Evolution, Systematic and Conservation of Freshwater Fishes

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2025 | Viewed by 422

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas (Biologia Animal), Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo (UFES), Campus Goiabeiras, Av. Fernando Ferrari, 514, Goiabeiras, Vitória CEP 29075-910, ES, Brazil
Interests: freshwater fishes; river restoration; conservation; biogeography

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Freshwater ecosystems harbor an incredible diversity of fish species that play crucial roles in maintaining ecological balance and biodiversity. Among vertebrates, freshwater fishes are one of the most endangered groups, especially threatened by human activities and environmental changes. However, our current knowledge of freshwater fishes is still incomplete. In light of this, understanding their evolutionary histories, phylogenetic relationships, and population dynamics is essential for developing effective conservation strategies and mitigating the impacts of human activities on their habitats. In climate emergency times, the size of the challenge for freshwaters resilience requires transformation through knowledge and action.

This Special Issue aims to provide a platform for sharing the latest research advancements in these areas. We welcome contributions from a broad range of disciplines, including evolutionary biology, systematics, ecology, biogeography, and conservation biology. Short communications, research papers, and reviews are all welcome.

I look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Luisa Maria Sarmento-Soares
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • freshwater fish
  • evolution
  • ecology
  • biodiversity
  • systematic
  • biogeography
  • phylogenetic relationships
  • conservation
  • climate change

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

26 pages, 3098 KiB  
Article
High Diversity of Waters, Communities and Stressors—Design of Croatian Fish Index for Rivers (CFIR)
by Ivana Buj, Perica Mustafić, Lucija Ivić, Sara Pleše, Zoran Marčić, Davor Zanella, Marko Ćaleta, Sven Horvatić and Lucija Onorato
Diversity 2025, 17(4), 289; https://doi.org/10.3390/d17040289 - 19 Apr 2025
Viewed by 252
Abstract
Determination of the ecological state of any water body is crucial for its adequate conservation and is, moreover, required by the Water Framework Directive. Employment of multimetric indices, which integrate various anthropogenic threats to water systems with the responses of different elements of [...] Read more.
Determination of the ecological state of any water body is crucial for its adequate conservation and is, moreover, required by the Water Framework Directive. Employment of multimetric indices, which integrate various anthropogenic threats to water systems with the responses of different elements of fish communities, improve our understanding and allow us to monitor the ecological state of freshwater bodies. However, design of multimetric indices that describe the ecological state of water bodies based on fish communities has already proved difficult for the Mediterranean region for several reasons, including the frequent presence of species-poor and ecologically tolerant fish communities, high endemicity and a serious lack of localities with undisturbed fish communities. The development of an ecological state index for natural water bodies in Croatia based on fish as a biological element which we present in this paper was also hindered by similar obstacles, particularly due to exceptionally high endemicity present in rivers of the Adriatic watershed, the great number of distinct water types, and significant anthropogenic pressures. Nevertheless, based on comprehensive sampling of fish communities throughout Croatia and following appropriate statistical procedures, we were able to identify stressors acting on certain water bodies, as well as responses of fish communities to them, and, finally, describe the ecological state of natural water bodies throughout Croatia. We also propose measures that will most likely help in achieving improvement and/or maintenance of the ecological states of these water bodies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Evolution, Systematic and Conservation of Freshwater Fishes)
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