Twenty‐five essential research questions to inform the protection and restoration of freshwater biodiversity

Abstract

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 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). 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. 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. 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.

A global agenda for advancing freshwater biodiversity research

“…By identifying the most pressing needs to counter the freshwater biodiversity loss, our agenda is intended to maintain the global momentum recently exemplified by calls for action (Darwall et al, 2018), such as the Emergency Recovery Plan for freshwater biodiversity (Tickner et al, 2020). This includes mobilising practitioners (Twardek et al, 2021), promoting strategic activities (Arthington, 2021) and embracing the 25 essential questions to inform the protection and restoration of freshwater biodiversity (Harper et al, 2021). Our succinct and clear agenda comes at a pivotal time when governments around the world are revising major international agreements relevant to biodiversity conservation, such as the Sustainable Development Goals, or are at the brink of major conventions including the Convention on Biological Diversity and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.…”

Amazonian run‐of‐river dam reservoir impacts underestimated: Evidence from a before–after control–impact study of freshwater turtle nesting areas

“…Mitigating dam impacts is a priority for the protection and restoration of freshwater biodiversity (Moran et al, 2018; Tickner et al, 2020; Harper et al, 2021). Hydropower developments are among the most significant threats to Amazonian freshwater ecosystems (Castello & Macedo, 2016; Latrubesse et al, 2017) and biodiversity (Dudgeon, 2019; Latrubesse et al, 2020; Vasconcelos et al, 2020).…”

Improving the framework for assessment of ecological change in the Arctic: A circumpolar synthesis of freshwater biodiversity

“…Recent publications have addressed key research themes (Harper et al, 2021) and the need for societal responses and action plans (Tickner et al, 2020) richness will increase, but that this increase will be at the cost of unique species and the low-diversity assemblages that characterise Arctic freshwaters (Heino et al, 2020). This is a challenging message to communicate to decision makers and the public, as high biodiversity is commonly more valued than low biodiversity.…”

“…Recent publications have addressed key research themes (Harper et al., 2021) and the need for societal responses and action plans (Tickner et al., 2020) to halt the global loss of freshwater biodiversity, without specifically addressing biodiversity change in the Arctic. Societal responses to predicted impacts in freshwaters globally and in the Arctic generally fall into: (1) actions to improve detection of changes; and (2) actions to reduce the impact of unwanted changes.…”