Abstract

Freshwater ecosystems support the highest biological diversity per unit area on the planet, despite occupying much less area than terrestrial and marine systems. Freshwater organisms are also among the most threatened worldwide. There is an urgent need to identify and conserve remaining pristine and/or vulnerable regions, and Patagonia is an excellent candidate for conservation of a significant area of relatively unaltered ecosystems. The goal of this chapter is to synthesize and evaluate the most relevant information for the conservation of westward-draining Patagonian freshwater ecosystems (41–55˚ S), describing the general habitat, aquatic biodiversity, ecosystem function and ecosystem services. A significant portion of Chile’s freshwater resources are concentrated within this zone—ice fields, some of the world’s largest, deepest, and clearest lakes, together with major rivers draining into one of the world’s most extensive coastal-marine systems. Although species richness is not high, a significant portion of taxa are unique (genus and family endemism), especially fish, amphibians, and crustaceans. Impacts and threats to Patagonia’s freshwater ecosystems are still limited, hence freshwater conservation efforts in the region are promising. Despite the overall limited habitat degradation, many key taxa, especially fish and amphibians, are in danger of extinction. Invasive salmonids native to the Northern Hemisphere are considered both the most significant impact and threat to native freshwater species in the region. We propose seven general recommendations for freshwater conservation prioritization and planning, including a systematic revision of biodiversity information, dedicated personnel for sustained biological inventories, establishment of legal conservation mechanisms for river corridors, and a geographic survey of potential freshwater ecological refuges from both biological invasions and climate change. Longer-term conservation recommendations also include the development of plans for restoration and species recovery, and citizen-science observations and atlas-based inventories of groups of conservation interest. Finally, we emphasize the importance of supporting regional and national level experts on a range of taxonomic groups, both in terms of a professional knowledge base and also as the technical foundation for public/social investment in conservation efforts.