as waterfalls, weirs and culverts. Owing to the remoteness of distribution is poorly understood despite urgency determining their because threats posed spread introduced into these refuges. Aims We investigated application emerging remote-sensing technology (LiDAR) improve our ability locate potential invasion identify Methods used LiDAR-derived digital elevation models find likely barriers, conducted surveys determine trout passability tributary headwaters. Key results Trout were rarely observed upstream waterfalls a gradient >0.82, whereas galaxiids only absence trout. Of 17 surveyed, 9 supported population upstream, 8 fishless. Implications LiDAR-based analysis an effective tool preliminary site selection prioritisation freshwater conservation. Discovery three new populations this study demonstrates technique additional trout-free streams, important other trout-sensitive aquatic species.

Language: Английский

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Accelerating environmental flow implementation to bend the curve of global freshwater biodiversity loss

Environmental Reviews, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 32(3), P. 387 - 413

Published: July 6, 2023

Environmental flows (e-flows) aim to mitigate the threat of altered hydrological regimes in river systems and connected waterbodies are an important component integrated strategies address multiple threats freshwater biodiversity. Expanding accelerating implementation e-flows can support conservation help restore biodiversity resilience hydrologically water-stressed rivers ecosystems. While there have been significant developments e-flow science, assessment, societal acceptance, within water resource management has slower than required geographically uneven. This review explores critical factors that enable successful outcomes particular, drawing on 13 case studies literature. It presents as adaptive cycle enabled by 10 factors: legislation governance, financial human resourcing, stakeholder engagement co-production knowledge, collaborative monitoring ecological social-economic outcomes, capacity training research, exploration trade-offs among users, removing or retrofitting infrastructure facilitate connectivity, adaptation climate change. Recognising may be barriers limitations full effective enablement each factor, authors identified corresponding options generalizable recommendations for actions overcome prominent constraints, wider The urgency addressing flow-related loss demands networks train empower a new generation practitioners equipped with latest tools insights lead environmental globally. Mainstreaming planning, management, restoration strategies, adaptations change is imperative. policy drivers associated funding commitments Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework offer crucial opportunities achieve benefits contributed nature-based solutions, such flood risk floodplain fisheries restoration, increased

Language: Английский

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TheRACEfor freshwater biodiversity: Essential actions to create the social context for meaningful conservation

Conservation Science and Practice, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 5(4)

Published: Feb. 22, 2023

Abstract Freshwater habitats are experiencing two to three times the rate of biodiversity loss terrestrial and marine habitats. As status quo actions within conservation community not reversing downward trajectory for freshwater biodiversity, we propose four shift narrative such that is no longer invisible overlooked, but rather explicitly recognized, valued, protected: (1) Reshape our relationship with (2) Appreciate indigenous knowledge systems relating habitats, (3) Connect science more directly action, (4) Elevate as a unique “domain” requires explicit recognition in planning (RACE). We highlight roles both scientists wider can play implementing “RACE” be won.

Language: Английский

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