Assessing the effectiveness of terrestrial protected areas towards riverine ecosystems

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Conservation Biology
• Freshwater Science

Background:

• Protected areas are key conservation tools, primarily for terrestrial and marine environments.
• Freshwater ecosystems face global deterioration, yet their protection within terrestrial reserves is understudied.
• Existing research on terrestrial protected areas' impact on freshwater ecosystems yields inconsistent findings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the effectiveness of terrestrial protected areas in conserving freshwater ecosystems.
• To compare biological quality and diatom biodiversity in streams inside and outside protected areas.
• To evaluate the influence of different protection categories on freshwater ecosystem health.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of historical data on benthic diatom communities and environmental factors from 174 Portuguese streams.
• Comparison of biological quality using the Indice de Polluosensibilité Spécifique (IPS) and diatom traits.
• Spatial and temporal comparisons between protected and unprotected streams, considering various protection statuses.

Main Results:

• Streams within terrestrial protected areas exhibited significantly higher biological quality and abundance of threatened species.
• No significant difference in diatom community diversity was observed between protected and unprotected sites.
• Cumulative protection categories, like RAMSAR sites, did not consistently offer additional benefits.

Conclusions:

• Terrestrial protected areas can offer some benefits to freshwater ecosystems, improving biological quality and protecting threatened species.
• Current protected area strategies are insufficient for comprehensive freshwater ecosystem conservation.
• The designation of dedicated freshwater protected areas is crucial for preserving all components of these vital ecosystems.