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Ecologies
Special Issues
Freshwater Ecology and Conservation: Threats, Opportunities, and Solutions
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Freshwater Ecology and Conservation: Threats, Opportunities, and Solutions

A special issue of Ecologies (ISSN 2673-4133).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 March 2024) | Viewed by 5522

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Alan Christian

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Ursinus College, 601 E. Main Street, Collegeville, PA 19426-1000, USA
Interests: freshwater ecology; freshwater mussels; conservation genetics; ecological stoichiometry; restoration ecology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Freshwater ecosystems, including rivers, lakes, wetlands, and aquifers, are crucial for biodiversity and provide essential services to societies globally. However, freshwater ecosystems face escalating threats from urbanization, pollution, climate change, and overexploitation. This Special Issue aims to delve into the realm of freshwater ecology and conservation, addressing the challenges, opportunities, and practical solutions associated with sustainable freshwater ecosystem management. Amid the challenges, this Special Issue will identify opportunities for effective conservation and restoration. From habitat enhancement to sustainable water management, the contributors will present strategies via which to safeguard and rehabilitate freshwater environments. These solutions underscore the need for collaborative efforts among researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and communities to achieve lasting change.

The articles within this collection will provide a comprehensive overview of these challenges, highlighting the intricate interplay among ecological dynamics, human impacts, and potential positive changes. Through interdisciplinary perspectives, this Special Issue will explore scientific research, innovative methodologies, and policy interventions aimed at mitigating the risks posed to freshwater ecosystems.

Encompassing a range of topics, these articles will delve into the impacts of habitat degradation, invasive species, altered hydrology, nutrient pollution, etc., on freshwater biodiversity. The articles will analyze the ripple effects of these stressors on ecosystem functions, emphasizing the delicate balance required for water quality, aquatic health, and resilience. Importantly, this Special Issue also will examine socio-economic dimensions, investigating freshwater resources' socio-cultural significance and implications for communities.

In essence, this Special Issue aims to assemble insights into freshwater ecology and conservation. By merging scientific understanding with practical applications, this Special Issue aims to serve as a valuable resource for scientists, conservationists, policymakers, and the public, fostering a deeper appreciation for freshwater ecosystems and guiding preservation efforts in a changing world.

You may choose our Joint Special Issue in Diversity.

Prof. Dr. Alan Christian
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 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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. Ecologies is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly 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 1000 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 ecosystem
  • freshwater conservation
  • freshwater biodiversity
  • invasive species
  • nutrient pollution
  • climate change
  • overexploitation

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

23 pages, 8185 KiB  
Article
Constraints and Opportunities of Agricultural Development in Haor Ecosystem of Bangladesh
by Shaikh Mohammad Bokhtiar, Md. Jahirul Islam, Syed Samsuzzaman, Mohammad Jahiruddin, Golam Mohammad Panaullah, Md. Abdus Salam and Mohammad Anwar Hossain
Ecologies 2024, 5(2), 256-278; https://doi.org/10.3390/ecologies5020017 - 7 May 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2323
Abstract
The Haors in Bangladesh are saucer-shaped, low-lying land depressions that form deep basins; they remain submerged for approximately half of the year, typically from June onwards. This fragile ecosystem spans over 2.0 million hectares in the northeastern region of the country, accounting for [...] Read more.
The Haors in Bangladesh are saucer-shaped, low-lying land depressions that form deep basins; they remain submerged for approximately half of the year, typically from June onwards. This fragile ecosystem spans over 2.0 million hectares in the northeastern region of the country, accounting for roughly 14% of the total areas, where approximately 19.4 million people reside. Factors including floods, flash floods, and low winter temperatures constrain agricultural productivity in the haor areas. It is a great challenge to change the haor areas from less productive to more productive land. This is a comprehensive analysis of the biophysical and socioeconomic characteristics of haors which also highlights the constraints and opportunities in agricultural production. It explores strategies for significantly increasing crop, livestock, and fish production within the haor ecosystem, in alignment with government policies. Some of the proposed agricultural development strategies for the haor areas include the development of short-duration, cold-tolerant crop varieties, such as Boro rice, utilizing relatively flood-free elevated lands and homesteads for vegetable production and promoting agricultural mechanization, livestock rearing, fisheries, and agribusiness development. The recommendations presented in this paper focus on enhancing crop yields, increasing cropping intensity, and boosting livestock and fish production; ultimately, they contribute to food security, poverty reduction, and improved livelihoods for the inhabitants of the haor areas. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Freshwater Ecology and Conservation: Threats, Opportunities, and Solutions)
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15 pages, 2208 KiB  
Article
Soil Bacterial and Archaeal Communities of the Periodic Flooding Zone of Three Main Reservoirs in the South Ural Region (Russia)
by Aleksandr Minnegaliev, Evgeny Abakumov, Ruslan Suleymanov, Gleb Zaitsev, Alexandr Davydychev, Ekaterina Dorogaya, Aleksei Zverev, Evgeny Andronov and Ilgiz Asylbaev
Ecologies 2024, 5(2), 233-247; https://doi.org/10.3390/ecologies5020015 - 16 Apr 2024
Viewed by 1234
Abstract
Studying the soils in the periodical flood zone of three reservoirs is of promising importance for their subsequent return to economic activities. Research on the bacterial and archaeal communities of soils that are periodically or continuously flooded by reservoirs is still insufficient. To [...] Read more.
Studying the soils in the periodical flood zone of three reservoirs is of promising importance for their subsequent return to economic activities. Research on the bacterial and archaeal communities of soils that are periodically or continuously flooded by reservoirs is still insufficient. To evaluate the chemical status of soils and their microbiota, the study was conducted in the Yumaguzino, Nugush, and Slak reservoir sites in the South Ural area (Russian Federation). The bacterial and archaeal communities of periodically flooded and non-flooded soils were investigated after a comparative investigation of chemical, hydrological, and climatic factors. It was discovered that flooded soils had anoxic conditions during the whole of the year, with brief drying intervals of limited length and low levels of effective temperatures. In terms of chemistry, flooded soils are distinguished by increased acidity, a fall in organic matter, and an increase in alkali-hydrolysable nitrogen. Compared to their counterparts in non-flooded soils, bacterial and archaeal communities in flooded soils are significantly different. Generally speaking, the biodiversity of flooded soils rises with the duration and depth of floods. Significant variations at the phylum level are mostly caused by a decline in the relative presence of Thaumarchaeota and an increase in Proteobacteria and Chloroflexi representation. It was discovered that the Euryarchaeota phylum was either absent or had a significantly decreased relative prevalence at the sites of intermittently flooding soils. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Freshwater Ecology and Conservation: Threats, Opportunities, and Solutions)
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24 pages, 7048 KiB  
Article
Comparisons of Twelve Freshwater Mussel Bed Assemblages Quantitatively Sampled at a 15-year Interval in the Buffalo National River, Arkansas, USA
by Anna M. Pieri, John L. Harris, Mickey W. Matthews, Shawn W. Hodges, Ashley R. Rodman, Jennifer L. Bouldin and Alan D. Christian
Ecologies 2024, 5(1), 1-24; https://doi.org/10.3390/ecologies5010001 - 23 Dec 2023
Viewed by 1127
Abstract
Historically, 23 freshwater mussel species have been documented from the Buffalo National River (BNR), a 246 km, free-flowing river in northern Arkansas. The potential threats to BNR include land use/land cover changes, eutrophication, recreation, physical habitat changes, and various climate change-related effects. Twelve [...] Read more.
Historically, 23 freshwater mussel species have been documented from the Buffalo National River (BNR), a 246 km, free-flowing river in northern Arkansas. The potential threats to BNR include land use/land cover changes, eutrophication, recreation, physical habitat changes, and various climate change-related effects. Twelve quantitative mussel bed sites were established and then sampled using a stratified random sampling protocol to evaluate the long-term changes between 2006 and 2020–2021 in population and assemblage characteristics. We compared (1) overall mussel bed persistence, sampling confidence levels and study-wide relative abundances, and compared species’ size and size-frequency distributions; (2) 10 overall site assemblage variables using paired t-tests; (3) site-level mean density, richness, and diversity indices using pair-wise Mann–Whitney U statistics; and (4) assemblage composition using Non-Metric Multidimensional Scaling. The major findings included the following: (1) sampling efforts based on a targeted 80% confidence level appears relatively robust, (2) BNR mussel assemblage composition and structure were relatively stable (however, small mussel bed persistence is a concern), (3) 7 of 23 sites were outliers based on freshwater mussel composition and habitat characteristics, and (4) assemblage composition changed with three species declining (Actinonaias ligamentina, Lasmigona costata, and Ptychobranchus occidentalis) and four species increasing (Cambarunio hesperus, Cyclonaias tuberculata, Eurynia dilatata, and Venustaconcha pleasii) between monitoring events. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Freshwater Ecology and Conservation: Threats, Opportunities, and Solutions)
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