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Cunningham CA, Crick HQP, Morecroft MD, Thomas CD, Beale CM. Reconciling diverse viewpoints within systematic conservation planning. PEOPLE AND NATURE 2023. [DOI: 10.1002/pan3.10449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Charles A. Cunningham
- Department of Biology University of York York UK
- Leverhulme Centre for Anthropocene Biodiversity University of York York UK
| | | | | | - Chris D. Thomas
- Department of Biology University of York York UK
- Leverhulme Centre for Anthropocene Biodiversity University of York York UK
| | - Colin M. Beale
- Department of Biology University of York York UK
- Leverhulme Centre for Anthropocene Biodiversity University of York York UK
- York Environmental Sustainability Institute University of York York UK
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Szabolcs M, Kapusi F, Carrizo S, Markovic D, Freyhof J, Cid N, Cardoso AC, Scholz M, Kasperidus HD, Darwall WRT, Lengyel S. Spatial priorities for freshwater biodiversity conservation in light of catchment protection and connectivity in Europe. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0267801. [PMID: 35580083 PMCID: PMC9113586 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0267801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Freshwater ecosystems host disproportionately high numbers of species relative to their surface area yet are poorly protected globally. We used data on the distribution of 1631 species of aquatic plant, mollusc, odonate and fish in 18,816 river and lake catchments in Europe to establish spatial conservation priorities based on the occurrence of threatened, range-restricted and endemic species using the Marxan systematic conservation planning tool. We found that priorities were highest for rivers and ancient lakes in S Europe, large rivers and lakes in E and N Europe, smaller lakes in NW Europe and karst/limestone areas in the Balkans, S France and central Europe. The a priori inclusion of well-protected catchments resulted in geographically more balanced priorities and better coverage of threatened (critically endangered, endangered and vulnerable) species. The a priori exclusion of well-protected catchments showed that priority areas that need further conservation interventions are in S and E Europe. We developed three ways to evaluate the correspondence between conservation priority and current protection by assessing whether a cathment has more (or less) priority given its protection level relative to all other catchments. Each method found that priority relative to protection was high in S and E Europe and generally low in NW Europe. The inclusion of hydrological connectivity had little influence on these patterns but decreased the coverage of threatened species, indicating a trade-off between connectivity and conservation of threatened species. Our results suggest that catchments in S and E Europe need urgent conservation attention (protected areas, restoration, management, species protection) in the face of imminent threats such as river regulation, dam construction, hydropower development and climate change. Our study presents continental-scale conservation priorities for freshwater ecosystems in ecologically meaningful planning units and will thus be important in freshwater biodiversity conservation policy and practice, and water management in Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Márton Szabolcs
- ELKH, Centre for Ecological Research, Institute of Aquatic Ecology, Department of Tisza Research, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Felícia Kapusi
- ELKH, Centre for Ecological Research, Institute of Aquatic Ecology, Department of Tisza Research, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Savrina Carrizo
- International Union for the Conservation of Nature, Global Species Programme, Freshwater Biodiversity Unit, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | | | - Jörg Freyhof
- German Center for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), Leipzig, Germany
| | - Núria Cid
- University of Barcelona, Faculty of Biology, Department of Ecology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ana Cristina Cardoso
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Institute for Environment and Sustainability, Water Resources Unit, Ispra, Italy
| | - Mathias Scholz
- UFZ − Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Department of Conservation Biology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Hans D. Kasperidus
- UFZ − Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Department of Conservation Biology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - William R. T. Darwall
- International Union for the Conservation of Nature, Global Species Programme, Freshwater Biodiversity Unit, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Szabolcs Lengyel
- ELKH, Centre for Ecological Research, Institute of Aquatic Ecology, Department of Tisza Research, Debrecen, Hungary
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