Conservation and Biodiversity of Freshwater Fishes

Dear Colleagues,

Freshwater ecosystems harbor an extraordinary share of the planet’s biological diversity, yet they remain among the most threatened environments worldwide. In tropical regions, especially in the Amazon Basin, freshwater fishes represent one of the richest vertebrate assemblages on Earth, displaying exceptional taxonomic, functional, and evolutionary diversity. These species play essential roles in ecological processes such as nutrient cycling, seed dispersal, trophic dynamics, and ecosystem resilience, in addition to sustaining local economies, food security, and cultural practices.

Despite their importance, freshwater fish communities face accelerating pressures, including habitat degradation, hydrological alteration, overfishing, pollution, invasive species, and the cumulative impacts of climate change. Understanding the mechanisms that shape fish biodiversity, as well as the consequences of its loss, is urgent for informing conservation strategies and supporting sustainable management of aquatic ecosystems.

This Special Issue aims to gather studies that advance knowledge on the diversity, biogeography, ecology, evolution, threats, and conservation of freshwater fishes at multiple spatial scales. We welcome interdisciplinary contributions that strengthen the scientific basis for protecting these unique and vulnerable ecosystems.

Dr. Raynner Vasconcelos
Prof. Dr. Mark C. Belk
Guest Editors

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