Conservation priority index for the portuguese estuarine fish species : Índice de prioridade de conservação para as espécies de peixes estuarinas portuguesas

Abstract

A consciência ambiental está a aumentar, sendo necessárias metodologias mais eficientes para determinar as prioridades de conservação de componentes biológicos. Os índices multimétricos são ferramentas importantes que permitem simplificar os dados, facilitando a sua compreensão por parte de gestores, decisores e do público em geral. O objectivo deste trabalho é formular um índice capaz de ordenar as espécies estuarinas portuguesas de peixes de acordo com a sua prioridade de conservação. Foram calculadas 1O métricas, com base em dados recolhidos na bibliografia, para 72 espécies de 16 sistemas estuarinos (costas O e S de Portugal). A validação do índice foi feita por meios externos. Este é o primeiro índice desenvolvido para avaliar a importância conservacionista de peixes estuarinos e permite identificar as espécies com maior e menor prioridade de conservação, auxiliando o planeamento da conservação de peixes estuarinos. ABSTRACT; Environmental awareness is increasing and more efficient methodologies in determining the conservation priorities of biological components are needed. Multimetric indices are important tools, allowing data simplification and consequently a better understanding by managers, decision makers and general public. The aim of this work is to formulate an index capable of ranking the Portuguese estuarine fish species by their conservation priority. Ten metrics were scored, with bibliography references, for 72 species of 16 estuarine systems (W and S coasts of Portugal). Index Validation was done by external means. This index is the first to specifically address the conservation priority of estuarine fish and allows an identification of the top and bottom conservation priority species adding thus the planning of estuarine fish conservation. // Public awareness regarding environmental issues has been increasing in the last decades. The increasing number of impact assessment studies, management and conservation plans, as well as ecological monitoring studies, demand new and more efficient techniques. Indices are an important tool aiding biologists in studies and allowing an easier comprehension of the data by managers, decision makers and general public. This study presents the first multimetrical index for establishing a hierarchical ordination of the conservation priority of estuarine fish species using, for that, 72 species from 16 estuarine systems (W and S coasts of Portugal). The index is composed by ten metrics, comprising species' life traits, and distribution and population trends. The information needed to score each metric was gathered from bibliography and the index validation was done by external means. This methodology allowed the defmition of the fish species more in need of conservation planning, and those less prone to extinction in estuarine systems. The proposed index will fill a gap in the knowledge and contributes with a useful tool to the scientific community and to the decision makers, being a breakthrough on estuarine fish species conservation planning.