Towards a European strategy to halt biological invasions in inland waters

Abstract

A major portion of biodiversity in the world depends on inland waters; about 8,500 of the 20,000 species of fish live in this medium, and many species of reptiles, amphibians, birds, semiaquatic mammals, along with invertebrates and plants, depend on freshwater ecosystems. Of the 117 threatened species in Europe, 28 live in freshwater ecosystems (IUCN 2006). The biological integrity of inland waters is also crucial for people: it provides water and food to a large majority of world populations (rice alone is the main part of the diet of over 50% of the globe’s inhabitants).