About this Research Topic

Background

Ecosystems have been suffering accelerated destruction and modification of their original characteristics, resulting in species extinction and loss of populations still not known to science. This panorama, known as the “biodiversity crisis”, is defined by an increase of about a thousand times in species extinction rates, mainly caused by anthropogenic activity. Therefore, efforts to improve our knowledge of the systematics, taxonomy, ecology, and distribution of species play a key role in species conservation. Among all habitats, freshwaters, which cover about 1% of Earth's surface, are the most threatened. Approximately 3/4 of wetlands were lost during the 20th century, 1/3 of freshwater vertebrate species are threatened with extinction, and freshwater vertebrate populations are declining much more rapidly than terrestrial and marine populations. Freshwaters are home to more than 10% of all known species, including 30% of all vertebrates, a group whose populations have declined more than 80% over the past 50 years. The conservation of freshwater biodiversity and environments is critical for humanity as it represents the main source of drinking water, and food, being also crucial to agronomy and livestock.

Within the rapidly degrading context of freshwaters, this Research Topic aims to create an overview of different approaches that contribute to freshwater conservation and policies at a global level. Studies regarding distinct groups of freshwater fauna and flora and aspects related to the implications of taxonomy, ecology, evolution, and biogeography for the conservation of freshwaters are welcome. The goal of this Research Topic is to summarize the status of freshwater biodiversity and propose the next steps and basic guidelines for habitat and species conservation.

This Research Topic is a continuation of the first edition, and it welcomes Original Research Articles and Review Articles based on both traditional and modern methods focusing on distinct aspects of global freshwater fauna and flora. Highlights of this topic include but are not limited to, the following points focused on freshwater fauna and flora:

• Species delimitation and DNA barcoding
• Environmental DNA (eDNA)
• Integrative taxonomy
• Biogeography and areas of endemism
• Invasive species
• Regional species inventories importance
• Anthropogenic impacts and threats to Freshwater environments
• Importance of scientific collections for conservation
• Freshwater environments ecology
• Climate changes
• Identification and delimitation of priority areas for conservation

Keywords: anthropogenic impacts, Climate changes, conservation, flora and fauna, freshwater biodiversity, freshwater ecosystems, freshwater habitats, global freshwater, integrative taxonomy, Invasive species, species delimitation, species extinction

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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