BIODIVERSITY RESEARCH

Conservation biogeography of freshwater fishes: recent progress and future challenges

  1. Julian D. Olden1,*,
  2. Mark J. Kennard2,
  3. Fabien Leprieur3,
  4. Pablo A. Tedesco3,
  5. Kirk O. Winemiller4,
  6. Emili García-Berthou5

Article first published online: 4 MAR 2010

DOI: 10.1111/j.1472-4642.2010.00655.x

Issue

Diversity and Distributions

Diversity and Distributions

Special Issue: Special Issue: Conservation biogeography - foundations, concepts and challenges

Volume 16, Issue 3, pages 496–513, May 2010

Additional Information

How to Cite

Olden, J. D., Kennard, M. J., Leprieur, F., Tedesco, P. A., Winemiller, K. O. and García-Berthou, E. (2010), Conservation biogeography of freshwater fishes: recent progress and future challenges. Diversity and Distributions, 16: 496–513. doi: 10.1111/j.1472-4642.2010.00655.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA

  2. 2

    Tropical Rivers and Coastal Knowledge Commonwealth Environmental Research Facility and Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD, Australia

  3. 3

    UMR BOREA (IRD 207), Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Département Milieux et Peuplements Aquatiques, Paris, France

  4. 4

    Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, USA

  5. 5

    Institute of Aquatic Ecology, University of Girona, E-17071 Girona, Spain

* Julian D. Olden, School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA. E-mail: olden@uw.edu

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 13 APR 2010
  2. Article first published online: 4 MAR 2010

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Keywords:

  • Biological invasions;
  • climate change;
  • conservation planning;
  • functional diversity;
  • species diversity

Abstract

Aim  To identify key research questions and challenges that will, if addressed in a timely manner, significantly advance the field of freshwater fish biogeography and conservation.

Location  Globe.

Methods  By drawing on expertise from different regions of the world, we integrate an illustrative conspectus of recent scientific advancements in fish biogeography with a prospectus of needed areas of scientific inquiry to identify information gaps and priority research needs to advance the science.

Results  We identified the following core challenges: (1) Testing current and forging new theories in biogeography; (2) Advancing a trait-based biogeography of freshwater fishes; (3) Quantifying extinction risk and loss of fish species in a changing environment; (4) Evaluating the magnitude and geography of extinction debt for freshwater fishes; (5) Elucidating the patterns and drivers of freshwater fish invasions; (6) Forecasting the future geography of freshwater fishes; (7) Understanding the interactive effects of multiple stressors in freshwater ecosystems; (8) Quantifying new features of the biodiversity crisis: fish faunal homogenization and the emergence of novel assemblages; (9) Promoting scientific rigour in emerging freshwater fish conservation strategies and (10) Improving conservation planning strategies for freshwater fish species.

Main conclusions  By reflecting on recent scientific progress in fish conservation biogeography, we have identified a set of core challenges and priorities requiring future research investment.

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