CIBIO/InBIO - Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, University of Porto, Vairão, Portugal.
CBMA - Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.
Conserv Biol. 2021 Oct;35(5):1367-1379. doi: 10.1111/cobi.13810. Epub 2021 Aug 6.
Theidentification of key biodiversity areas (KBA) was initiated by the International Union for Conservation of Nature in 2004 to overcome taxonomic biases in the selection of important areas for conservation, including freshwater ecosystems. Since then, several KBAs have been identified mainly based on the presence of trigger species (i.e., species that trigger either the vulnerability and or the irreplaceability criterion and thus identify a site as a KBA). However, to our knowledge, many of these KBAs have not been validated. Therefore, classical surveys of the taxa used to identify freshwater KBAs (fishes, molluscs, odonates, and aquatic plants) were conducted in Douro (Iberian Peninsula) and Sebou (Morocco) River basins in the Mediterranean Biodiversity Hotspot. Environmental DNA analyses were undertaken in the Moroccan KBAs. There was a mismatch between the supposed and actual presence of trigger species. None of the trigger species were found in 43% and 50% of all KBAs surveyed in the Douro and Sebou basins, respectively. Shortcomings of freshwater KBA identification relate to flawed or lack of distribution data for trigger species. This situation results from a misleading initial identification of KBAs based on poor (or even inaccurate) ecological information or due to increased human disturbance between initial KBA identification and the present. To improve identification of future freshwater KBAs, we suggest selecting trigger species with a more conservative approach; use of local expert knowledge and digital data (to assess habitat quality, species distribution, and potential threats); consideration of the subcatchment when delineating KBAs boundaries; thoughtful consideration of terrestrial special areas for conservation limits; and periodic field validation.
关键生物多样性区域（KBA）的识别由国际自然保护联盟于 2004 年发起，旨在克服保护重要区域选择中的分类学偏见，包括淡水生态系统。从那时起，已经确定了几个 KBA，主要基于触发物种的存在（即触发脆弱性和/或不可替代性标准的物种，从而将一个地点识别为 KBA）。然而，据我们所知，其中许多 KBA 尚未得到验证。因此，在地中海生物多样性热点地区的杜罗（伊比利亚半岛）和塞布河（摩洛哥）流域对用于识别淡水 KBA 的分类群（鱼类、软体动物、蜻蜓目昆虫和水生植物）进行了经典调查。在摩洛哥 KBA 中进行了环境 DNA 分析。在假设的和实际存在的触发物种之间存在不匹配。在杜罗和塞布河流域调查的所有 KBA 中，分别有 43%和 50%的 KBA 没有发现任何触发物种。淡水 KBA 识别的缺点与触发物种的分布数据存在缺陷或缺乏有关。这种情况是由于最初基于较差（甚至不准确）生态信息的 KBA 识别存在误导，或者由于在最初的 KBA 识别和现在之间人为干扰的增加。为了改进未来淡水 KBA 的识别，我们建议采用更保守的方法选择触发物种；利用当地专家知识和数字数据（评估栖息地质量、物种分布和潜在威胁）；在划定 KBA 边界时考虑子流域；认真考虑陆地特殊保护区的限制；以及定期进行实地验证。
