1. Systematic conservation planning in freshwater ecosystems faces multiple challenges because of the dynamic nature of rivers and their multiple dimensions of connectivity. In intermittent hydrological systems connectivity is functional when water is available, allowing the exchange of aquatic individuals between isolated freshwater ecosystems. Integrating these isolated systems in their hydrological context is essential when identifying priority areas for conservation, in order to try to minimize the propagation of threats into target water bodies (management units) from the surrounding landscape.
2. Here, the use of a systematic planning approach is demonstrated to identify a set of priority management units to preserve freshwater biodiversity in an arid system of fragmented water bodies immersed in a landscape subject to a range of impacts.
3. Twenty-six water-dependent taxa from 59 mountain rock pools (gueltas) of three southern Mauritanian mountains were used as a case study. A conservation planning tool (marxan) was used to find priority conservation areas to integrate intermittent hydrological systems in their hydrological context, promote connectivity, and minimize the downstream propagation of threats. Three types of connectivity were analysed: (i) no connectivity, (ii) connectivity between gueltas, and (iii) connectivity between gueltas and sub-catchments.
4. Considering different types of longitudinal connectivity affects the number and spatial allocation of the priority gueltas selected, and the conservation status of the gueltas and their upstream areas. Incorporating connections between gueltas and upstream locations in the modelling resulted in the selection of gueltas in areas with a low human footprint and in the increased connectivity of the solutions.
5. The results obtained revealed important locations for local biodiversity conservation, and the method presented can be used when assessing the propagation of potential waterborne threats into isolated management units. The framework developed allows connectivity to be addressed in conservation planning. It can be replicated in regions with similar isolated habitats that connect through intermittent hydrological systems and can also be applied to lateral and vertical hydrological connectivity.

中文翻译：

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促进间歇性水文系统中优先保护淡水地点之间的连通性

1. 由于河流的动态特性及其连通性的多个维度，淡水生态系统的系统保护规划面临着多重挑战。在间歇性水文系统中，当有水时，连通性就会发挥作用，允许在孤立的淡水生态系统之间交换水生个体。在确定优先保护区域时，将这些孤立的系统整合到它们的水文环境中是必不可少的，以尽量减少威胁从周围景观传播到目标水体（管理单位）。
2. 在这里，展示了使用系统规划方法来确定一组优先管理单位，以保护干旱系统中的淡水生物多样性，这些水体浸没在受到一系列影响的景观中。
3. 来自毛里塔尼亚南部三座山脉的 59 个山岩池 (gueltas) 的 26 个依赖水的分类群被用作案例研究。保护规划工具 ( marxan ) 用于寻找优先保护区，将间歇性水文系统与其水文环境相结合，促进连通性，并最大限度地减少下游威胁的传播。分析了三种类型的连通性：(i) 无连通性，(ii) gueltas 之间的连通性，以及 (iii) gueltas 和子流域之间的连通性。
4. 考虑不同类型的纵向连通性会影响选择的优先 gueltas 的数量和空间分配，以及 gueltas 及其上游地区的保护状况。在建模中结合 gueltas 和上游位置之间的连接导致在人类足迹较少的地区选择 gueltas 并增加解决方案的连接性。
5. 获得的结果揭示了当地生物多样性保护的重要位置，所提出的方法可用于评估潜在水源威胁向孤立管理单位的传播。开发的框架允许在保护规划中解决连通性问题。它可以在具有类似孤立栖息地的地区复制，这些栖息地通过间歇性水文系统连接，也可以应用于横向和纵向水文连通性。