Conservation Genetics of Endangered Freshwater Fish

Dear Colleagues,

The recent years have been described as, at the same time, the best and the worst period for scientists dealing with biodiversity. The best—because methods that are at our disposal for describing biodiversity are better than ever before and we are able to peek into biodiversity compartments that have been hidden for a long time. The worst—because the same biodiversity that we have only just started to understand and appreciate, is vanishing in front of our eyes. Conservation genetics, with their recently developed methods and principles, stand at the frontline of both, combining new insights into the biodiversity parts and innovative ways of protecting the most hidden, yet extremely important biodiversity components and levels.

The importance of genetics to protecting biodiversity on a general level and ichthyodiversity in particular has not been obvious for a long time. Questioning how weather conservation genetics can practically help to protect biodiversity protection can be expressed as the way in which weather genetics plays an important role in the extinction process. Regardless of earlier opinions and a certain degree of resistance to inclusion of genetic principles into the practical conservation plans, a growing amount of evidence has clearly underlined the importance of genetic phenomena in the extinction vortex and conservation genetics principles for preserving biodiversity.

Fish are no exception. Moreover, significant threats related to freshwater habitats and fish species have already led to the extinction (on global or regional levels) of several species, and many more are facing the same risk. Besides problems in the population size and structure, anthropogenic threats often have negative effects on population genetic levels that, sometimes, cannot be resolved by mitigating anthropologically induced causes; yet, a focused set of conservational measures is required. The problem is often amplified due to a lack of understanding of the structure and function of the genetic level of ichthyodiversity.

Diversity will publish a Special Issue on the theme Conservation genetics of endangered freshwater fish, with the aim of bringing together and presenting wider public results of investigation, encompassing conservation genetics issues and tackling all aspects of describing and protecting the genetic diversity of endangered fish species. Research covering any of the following topics is welcome to be submitted to this Special Issue:

• Describing genetic diversity and structure of endangered freshwater fish species and/or populations
• Explaining causes and consequences of recent genetic diversities and patterns
• Using molecular genetics methods to describe ichthyodiversity at species level, e.g., resolving taxonomic issues
• Describing evolutionary histories of various species or other evolutionary units, and using past to forecast the future
• Presenting problems at population genetic level that are provoked by various anthropogenic actions
• Presenting plans, methods and/or results of already conducted activities encompassing conservation genetic principles

Dr. Ivana Buj
Guest Editor

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