Freshwater Studies in the Atlantic Forest: General Overview and Prospects

In this chapter, we reviewed the main studies on freshwater ecosystems of the Atlantic Forest, Brazil. We have firstly provided a list of the hydrographic basins that cross the Atlantic Forest and propose a classification of Atlantic Forest freshwaters based on a proposed wetland classification for Brazil. Anthropogenic disturbances and freshwater changes were discussed. We then made a panorama of studies on the main aquatic communities in the Atlantic Forest, ranging from vertebrates to microalgae. It is clear that basic research is still needed for many biological groups, although recent studies on aquatic biota deserve attention considering their theoretical advances in ecology. Common to studies on all biological groups are the concerns of anthropogenic actions, ranging from habitat alteration due to impoundments to water pollution, over- and illegal exploitation of vertebrates, and massive biological invasions. For many groups, such concerns are reflected in extinction risks of endemic species and biotic homogenization. We present prospects for future studies and urge for greater attention to preserve integrity of freshwaters in the Atlantic Forest.