Dear Colleagues,

Freshwater ecosystems—rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, and wetlands—are simultaneously hotspots of biodiversity and endangerment. Presently, general population trends of freshwater species show declines by far exceeding those of terrestrial species. The loss of freshwater species is often irreplaceable, due to a high degree of endemicity induced by isolation among basins. Aquatic flora (e.g., macrophytes, bryophytes, algae) and fauna (e.g., fish, invertebrates, amphibians) are affected by pollution, fragmentation, overexploration, invasive species. and by the ongoing climate change, among other stressors. The chief goals of conservation policies involve long-term protection of the least disturbed ecosystems and restoration of degraded ecosystems to healthier states. Networks of protected areas have focused on the terrestrial realm, largely failing to adequately represent the conservation needs of freshwater species. In addition, efforts to implement effective management of freshwater ecosystems have so far been very limited due to the complex interplay of a multitude of stressors. Acknowledging these important research topics, in this Special Issue we propose to improve knowledge to assess the vulnerability and optimize protection of aquatic systems from biodiversity loss. Studies focused on aquatic flora and fauna with special emphasis on the funcional component of biodiversity, habitat connectivity, invasive species, and global changes are especially welcome.

Dr. Pedro Segurado
Prof. Dr. Francisca Aguiar
Dr. Stamatis Zogaris
Guest Editors

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• aquatic flora
• aquatic fauna
• biodiversity
• climate change
• connectivity
• ecosystem vulnerability
• functional diversity
• management
• protected areas