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Freshwater biodiversity in the rivers of the Mediterranean Basin

  • MEDITERRANEAN CLIMATE STREAMS
  • Review Paper
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Abstract

We review the diversity of freshwater organisms in the Mediterranean Basin (hereafter Med), particularly from streams and rivers. We present available information on the richness, endemicity, and distribution of each freshwater organism group within the Med, and make a comparison with Palearctic diversity. Approximately 35% of known Palearctic freshwater species and more than 6% of the World’s freshwater species are present in the Med. A high degree of endemicity is found in the Med freshwater biota. These data, together with the degree to which many freshwater species are threatened, support the inclusion of the Med among World biodiversity hotspots. Nevertheless, knowledge of Med biodiversity is still incomplete, particularly for some taxa. Regarding to the spatial distribution of species within the Med, the richest area is the North, although patterns differ among groups. A comparison of the ecological and biological traits of endemic and non-endemic species of three riverine groups (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera) revealed that endemic species have several strategies and mechanisms to face typical mediterranean-climate conditions, such as drought, when compared to non-endemic species. We briefly analyse the conservation status of the region’s biodiversity. Finally, we present some future challenges regarding the knowledge and protection of Med freshwater biodiversity.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank to Drs. N. Bonada and V. Resh, editors of this special issue, for inviting us to collaborate in this project and for their valuable comments. Also, two anonymous referees are thanked for their suggestions. We also want to thank all our colleagues that resolved our doubts or sent information on different organism groups: Drs. N. Abdelahad, P. H. Adler, R. Araújo, H. Aspöck, M. Balsamo, I. Bartsch, A. M. R. Bennett, I. Bertani, S. Blanco, G. Bosi, G. Boxshall, A. Camacho, S. Canbulat, S. Convertini, R. Crosskey, G. Del Frate, H. Devriese, A. Di Sabatino, E. Falasco, C. Fiera, D. Fontaneto, F. Gherardi, J. Gil, M. A. González González, M. Jäch, F. Janssens, D. Jaume, O. Karsholt, N. Kazancı, J. Lorite, B. Maiolini, H. Malicky, P. Martin, L. Marziali, S. J. McInnes, K. Meland, J. Nascimbene, C. Noreña Janssen, J. Peñas, J. Pérez Contreras, G. Poinar, G. Rossetti, M. Sáinz, C. E. Sáinz-Cantero, H. Schatz, M. R. D. Seaward, F. Sipahiler, B. Sket, P. Sundberg, T. Timm, E. Tricarico, R. Väinölä, R. Wagner, G. D. F. Wilson, T. S. Wood, D. C. J. Yeo, C. Zamora-Muñoz, and P. Zwick.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Zoología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Granada, 18071, Granada, Spain

    J. Manuel Tierno de Figueroa

  2. Departamento de Ecología. Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Granada, 18071, Granada, Spain

    Manuel J. López-Rodríguez

  3. Dipartimento di Scienze e Innovazione Tecnologica, University of Piemonte Orientale, Via T. Michel 11, 15121, Alessandria, Italy

    Stefano Fenoglio

  4. Departamento de Botánica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Granada, 18071, Granada, Spain

    Pedro Sánchez-Castillo

  5. Dipartimento di Science Ambientali, Università della Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy

    Romolo Fochetti

  6. Instituto del Agua, Universidad de Granada, 18071, Granada, Spain

    J. Manuel Tierno de Figueroa, Manuel J. López-Rodríguez & Pedro Sánchez-Castillo

  7. Herbario de la Universidad de Granada, C/López Argüeta, 8, 18071, Granada, Spain

    Pedro Sánchez-Castillo

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  1. J. Manuel Tierno de Figueroa
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Correspondence to J. Manuel Tierno de Figueroa.

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Guest editors: N. Bonada & V. H. Resh / Streams in Mediterranean climate regions: lessons learned from the last decade

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Tierno de Figueroa, J.M., López-Rodríguez, M.J., Fenoglio, S. et al. Freshwater biodiversity in the rivers of the Mediterranean Basin. Hydrobiologia 719, 137–186 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-012-1281-z

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