Freshwater Ecoregions of the World: A New Map of Biogeographic Units for Freshwater Biodiversity Conservation

We present a new map depicting the first global biogeographic regionalization of Earth's freshwater systems. This map of freshwater ecoregions is based on the distributions and compositions of freshwater fish species and incorporates major ecological and evolutionary patterns. Covering virtuall...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Bioscience 2008-05, Vol.58 (5), p.403-414
Main Authors: Abell, Robin, Thieme, Michele L., Revenga, Carmen, Bryer, Mark, Kottelat, Maurice, Bogutskaya, Nina, Coad, Brian, Mandrak, Nick, Balderas, Salvador Contreras, Bussing, William, Stiassny, Melanie L. J., Skelton, Paul, Allen, Gerald R., Unmack, Peter, Naseka, Alexander, Ng, Rebecca, Sindorf, Nikolai, Robertson, James, Armijo, Eric, Higgins, Jonathan V., Heibel, Thomas J., Wikramanayake, Eric, Olson, David, López, Hugo L., Reis, Roberto E., Lundberg, John G., Sabaj Pérez, Mark H., Petry, Paulo
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aquatic ecosystems
Aquatic habitats
Associated species
Biodiversity
Biodiversity conservation
Biogeography
Biological diversity conservation
Company business management
Ecoregions
ecosystems
Endangered & extinct species
Environmental conditions
Environmental conservation
Equipment and supplies
Fish
Fish scales
Fresh water
Freshwater
Freshwater environments
Freshwater fish
Freshwater fishes
Habitat conservation
Management
mapping
Maps (Geography)
Overview Articles
Overview s
Rivers
Species
Taxonomy
thematic maps
Watersheds
Wildlife conservation
zoogeography
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Description
Summary:We present a new map depicting the first global biogeographic regionalization of Earth's freshwater systems. This map of freshwater ecoregions is based on the distributions and compositions of freshwater fish species and incorporates major ecological and evolutionary patterns. Covering virtually all freshwater habitats on Earth, this ecoregion map, together with associated species data, is a useful tool for underpinning global and regional conservation planning efforts (particularly to identify outstanding and imperiled freshwater systems); for serving as a logical framework for large-scale conservation strategies; and for providing a global-scale knowledge base for increasing freshwater biogeographic literacy. Preliminary data for fish species compiled by ecoregion reveal some previously unrecognized areas of high biodiversity, highlighting the benefit of looking at the world's freshwaters through a new framework.
ISSN:0006-3568
1525-3244
DOI:10.1641/B580507