Freshwater biodiversity

Freshwater biodiversity is the variety of genes, species, and ecosystems in inland waters and connected habitats, including rivers, lakes, wetlands, and groundwater.

Freshwater ecosystem: An aquatic ecosystem in inland waters, shaped by physical conditions and interactions among organisms. The ecosystem scale connects species diversity to the habitats and processes that sustain it.
River continuum concept: A model describing how river ecosystems change predictably from headwaters to larger downstream reaches. It explains how longitudinal changes in rivers shape habitat and biological communities.
Freshwater protected area: A geographically defined area managed to conserve freshwater ecosystems and their biodiversity. Protected areas can safeguard habitats, though effective coverage must include whole connected systems.
Freshwater extinction crisis: The severe and widespread decline of species and populations in freshwater ecosystems. It describes the biodiversity losses that make inland waters a conservation priority.
Amazon River basin: The drainage basin of the Amazon River, containing an extensive network of rivers, wetlands, and floodplains. Its vast aquatic network supports exceptional freshwater species richness and endemism.
Species richness: The number of species in a defined area or community. It is one direct measure of how many kinds of life occur in freshwater.
River fragmentation: The division of a river network into disconnected sections by barriers such as dams. Barriers disrupt organism movement and the connections that sustain freshwater populations.
Freshwater fish conservation: The protection and recovery of fish species and populations in inland waters. Fish are prominent freshwater indicators and face pressures from habitat change and exploitation.
Freshwater megafauna: Large-bodied animals that spend all or much of their lives in freshwater ecosystems. Large freshwater animals face especially high risks from habitat alteration and overexploitation.
Lake Baikal: A deep Siberian lake containing a large number of species found nowhere else. Its long isolation and unusual conditions have produced distinctive endemic freshwater life.

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