Biodiversity and Conservation of Coastal Lagoons

Wetlands are sites of high biodiversity and productivity (Mitsch & Gosselink, 2000). They provide essential services, such as maintenance of atmosphere composition, key habitats for migratory species, and important nursery areas (Basset & Abbiati, 2004), but these ecosystems have suffered a serious decline worldwide due to human influence (Shine & Klemm, 1999; Solimini et al., 2008; Stenert & Maltchik, 2007). Declining water quality, drainage, eutrophication and catchment disturbances such as development, loss of natural vegetation and poor agricultural practices are changing the fundamental ecology of shallow lakes in much of the world (Drake et al., 2011). Different management strategies have been developed to solve these conservation problems, for instance the Europeans Natura 2000 network and Water Framework Directive (WFD). Among these aquatic systems, coastal wetlands have been subject to massive environmental degradation and habitat destruction worldwide (Goudie, 1990). For example, more than 50% of the original area of coastal wetlands that existed in 1900 has been lost in most countries of Western Europe (Jones & Hughes, 1993). However, not until very recently have they become the focus of conservation interest per se (Abbiati & Basset, 2001; Barnes, 1999) with the declaration of Special Areas of Conservation as a consequence of their listing as a priority habitat type (1150*) on Annex I of the European Union Habitats Directive (Council Directive 92/43/EEC). Coastal lagoons constitute a common coastal environment, occupying 13% of coastal areas worldwide (Kjerfve, 1994). The conservation of these habitats depends largely on the assessment of their natural characteristics, especially biodiversity, which is one of the main criteria used when elaborating wetland protection policies (Ramsar Convention Bureau, 2005). To assess the conservation status of wetlands correctly it is necessary to include studies of the invertebrate fauna. In this sense, the composition and abundance of benthic invertebrates is one of the most important criteria to be considered. Within this group of organisms are insects, especially Coleoptera and Hemiptera, which are two of the most common groups in these environments and also two of the most important groups in the freshwater food chain. The purpose of this chapter is to study the importance of the invertebrate fauna in the conservation of coastal lagoons and to assess the effectiveness of protecting areas on the conservation of their biological values. The questions are: “Is the Natura 2000 network