Inland Aquatic Ecosystems and Conservation

Dear Colleagues,

Inland aquatic ecosystems comprise natural and manmade water bodies, including rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, floodplains, reservoirs, and irrigation channels, among others. These systems are subject to a variety of anthropogenic threats worldwide, and some of them are already irreversibly damaged. So far, human activities and disturbances, including inappropriate land use practices, pollution, basin disturbances, invasive species, and climate change, have fragmented aquatic habitats, disrupting the natural functioning of both physical and ecological processes and degrading biodiversity and water quality. Nevertheless, it is recognized that these ecosystems are a biodiversity hotspot which supports almost 10% of all species, while also providing numerous economic benefits to society.

At a global scale, the current broad policy landscape, such as the EU Water Framework Directive and the Habitats Directive, among others, imply that sustainable management requires integrated solutions to manage aquatic ecosystems as truly social-ecological systems.

This Special issue will address different actions that lead to the conservation of these ecosystems. Therefore, we invite papers focusing on the improvement of knowledge, the disclosure of effective practices to mitigate the anthropogenic threats, and the proposal of restoration solutions to enhance the resilience of aquatic ecosystems and contribute to aquatic biodiversity, as well as to ensure the ongoing provision of ecosystem services.

Assist. Prof. Manuela Morais
Dr. Maria Helena Novais
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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