Master Thesis

Freshwater Fish Biodiversity in the Mediterranean Basin Biodiversity Hotspot Anthropogenic Impacts on Freshwater Biodiversity in the Mediterranean Biome

Eftalya Günes (02/2021-08/2021)

Support: Carl Beierkuhnlein, Samuel Hoffmann

Biodiversity hotspots have tremendous importance on ecosystem functioning. As the endemic home to many endangered species, the Mediterranean biome is highly important. The Mediterranean Biodiversity hotspot is particularly important for freshwater ecosystems, which provide key ecological services to promote human survival. However, biodiversity extinction- -mostly due to human-caused factors--threatens freshwater habitats and native freshwater fishes in the Mediterranean. This thesis assessed anthropogenic stressors and their impact on freshwater biodiversity in the Mediterranean region, addressing impacted fish taxa in basins, rivers, lakes, and ponds in Mediterranean freshwaters. The existing literature was analysed in a novel way, assessing which anthropogenic stressors have the most dominant effect on freshwater biodiversity among four anthropogenic stressor variables: climate change, pollution, land use and species introduction. All variables featured a strong effect on increasing biodiversity loss; however, land use was most strongly associated in the literature with a negative impact on biodiversity. Conservation strategies and ecosystem management aimed at safeguarding ecosystems should thus account for the heightened risk land use change poses to Mediterranean freshwater ecosystems.