Spatial Conservation Assessment for Native Fishes in the Lahontan and Central Nevada Basins, USA

Freshwater biodiversity is declining faster than terrestrial and marine biodiversity. The protection restoration of aquatic habitats are based, in part, on stemming this decline. We conducted a spatial conservation assessment native fishes the Lahontan central Nevada basins using core-area zonation. complementarity-based yielded landscape value (rank) all subwatersheds (12-digit hydrologic unit code; ~12,000 ha) whereby high-ranking subwatersheds, as set, maximized representation species, subspecies, within-species ecological diversity salmonids, while accounting for connectivity risk habitat degradation. encapsulated small patches inhabited by endemic desert fishes, Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge. They also highlighted clusters high-value such Truckee River watershed that has extant populations of, historical for, cutthroat trout its headwaters, with species mountain whitefish migratory life histories, cui-ui, Chasmistes cujus, at Pyramid Lake—a terminal lake. Both headwaters Lake have been recipients ongoing fish efforts. rankings will be used Desert Fish Habitat Partnership to inform regional investments, available broader use resource agencies working scales.