Systematics and Conservation Concerns of Fishes in Continental Waters
A special issue of Diversity (ISSN 1424-2818). This special issue belongs to the section "Freshwater Biodiversity".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2026 | Viewed by 288
Special Issue Editor
Interests: freshwater fishes; river restoration; conservation; biogeography
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Freshwater ecosystems harbor an extraordinary diversity of fish species that play crucial roles in maintaining ecological balance and biodiversity. However, much remains to be understood regarding the conservation of aquatic fauna—from headwaters to river mouths—the delimitation of areas of endemism, and the scientific knowledge of our rivers. Addressing these challenges requires not only advances in biodiversity research but also collective restoration actions that can help restore life in freshwater habitats.
Among vertebrates, freshwater fishes are among the most endangered groups, particularly threatened by human activities and environmental changes. Estuaries, with their complex ecological dynamics and the interplay of freshwater and estuarine fishes, also remain understudied and neglected.
This Special Issue invites contributions that enhance our understanding of evolutionary histories, population dynamics, and environmental challenges facing freshwater and estuarine fishes. Generating such knowledge is essential for developing effective conservation strategies and mitigating the impacts of human activities on aquatic habitats. In the context of the current climate emergency, the scale of the challenge to freshwaters resilience demands transformation through both knowledge and action.
This Special Issue aims to provide a platform for sharing the latest research in these areas. We welcome contributions from across disciplines, including evolutionary biology, systematics, ecology, biogeography, and conservation biology. Short communications, research articles, and reviews are all welcome.
I look forward to receiving your contributions.
Prof. Dr. Luisa Sarmento-Soares
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Diversity is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2100 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- freshwater ecosystems
- biodiversity conservation
- biogeography and phylogeography
- climate change resilience
- estuarine dynamics
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