Czech Bioplatform – review on research priorities in freshwater ecosystems 1 Botanický ústav AV ČR, v. v. i. Zámek 1, 252 43 Průhonice Česká Bioplatforma, www.ibot.cas.cz/biop Research Priorities in the Freshwater Ecosystems of the Czech Republic Petřík P. (ed.) 1 , Květ J. 2 , Pithart D. 2 , Pokorný J. 2 , Matěna J. 3 , Elster J. 4, 5 , Maršálek B. 6, 7 , Ráb P. 8 , Poštulka Z. 9 & Ansorge L. 10 Peer review by Karel Prach 5, 11 1 Institute of Botany, Academy of Sciences of the CR (AS CR), Department of Geobotany, www.ibot.cas.cz , 2 Institute of Systems Biology and Ecology, Department of Wetlands Ecology, www.usbe.cas.cz , 3 Institute of Hydrobiology, AS CR, Biology Centre, www.hbu.cas.cz , 4 Institute of Botany, AS CR, Phycology Centre, Section of Plant Ecology, www.butbn.cas.cz , 5 University of South Bohemia, Faculty of Science, www.bf.jcu.cz , 6 Institute of Botany, AS CR, Centre for Cyanobacteria and their Toxins, www.cyanobacteria.net 7 Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Research Centre for Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, www.recetox.muni.cz , 8 Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics AS CR, Laboratory of Fish Genetics, www.iapg.cas.cz , 9 Friends of the Earth Czech Republic, www.hnutiduha.cz , 10 Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Water Management Policy, www.mze.cz , 11 Institute of Botany, AS CR, Section of Plant Ecology, Department of Synecology, www.butbn.cas.cz Preface This review was elaborated within the international project BioStrat (http://www.biostrat.org). It is not expected that it will cover all aspects of the topic, but the compilation of the reviews from different countries may produce an interesting overview, which will help to develop the recommendations at the European Platform for Biodiversity Research Strategy (EPBRS) meetings. Additionally, this research review cannot give neither legislative nor practical recommendations. The on-coming Slovenian EPBRS meeting will deal with aspects of Research Priorities for Sustaining Freshwater Biodiversity. Our aim was to address people across various sectors. Each of eight co-authors (scientists publishing in ISI journals, member of NGO) has been asked for providing a short review on topic, which are they interested in. One employee of Ministry of Agriculture was asked to provide an official statement of the ministry. One per reviewer has kindly provided his comments to the text. Most of them are members of the Czech BioPlatform project (http://www.ibot.cas.cz/biop) directly related to the EPBRS (www.epbrs.org). Introduction (Authors: P. Petřík and Z. Poštulka) Description of the status of the freshwater ecosystems in the CR According to the National Biodiversity Strategy (2005), the freshwater biodiversity is endangered more than biodiversity of terrestrial ecosystems due to strong anthropogenic effects. Extensive drainage of the landscape has occurred over the past 50 years and only one quarter of the original 1 300 000 ha of wetlands has been preserved. In general, water quality in watercourses has been significantly improving over the past decade in the CR. However, in comparison with 2005, in 2006 the water pollution sligthly increased and started positive trend has been changed (Environment Report, Ministry of the Environment 2006, www.env.cz).