Aquatic Biodiversity and Habitat Restoration

A special issue of Diversity (ISSN 1424-2818). This special issue belongs to the section "Biodiversity Conservation".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2026 | Viewed by 380

Special Issue Editors

East China Sea Fishery Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Shanghai, China
Interests: aquatic biodiversity; ecological restoration; food web; estuarine fishery resources

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Guest Editor
College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
Interests: community ecology; aquatic biodiversity; ecological restoration

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Guest Editor
College of Marine and Biological Engineering, Yancheng Institute of Technology, Yancheng, China
Interests: aquatic biodiversity; eDNA; wetland restoration; oyster reef restoration
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Aquatic ecosystems are fundamental to life on Earth, providing essential services such as water purification, carbon sequestration, and food resources. However, these ecosystems are under severe threat globally due to various human activities, including pollution, habitat destruction, and overexploitation. The resulting decline in aquatic biodiversity not only undermines the ecological integrity of these systems, but also has far-reaching implications for human well-being. The degradation of aquatic habitats (e.g., coral reefs, saltmarshes, mangroves, and riverine networks) has not only threatened species survival, but also compromised fisheries’ productivity, impacting the livelihoods of the millions that are dependent on aquatic resources.

This Special Issue focuses on Aquatic Biodiversity and Habitat Restoration. It aims to bring together the latest research on understanding the current status of aquatic biodiversity, identifying the major drivers of its decline and developing innovative strategies for habitat restoration. Papers may cover a wide range of aquatic ecosystems, from freshwater rivers and lakes to marine coastal areas. We encourage submissions that combine field studies, experimental research, and theoretical modeling to provide comprehensive insights.

Dr. Sikai Wang
Dr. Bingsong Jin
Dr. Yanming Sui
Dr. Paolo Pastorino
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • aquatic biodiversity
  • habitat restoration
  • fishery sustainability
  • wetland ecosystems
  • conservation strategies

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

28 pages, 11489 KB  
Article
Long-Term Responses of Crustacean Zooplankton to Hydrological Alterations in the Danube Inland Delta: Patterns of Biotic Homogenization and Differentiation
by Pavel Beracko, Igor Kokavec and Igor Matečný
Diversity 2025, 17(10), 670; https://doi.org/10.3390/d17100670 - 25 Sep 2025
Viewed by 183
Abstract
Our study addresses how large-scale hydrological alterations shape zooplankton biodiversity in floodplain ecosystems, which are highly sensitive to changes in river connectivity. Following the operation of the Gabčíkovo hydroelectric power plant in the Danube inland delta, we examined the long-term responses of crustacean [...] Read more.
Our study addresses how large-scale hydrological alterations shape zooplankton biodiversity in floodplain ecosystems, which are highly sensitive to changes in river connectivity. Following the operation of the Gabčíkovo hydroelectric power plant in the Danube inland delta, we examined the long-term responses of crustacean zooplankton communities, as these organisms are key indicators of hydromorphological disturbance. Based on previous evidence that river regulation often reduces habitat heterogeneity, we hypothesized that hydrological alterations in the Danube riverscape would promote increasing taxonomic and functional homogenization within sites, while simultaneously enhancing differentiation between sites over the past three decades. A total of 121 planktonic crustacean species were recorded across six monitored sites between 1991 and 2020, comprising 49 copepods and 72 cladocerans. Communities showed rising species richness, especially during the first decade of the hydropower plant’s operation. While overall richness increased, dam-induced hydromorphological changes triggered habitat-specific community shifts. In the main channel and adjacent parapotamal arm, taxonomic and functional homogenization occurred, dominated by resilient tychoplanktonic species with a gathering or secondary filter-feeding strategy. In contrast, isolated side arms experienced gradual eutrophication, favoring euplanktonic and primary filter-feeding taxa. The observed taxonomic and functional convergence within both habitat groups reflects the loss of connectivity and the cessation of artificial flooding. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aquatic Biodiversity and Habitat Restoration)
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