Sustaining Freshwater Biodiversity in the Anthropocene

Garcı́a-Moreno, Jaime; Harrison, Ian; Dudgeon, David; Clausnitzer, Viola; Darwall, W.R.T.; Farrell, T.; Savy, Conrad; Tockner, Klement; Tubbs, N.

doi:10.1007/978-3-319-07548-8_17

Cited by 51 publications

(51 citation statements)

References 86 publications

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“…The causes of this crisis have been recognized for many years (Abell, 2002;Benz & Collins, 1997;Collen et al, 2014;Dudgeon et al, 2006;Foley et al, 2005;Master, Stein, Kutner, & Hammerson, 2000;McAllister, Hamilton, & Harvey, 1997;Strayer & Dudgeon, 2010;Thieme et al, 2011;Vörösmarty et al, 2010), yet little action has been taken to address them. A fundamental driver of the decline in freshwater biodiversity is the dramatic increase in global consumption of natural resources over the last century (Garcia-Moreno et al, 2014). This has led to unsustainable water abstraction, widespread habitat loss and degradation, increased levels of pollution, and a proliferation of invasive species (Garrick et al, 2017).…”

Section: Causes Of the Freshwater Biodiversity Crisismentioning

confidence: 99%

The Alliance for Freshwater Life: A global call to unite efforts for freshwater biodiversity science and conservation

Darwall

Bremerich

Wever

et al. 2018

Aquatic Conservation

212

148

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Global pressures on freshwater ecosystems are high and rising. Viewed primarily as a resource for humans, current practices of water use have led to catastrophic declines in freshwater species and the degradation of freshwater ecosystems, including their genetic and functional diversity. Approximately three‐quarters of the world's inland wetlands have been lost, one‐third of the 28 000 freshwater species assessed for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List are threatened with extinction, and freshwater vertebrate populations are undergoing declines that are more rapid than those of terrestrial and marine species. This global loss continues unchecked, despite the importance of freshwater ecosystems as a source of clean water, food, livelihoods, recreation, and inspiration. The causes of these declines include hydrological alterations, habitat degradation and loss, overexploitation, invasive species, pollution, and the multiple impacts of climate change. Although there are policy initiatives that aim to protect freshwater life, these are rarely implemented with sufficient conviction and enforcement. Policies that focus on the development and management of fresh waters as a resource for people almost universally neglect the biodiversity that they contain. Here we introduce the Alliance for Freshwater Life, a global initiative, uniting specialists in research, data synthesis, conservation, education and outreach, and policymaking. This expert network aims to provide the critical mass required for the effective representation of freshwater biodiversity at policy meetings, to develop solutions balancing the needs of development and conservation, and to better convey the important role freshwater ecosystems play in human well‐being. Through this united effort we hope to reverse this tide of loss and decline in freshwater biodiversity. We introduce several short‐ and medium‐term actions as examples for making positive change, and invite individuals, organizations, authorities, and governments to join the Alliance for Freshwater Life.

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Section: Causes Of the Freshwater Biodiversity Crisismentioning

confidence: 99%

The Alliance for Freshwater Life: A global call to unite efforts for freshwater biodiversity science and conservation

Darwall

Bremerich

Wever

et al. 2018

Aquatic Conservation

212

148

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Those concerned with carbon recognise that water is the most limiting factor for terrestrial ecosystem carbon uptake, and that uncertainties over water imply uncertainties over biomass and carbon fixation (Polis 1999;Good et al 2013;Bernacchi and VanLoocke 2015;Thorley et al 2015;Viglizzo et al 2016;Taylor et al 2017;Zhu et al 2017). Furthermore, those concerned with environmental conservation, stability and the maintenance of species diversity recognise both the significance of freshwater biodiversity (supporting over 126,000 species of plants and animals, many of them vulnerable, on 0.8% of the world's surface, Garcia-Moreno et al 2014) and the links between terrestrial diversity and moisture (Kreft and Jetz 2007;Sheil et al 2016;Viglizzo et al 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Forests, atmospheric water and an uncertain future: the new biology of the global water cycle

Sheil

2018

For. Ecosyst.

119

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Theory and evidence indicate that trees and other vegetation influence the atmospheric water-cycle in various ways. These influences are more important, more complex, and more poorly characterised than is widely realised. While there is little doubt that changes in tree cover will impact the water-cycle, the wider consequences remain difficult to predict as the underlying relationships and processes remain poorly characterised. Nonetheless, as forests are vulnerable to human activities, these linked aspects of the water-cycle are also at risk and the potential consequences of large scale forest loss are severe. Here, for non-specialist readers, I review our knowledge of the links between vegetation-cover and climate with a focus on forests and rain (precipitation). I highlight advances, uncertainties and research opportunities. There are significant shortcomings in our understanding of the atmospheric hydrological cycle and of its representation in climate models. A better understanding of the role of vegetation and tree-cover will reduce some of these shortcomings. I outline and illustrate various research themes where these advances may be found. These themes include the biology of evaporation, aerosols and atmospheric motion, as well as the processes that determine monsoons and diurnal precipitation cycles. A novel theory-the 'biotic pump'-suggests that evaporation and condensation can exert a major influence over atmospheric dynamics. This theory explains how high rainfall can be maintained within those continental land-masses that are sufficiently forested. Feedbacks within many of these processes can result in non-linear behaviours and the potential for dramatic changes as a result of forest loss (or gain): for example, switching from a wet to a dry local climate (or visa-versa). Much remains unknown and multiple research disciplines are needed to address this: forest scientists and other biologists have a major role to play. New ideas, methods and data offer opportunities to improve understanding. Expect surprises.

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“…L'une des plus grandes menaces pesant sur les espèces d'eau douce est donc la perte ou la dégradation des habitats (Collen et al 2014 ;Garcia-Moreno et al 2014), et le bassin méditerranéen n'échappe pas à la règle. La situation de la Méditerranée à l'égard des écosystèmes d'eau douce est particulièrement préoccupante en raison de la grande diversité des espèces endémiques soumises à une pression grandissante due au captage excessif de l'eau, à la propagation des espèces envahissantes et à la pollution.…”

Section: ‫ملخص‬ ‫تنفيذي‬unclassified

Les Zones clés pour la biodiversité d'eau douce dans le hotspot du bassin méditerranéen

Darwall¹,

Carrizo²,

Numa³

et al. 2015

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Document occasionnel de la Commission de la sauvegarde des espèces de l' UICN No. 52 Les Zones clés pour la biodiversité d'eau douce dans le hotspot du bassin méditerranéen Un éclairage pour la conservation des espèces et la planification du développement dans les écosystèmes d'eau douce Darwall W., Carrizo S., Numa C., Barrios V., Freyhof J. et Smith K.La terminologie géographique employée dans cet ouvrage, de même que sa présentation, ne sont en aucune manière l'expression d'une opinion quelconque de la part de l'UICN ou des autres organisations concernées sur le statut juridique ou l'autorité de quelque pays, territoire ou région que ce soit, ou sur la délimitation de ses frontières.Les opinions exprimées dans cette publication ne reflètent pas nécessairement celles de l'UICN ou des autres organisations concernées.

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Sustaining Freshwater Biodiversity in the Anthropocene

Cited by 51 publications

References 86 publications

The Alliance for Freshwater Life: A global call to unite efforts for freshwater biodiversity science and conservation

The Alliance for Freshwater Life: A global call to unite efforts for freshwater biodiversity science and conservation

Forests, atmospheric water and an uncertain future: the new biology of the global water cycle

Les Zones clés pour la biodiversité d'eau douce dans le hotspot du bassin méditerranéen

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