Fresh waters and fish diversity: distribution, protection and disturbance in tropical Australia.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Given the globally poor protection of fresh waters for their intrinsic ecological values, assessments are needed to determine how well fresh waters and supported fish species are incidentally protected within existing terrestrial protected-area networks, and to identify their vulnerability to human-induced disturbances. To date, gaps in data have severely constrained any attempt to explore the representation of fresh waters in tropical regions.

Methodology and results

We determined the distribution of fresh waters and fish diversity in the Wet Tropics of Queensland, Australia. We then used distribution data of fresh waters, fish species, human-induced disturbances, and the terrestrial protected-area network to assess the effectiveness of terrestrial protected area

SUBMITTER: Januchowski-Hartley SR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3188569 | biostudies-literature | 2011

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature