An undescribed diaptomid copepod probably belonging to a new Mastigodiaptomus species has been discovered and was very abundant in El Junco Lake (San Cristóbal Island, Ecuador) from 1966 until 2004. The species was not found in samples from 2007, 2008 or 2018. The loss of this key species from the lake coincides with the illegal introduction of Nile tilapia to El Junco Lake in 2005 and its subsequent

The ocean's remoteness, ecological complexities, lengthy ecosystem processes, and vulnerability to multiple and cumulative anthropogenic threats make marine conservation communication particularly difficult. Both scientists and journalists face unique challenges in explaining the science of these often out-of-sight ecosystems. Given the inadequacies of marine news, improvement appeared necessary. However

Bycatch is the most significant threat to marine megafauna (sea turtles, marine mammals, elasmobranchs, seabirds) worldwide, and the leading cause of the decline of several cetacean species. The bycatch issue in the Indian Ocean is poorly understood, but high bycatch levels in gillnet fisheries have been documented for the past two decades, in both small-scale and semi-industrial fisheries. Unfortunately

Crayfish are invasive polytrophic keystone species, which are phylogenetically unique on the African continent. The Australian redclaw crayfish Cherax quadricarinatus is invasive in southern African freshwater systems including the Zambezi River Basin. Surveys conducted across the Zambezi Basin (Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia and Zambia) between 2017 and 2019 showed that C. quadricarinatus is broadly

One-third of all elasmobranch species currently known to occur in Papua New Guinea are taken as bycatch in the Gulf of Papua trawl fishery. An ecological risk assessment was conducted on the 16 species of sharks and 23 species of rays caught by the fishery. Eight species were classified to be at low risk, 28 species were at medium risk while three species – Rhynchobatus palpebratus (eyebrow wedgefish)

Elasmobranchs are apex predators that play a crucial role in marine ecosystems by regulating the dynamics of food webs, as well as connecting different trophic levels across habitats. The large-scale removal of elasmobranchs impacts the energy transfer in trophic interactions. The pressure of unsustainable fisheries is considerable, as most elasmobranchs have reproductive strategies that render them

The sei whale (Balaenoptera borealis) presents a disjointed geographic distribution. Significant genetic divergence between sei whales from the North Atlantic (NA) and North Pacific (NP) have been recorded; however, limited samples from the Southern Hemisphere (SH) have precluded a global analysis. The largest recorded mass mortality event occurred in Golfo de Penas, southern Chile, providing a primary

Tidal energy generators have the potential to injure or kill marine animals, including small cetaceans, through collisions with moving turbine parts. Information on the fine scale behaviour of animals close to operational turbines is required to inform regulators of the likely impact of these new technologies. Harbour porpoise movements were monitored in three dimensions around a tidal turbine for

Intermediate metrics of translocation success are useful for long-lived, slow to mature species where survival and reproduction happen over decades. With fewer than 150 individuals in the wild, the Critically Endangered Philippine crocodile (Crocodylus mindorensis) is one of the most threatened species on Earth. This study presents the first analysis of diet and body condition of wild Philippine crocodiles

Freshwater mussels are among the most critically endangered taxa globally. In the United States, 91 out of nearly 300 species are listed as Threatened or Endangered under the Endangered Species Act. Freshwater mussel species exhibit a range of life-history traits. Owing to the large number of North American species, the rarity of many listed species and the often limited data available for those species

No abstract is available for this article.

Spatially discrete stocks that vary in life history traits on a reef-to-reef scale present a challenge for fisheries managers. Nationally or regionally applied one-size-fits-all approaches to management fail to account for this variability, and when coupled with fishing pressure this can result in serial depletion and localized extinction. Where mechanisms for local management exist, as they do in

The impacts of fisheries on several charismatic marine fauna have been a subject of global concern. Sea snakes share the same habitats as many commercially important fish species and often end up as fisheries bycatch. Previous studies of bycatch from India have been limited to individual reports of mortality, with little information on the regional community structure of sea snakes. This study was

Fisheries monitoring is essential to evaluate and manage fish populations. Effective monitoring is particularly challenging in low- and middle-income countries where fisheries often occur at large spatial scales and include multiple techniques. Recreational spearfishing, for instance, can be detrimental to fish populations and is often underrepresented in management strategies due to the lack of data

Species are disappearing at a rate comparable with previous mass extinctions. Freshwater environments are being particularly affected, with biodiversity losses occurring much faster in freshwater than in terrestrial or marine ecosystems. This study assessed the research on drivers of biodiversity loss in freshwater environments as described in nearly 37,000 articles published in the last decade. Articles

Landscape homogenization and the removal of riparian areas have altered stream ecosystems worldwide. Numerous conservation programmes attempt to improve water quality and increase instream habitat heterogeneity to elicit desired biological responses. However, the effectiveness of many conservation efforts on isolated stream fragments remains unknown, especially in grassland regions. The effects of

Environmental DNA (eDNA) from water samples is increasingly used to detect the presence and distribution of species in aquatic ecosystems. However, before implementing eDNA in monitoring programmes, various species-specific sampling or analytical issues remain to be resolved in order to minimize frequencies of false-positive and -negative results. For example, empty shells from freshwater pearl mussels

Freshwater ecosystems, providing valuable goods and services to humans, have been subjected to multiple human impacts, among which climate change plays a central role in threats to species. It is expected that protected areas, the cornerstone of biodiversity conservation efforts, will assume a decisive role in protecting freshwater species from the impacts of climate change. This study assessed the

The Critically Endangered gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) residing within Bardiya National Park (BNP) in Nepal constitutes the sixth major sub-population of this unique lineage; however, this population is not well studied. A 46 km protected stretch of the Babai River and a 60 km stretch of the Karnali River in and around BNP were surveyed for gharials in early 2017 and in 2019. Gharial counts in 2017

In many biomes, a variety of different small freshwater habitats, such as pools and phytotelmata can occur together in the same habitat matrix. However, both the biodiversity and the functioning of these ecosystems remain poorly known. Three freshwater habitat types in a tropical West African biodiversity hotspot were studied. The study demonstrated that animal communities in water-filled tree holes

Wetlands are some of the most important ecosystems on Earth. They play a key role in mitigating climate change-related events and filtering polluted water, and provide habitats for a wide range of species. Despite their importance, and numerous regulations that support their conservation, wetlands continue to be destroyed. Recent reports have indicated a progressive decline in ecological character

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. Here, the focus is on identifying essential research topics that, if addressed, will contribute directly

Large-scale movement of fishes is a challenge for conservation and management in rivers, especially when individuals can cross jurisdictional boundaries. Assessing large-scale movement is particularly difficult during early life stages, especially when endangered species are involved. After hatching, free embryos of the federally endangered pallid sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus albus) drift long distances

Climate change is causing shifts in the distribution patterns of freshwater fish at various spatio-temporal scales. Tropical freshwater fish are vulnerable, especially in areas where a high impact of climate change is predicted; thus, there is an increasing need to predict these shifts to determine conservation and adaptation strategies. Ecological niche models offer a reliable way to predict the effects

The Yaqui catfish, Ictalurus pricei, is the only native ictalurid species described from north-west México and south-west USA. It is an endangered species owing to the decline and loss of most of its historical populations, mainly because of competition and hybridization with the non-native channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus. The Arroyo Cajón Bonito is one of the few remnant populations of Yaqui

This paper describes the tensions between the legal requirements for conservation and the most beneficial biological practice for mobile transnational marine species, using the harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) in European Atlantic waters as a case study. Harbour porpoise are the smallest and one of the most abundant cetaceans occurring throughout the European continental shelf waters, and are affected

The Pacific sand lance (Ammodytes personatus) is a key forage species for many commercially important fish (e.g. salmon and groundfish), marine birds, and whales found in nearshore coastal waters of British Columbia, Canada. Sand lance lack a swim bladder and have a requirement for low-silt, medium-coarse sandy sea-bed habitat for burying. Little information is available describing the distribution

The small population paradigm assumes that populations with low numbers of individuals intrinsically have a high probability of extinction. The small population of Lahille’s bottlenose dolphins Tursiops truncatus gephyreus that specializes in foraging with artisanal fishers in Laguna, southern Brazil, faces human pressures including bycatch in fishing gear. The viability of this population was modelled

The paucity of baseline data on coastal cetaceans due to a lack of research in developing countries frequently precludes assessment of their status and informed management actions for conservation. This study provides the first abundance estimates of Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins, Irrawaddy dolphins, and Indo-Pacific finless porpoises in the coastal waters of Matang, Peninsular Malaysia. Boat-based

Habitat fragmentation and loss threaten freshwater biodiversity worldwide. Habitats that are essential as fish spawning and nursery sites are critical, and must be identified for conservation purposes. Littoral zones within Patagonian lakes, especially shallow vegetated areas, represent important areas for the Creole perch, Percichthys trucha. Spawning behaviour has been little studied, so it is not

Freshwater pearl mussels (family Margaritiferidae) are sensitive to human impact and environmental changes. Large declines in their abundance have prompted studies of distribution and estimations of population densities. Iturup Island, a part of Kuril Islands, Russia, is considered to be within the distribution area of freshwater pearl mussels, but this information is based on only two specimens collected

Most of the Bornean endemic freshwater mussel (Unionida) species known to date have not been recorded by science for the past 50 years or more, owing to a lack of research effort and presumed population losses. This study assessed current patterns and recent changes in the diversity and distribution of freshwater mussels in north-eastern Borneo. Physical surveys and interviews were conducted at 24

The Euphrates softshell turtle (Rafetus euphraticus) is the most threatened chelonian species in the Middle East, where it is endemic to the Tigris and Euphrates basins. Since the ecology of this species is little known, it is difficult to plan any reliable action for its correct management and conservation. To enhance the scientific knowledge on R. euphraticus, and to establish a science-based management

The population of smalltooth sawfish (Pristis pectinata) in the USA was listed as endangered under the US Endangered Species Act in 2003. Based on objectives identified in the Smalltooth Sawfish Recovery Plan, an interdisciplinary team developed a variety of outreach efforts and products to educate the public and promote sawfish conservation. These include safe viewing, handling, release, and reporting

Many river rehabilitation projects have been criticized for failing to meet their goals or for being insufficiently monitored. There is, therefore, an urgent need to develop robust approaches for assessing treatment efficacy and thus guide the increasing investment in rehabilitation. Instream biotopes (formerly called ‘functional habitats’ or ‘mesohabitats’ by different authors) and their macroinvertebrate

In the context of the River Rhône restoration programme, the objective of this study was to assess the dispersal and population connectivity of the European chub, Squalius cephalus (Linnaeus, 1758) in a section of the natural, free-flowing part of the lower River Rhône. The elemental water signatures for Sr:Ca and Ba:Ca were measured at seven stations within the river section, including its tributaries

Global environmental change is threatening freshwater biodiversity with ecological impacts predicted to be particularly severe in high-altitude regions. Despite this, an ecological understanding of high-altitude pond networks remains patchy, with only limited knowledge of the environmental and spatial predictors of taxonomic and functional diversity. Moreover, previous studies of pond ecosystems have

The aim of this study was to assess the extent to which the behavioural traits of freshwater mussels provide suitable indicators of stress in individuals, towards the advancement of non-invasive, remote monitoring techniques to examine population condition. Variation in the expression of particular behavioural metrics was examined in accordance with measurements of oxygen consumption, across environmental

The number of young conservationist movements is increasing worldwide, as new generations become more aware of the environmental problems that are having an impact on the planet. Consequently, young people appear to play a fundamental role in developing successful conservation strategies. This research examines young citizens’ knowledge, attitudes and engagement in cetacean conservation in coastal

The use of miniaturized electronic tracking devices has illuminated our understanding of seabird distributions and habitat use, and how anthropogenic threats interact with seabirds in both space and time. To determine the year-round distribution of adult Campbell albatross (Thalassarche impavida), a single-island endemic, breeding only at Campbell Island in New Zealand's subantarctic, a total of 68 year-long

As the proportion of threatened species increases, so too does the need for effective conservation strategies. In response, captive breed-and-release and habitat mitigation programmes are two conservation actions that are increasing in use and effectiveness. Success of these programmes is frequently hampered by the continued presence of threatening processes. In the case of amphibian reintroductions

The Mediterranean Sea represents an area of elevated risk of extinction for sharks, where data deficiency is a pervasive problem. To compensate for such a paucity of information, this study investigated the use of social media content as a complementary approach to evaluate the distribution and habitat use of the Critically Endangered blue shark Prionace glauca in coastal waters, as well as public

Invasive species threaten the conservation of marine environments, and urgent management strategies are needed to prevent their introduction, establishment and spread. Specifically, marine invasive predators destabilize ecological interactions and alter community structure and function. However, most of the evidence showing the effect of these predators is restricted to a few species and regions, while

Mahseer (Tor spp., Cyprinidae) are iconic, large-bodied, migratory freshwater fishes of Asian rivers. Long valued as a food source and serving other societal roles, these fishes are severely threatened by a broad range of interacting and escalating human impacts, including dam construction, water pollution, over-exploitation, and habitat destruction. Mahseer fishes are therefore beneficial to people

Hammerhead sharks are represented by four species in India's marine fishery – Sphyrna lewini, Sphyrna mokarran, Sphyrna zygaena and Eusphyra blochii. This paper describes the hammerhead shark fishery in India during 2007–2018 and summarizes observations on the biology of S. lewini exploited along the Indian coast. Hammerhead sharks are caught by trawl nets, gillnets, seines and line gear, mostly as

No abstract is available for this article.

If you look inside the front cover of Volume 1, issue 1 of Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems (AQC), published in September 1991, you will find a description of the journal as ‘an international journal dedicated to publishing original papers that relate specifically to the conservation of freshwater, brackish or marine habitats and encouraging work that spans these ecosystems’.

River fish diversity is threatened by anthropogenic environmental alteration to landscapes. The early life-history stages of fish play an important role in maintaining diversity and population recruitment and can be heavily influenced by landscape patterns. Information on temporal and spatial distribution patterns of fish eggs and larvae is also important for biodiversity conservation and management

Local population characteristics and habitat connectivity both have important influences on metapopulation persistence; however, the relative importance of each can vary depending on the ecological context, making it difficult to apply general ‘rules-of-thumb’ for conservation actions. This is particularly true in dendritic networks, where habitat connections are constrained. By constructing a metapopulation

The noble crayfish (Astacus astacus) is an endangered freshwater species in Europe. The main threat is from lethal crayfish plague, caused by the oomycete Aphanomyces astaci that has been spread over Europe by introduced North American crayfish species, acting as chronic carriers of the disease. Most of the remaining noble crayfish populations are found in the Baltic Sea area, and there is an urgent

Global trade in non-native ornamental species coupled with high connectivity among countries is well known to result in worldwide biological invasions, which pose challenges for the conservation and management of biodiversity. There are few studies aimed at implementing management strategies that have examined differences in the potential invasiveness of non-native species between neighbouring political

In contrast to Antarctic krill Euphausia superba, Antarctic salps (Salpa thompsoni) respond positively to warmer water temperatures and have the ability to create massive blooms under favourable conditions. Therefore, they can compete with krill for primary production. Over the last three decades, significant variability in S. thompsoni occurrence has been observed as a response to the environmental

The Kemp’s ridley (Lepidochelys kempii) is the world’s most endangered sea turtle species. Predominately nesting at only one beach in Mexico, this species declined to an estimated 300 females in the mid-1980s. Conservation efforts in the United States and Mexico, including a head start programme in southern Texas in which hatchlings were reared in captivity for several months before being released

Many shark and ray (elasmobranch) species are threatened with extinction, due to overfishing and commercial trade Sarawak is situated in Malaysian Borneo in the Coral Triangle: a global priority region for elasmobranch conservation. Malaysia is the world’s eighth largest elasmobranch fishing nation, and Sarawak is one of Malaysia’s largest fishing states, yet there are limited species-specific data

Frugivorous fish provide often conflicting ecosystem services of seed dispersal and food provisioning in tropical rivers. Fishing may reduce the size and abundance of frugivorous fish, thus affecting their potential as seed dispersers, which could affect the conservation of these fish and of floodplain forests. The goal of this study was to assess the influence of co-managed protected areas in the

The introduction of exotic species is one of the major causes for biodiversity loss in marine environments. Introduced species can change habitat complexity, impacting local communities and altering ecosystem functioning. Since the 1980s, the scleractinian species Tubastraea coccinea and Tubastraea. tagusensis (commonly known as sun corals) have been spreading in the south-western Atlantic, posing

Turtles from Asia are on the brink of extinction with 53% of species considered endangered or critically endangered. Unfortunately, the ecology of many threatened species remains largely unknown. In this study, the diet of the endangered Beale’s eyed turtle (Sacalia bealei) was investigated using two methods, visual faecal content analysis and stable isotope analysis. Results from both methods indicated

Tuna fisheries are among the largest and most valuable fisheries in the world, but most interact with many non-target species, including several of high conservation importance. The spinetail devil ray (Mobula mobular) – listed as ‘Endangered’ on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species – is a commonly discarded bycatch species, particularly in the eastern Pacific Ocean, yet insufficient data exist

In a time of rapid environmental changes, identification of the effects of climate warming on charophytes (Characeae, Charophyta) will enable the optimization of conservation measures, especially for extremely rare species. Lychnothamnus barbatus is one of the rarest charophytes worldwide, which has decreased in the number of occupied sites over the last century. However, the recolonization of former

Fish aggregating devices (FADs) are floating objects that facilitate the aggregation of fish; those that aggregate pelagic species such as tunas are of particular interest for artisanal and industrial fisheries. Due to the increasing use of these devices worldwide, bodies responsible for the administration and management of fishery resources have proposed control and surveillance activities focused