Living waters: a research agenda for the biodiversity of inland and coastal waters

Freshwaters including adjacent floodplains, as well as coastal waters are among the global hotspots of biological diversity. They are also among the most threatened ecosystems on Earth, and yet receive much less attention than terrestrial and marine ecosystems. Not only does the dramatic decline in freshwater biodiversity affect all levels of biological diversity (genotypes, species, populations, communities, habitats and ecosystems), it also compromises the ecosystem functions and services upon which humans rely. This loss of function has direct consequences for human livelihoods and quality of life, as well as for our capacity to mitigate the effects of climate change. Legislative and other measures to preserve and promote freshwater biodiversity have to date fallen short of stopping the decline of freshwater biodiversity and associated functions. In order to comprehensively protect freshwater biodiversity, new approaches must be developed and implemented.