1. Freshwater biodiversity is declining at an unprecedented rate. Freshwater conservationists and environmental managers have enough evidence to demonstrate that action must not be delayed but have insufficient evidence to identify those actions that will be most effective in reversing the current trend.
2. Here, the focus is on identifying essential research topics that, if addressed, will contribute directly to restoring freshwater biodiversity through supporting ‘bending the curve’ actions (i.e. those actions leading to the recovery of freshwater biodiversity, not simply deceleration of the current downward trend).
3. The global freshwater research and management community was asked to identify unanswered research questions that could address knowledge gaps and barriers associated with ‘bending the curve’ actions. The resulting list was refined into six themes and 25 questions.
4. Although context-dependent and potentially limited in global reach, six overarching themes were identified: (i) learning from successes and failures; (ii) improving current practices; (iii) balancing resource needs; (iv) rethinking built environments; (v) reforming policy and investments; and (vi) enabling transformative change.
5. Bold, efficient, science-based actions are necessary to reverse biodiversity loss. We believe that conservation actions will be most effective when supported by sound evidence, and that research and action must complement one another. These questions are intended to guide global freshwater researchers and conservation practitioners, identify key projects and signal research needs to funders and governments. Our questions can act as springboards for multidisciplinary and multisectoral collaborations that will improve the management and restoration of freshwater biodiversity.

中文翻译：

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为保护和恢复淡水生物多样性提供信息的 25 个基本研究问题

1. 淡水生物多样性正以前所未有的速度下降。淡水保护主义者和环境管理人员有足够的证据证明行动决不能拖延，但没有足够的证据来确定哪些行动能够最有效地扭转当前趋势。
2. 在这里，重点是确定必要的研究课题，如果解决这些课题，将通过支持“弯曲曲线”行动（即那些导致淡水生物多样性恢复的行动，而不仅仅是减缓当前下降趋势）直接促进恢复淡水生物多样性）。
3. 全球淡水研究和管理界被要求确定未解决的研究问题，以解决与“弯曲曲线”行动相关的知识差距和障碍。最终的清单被细化为六个主题和 25 个问题。
4. 尽管取决于具体情况并可能在全球范围内受到限制，但确定了六个总体主题：(i) 从成功和失败中吸取教训；(ii) 改进现行做法；(iii) 平衡资源需求；(iv) 重新思考建筑环境；(v) 改革政策和投资；(vi) 促成变革。
5. 必须采取大胆、高效、基于科学的行动来扭转生物多样性的丧失。我们相信，如果有可靠证据支持，保护行动将是最有效的，而且研究和行动必须相互补充。这些问题旨在指导全球淡水研究人员和保护从业人员，确定关键项目并向资助者和政府表明研究需求。我们的问题可以作为跨学科和跨部门合作的跳板，从而改善淡水生物多样性的管理和恢复。