Mapping biodiversity hotspots and conservation priorities for the Euro-Mediterranean headwater ecosystems, as inferred from diversity and distribution of a water beetle lineage

摘要: Euro-Mediterranean running water ecosystems represent a highly threatened habitat due to draining, construction, agriculture, eutrophication, pollution and climate changes. Thereby, the associated biodiversity is often more compared any other ecosystem identification of hotspots conservation priorities for fauna therefore primary target. Here we focused on invertebrates, as important indicators functions, modelling lineage beetles investigating status headwater ecosystems. We selected “Haenydra” (Hydraenidae, genus Hydraena) representative taxon (92 species overall, known occur from Iberian Peninsula W Iran), analysing geographic database including literature, field-collecting Museums data in order map distribution systems locate sites potentially invertebrates conservation. hence assessed assigning IUCN threat Categories—following guidelines—to all lineage, together with herein introduced Conservation Score (CS) computed using procedure tailored specifically beetles, also historical series. found that categories (VU or higher), high CSs, should be assigned >70 % species, suggesting that, considering this model, headwaters areas alarming. Cantabria, Pyrenees, Alps Central Apennines were identified hotspots, whereas combination CSs revealed highest concern are distributed W-Alps, E-Alps, Apennines, Spain, Greece N-Turkey. Our analyses suggested dramatic worsening several Mediterranean regions particular Italy, Turkey. The comparison between newly evidenced importance taking into account ecological, hydro-geological features when assessing strategies organisms.