Diversity, Taxonomy, and Biogeography of Elasmobranchs

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to present a Special Issue on the conservation of chondrichthyan biodiversity at the world level.

The ongoing loss of biodiversity is a key problem for the scientific and socio-political communities, and significant research effort is focused on the search for clear and concrete ways to stop its negative evolution. Numerous conservation approaches adopted worldwide operate under a large variety of basic assumptions connected to the human–nature relationship. These assumptions are often complex and linked to human habits. The aim of our initiative is to initiate an open discussion on how to halt the loss of biodiversity in this global system.

Chondrichthyes, a class that contains cartilaginous fishes, is a good example of the importance of this discussion, as its species play a primary role in ecosystem balance. Being top predators at various trophic levels of the food web, a decline in Chondrichthyans, in terms of biomass or number of individuals, or even their disappearance would result in a highly critical situation for trophic relationships with potentially irreversible changes.

Our intention is to present a review of the current views on, and management methods for, the evaluation and conservation of biodiversity. In the evaluation of cartilaginous fish biodiversity, it is important to form taxonomic lists and determine the conservation status of species in various marine regions as well as identifying diverse factors that affect their populations; typically, these include excessive and indiscriminate fishing activities and the degradation of their habitats. Therefore, when we consider the role that chondrichthyans have in the marine ecosystem, we should talk about an integrative approach that employs multiple conservation practices.

The global conservation biodiversity framework is defined by the ambitious plan it aims to implement and broad-based action, which directly involves the relationship between society and biodiversity. The goal is to live in harmony with nature by 2050. Initiation of the plan is urgent and involves all sectors of society, including indigenous peoples and local communities, to achieve the desired outcomes and contribute to the objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity—to reduce threats to biodiversity and ensure sustainable use of natural resources.

In this sense, the human community, which exploits the ecosystem while being an integral part of it, must adopt an innovative approach that takes into account the principles that govern the balance of the entire ecosystem. The monitoring and evaluation of biological diversity is therefore of vital importance to ensure the survival of marine organisms, including chondrichthyans.

Dr. Fabrizio Serena
Dr. Monica Barone
Guest Editors

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• biodiversity
• marine biogeography
• taxonomic checklists
• species distribution
• fisheries management