Northern Michigan University The Commons Book Sections/Chapters 2015 Arabian Peninsula Report Neil Cumberlidge Northern Michigan University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: http://commons.nmu.edu/facwork_bookchapters Part of the Biology Commons Recommended Citation Arabian Peninsula Report: Cumberlidge N. 2015. The ts atus and distribution of freshwater crabs. Pp. 56-64. In: Allen D, Darwall W. (Eds). The tS atus and Distribution of Freshwater Biodiversity in the Arabian Peninsula. Gland, Switzerland & Cambridge, UK: IUCN. This Book Section/Chapter is brought to you for free and open access by The ommonC s. It has been accepted for inclusion in Book Sections/Chapters by an authorized administrator of The ommonC s. For more information, please contact [email protected],[email protected],[email protected]. THE STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION OF FRESHWATER BIODIVERSITY IN THE ARABIAN PENINSULA Compiled by Nieves García, Ian Harrison, Neil Cox and Marcelo F. Tognelli ARABIAN PENINSULA The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ – Regional Assessment About IUCN IUCN, International Union for Conservation of Nature, helps the world find pragmatic solutions to our most pressing environment and development challenges. IUCN’s work focuses on valuing and conserving nature, ensuring effective and equitable governance of its use, and deploying nature-based solutions to global challenges in climate, food and development. IUCN supports scientific research, manages field projects all over the world, and brings governments, NGOs, the UN and companies together to develop policy, laws and best practice. IUCN is the world’s oldest and largest global environmental organization, with more than 1,200 government and NGO Members and almost 11,000 volunteer experts in some 160 countries. IUCN’s work is supported by over 1,000 staff in 45 offices and hundreds of partners in public, NGO and private sectors around the world. About the Species Survival Commission The Species Survival Commission (SSC) is the largest of IUCN’s six volunteer commissions with a global membership of around 7,500 experts. SSC advises IUCN and its members on the wide range of technical and scientific aspects of species conservation, and is dedicated to securing a future for biodiversity. SSC has significant input into the international agreements dealing with biodiversity conservation. About Conservation International Building upon a strong foundation of science, partnership and field demonstration, Conservation International (CI) empowers societies to responsibly and sustainably care for nature and its global biodiversity to promote the long-term well-being of people. Founded in 1987 and marking its 25th anniversary in 2012, CI is head quartered in the Washington, D.C. area. CI employs 900 staff in more than 25 countries on four continents and works with more than 1,000 partners around the world. About the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi The Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD) is a governmental agency that was established in 1996 with the overall function of protecting and conserving the environment as well as promoting sustainable development in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The Agency is responsible for assisting the UAE Ministry of Environment and Water in implementing environmental laws and putting forth regulation orders in the capital. The IUCN Species Survival Commission and the IUCN Global Species Programme have enjoyed a close working relationship with Abu Dhabi for the last 20 years particularly on issues such as species conservation and re-introduction as well as Red List assessment and training. EAD has been a long-time supporter of the SSC Re-introduction Specialist Group and hosted the meeting of the SSC Specialist Group Chairs in 2008 and 2012. THE STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION OF FRESHWATER BIODIVERSITY IN THE ARABIAN PENINSULA Compiled by Nieves García, Ian Harrison, Neil Cox and Marcelo F. Tognelli The designation of geographical entities in this book, and the presentation of the material, do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of IUCN concerning the legal status of any country, territory, or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of IUCN, or other participating organizations. Published by: IUCN, Gland, Switzerland, Cambridge, UK, and Arlington, USA Copyright: © 2015 International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources Reproduction of this publication for educational or other non-commercial purposes is authorized without prior written permission from the copyright holder provided the sources are fully acknowledged. Reproduction of this publication for resale or other commercial purposes is prohibited without prior written permission of the copyright holder. Red List logo: © 2008 Citation: García, N., Harrison, I., Cox, N. and Tognelli, M.F. (compilers). (2015). The Status and Distribution of Freshwater Biodiversity in the Arabian Peninsula. Gland, Switzerland, Cambridge, UK and Arlington, USA: IUCN. ISBN: 978-2-8317-1706-7 DOI: 10.2305/IUCN.CH.2015.MRA.4.en Cover design: Chadi Abi Faraj Cover photo: © Nashat A. Hamidan. The confluence of the two Wadies Tarj and Tarjes in Saudi Arabia, habitat of Cyprinion mhalensis All photographs used in this publication remain the property of the original copyright holder (see individual captions for details). Photographs should not be reproduced or used in other contexts without written permission from the copyright holder. Layout by: Chadi Abi Faraj Produced by: IUCN-CI Biodiversity Assessment Unit Printed by: Solprint, Mijas, (Málaga) Available from: IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Environment Agency- ABU DHABI PO Box:45553 Al Mamoura Building Murour Road Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Tel +971 (2) 4454777 [email protected] www.ead.ae www.iucn.org/knowledge/publications_doc/publications The text of this book is printed on 115 gsm environmentally-friendly paper. Edited by: Nieves García IUCN-CI Biodiversity Assessment Unit, U.S.A. Ian Harrison CI Center for Environment and Peace, U.S.A. Neil Cox IUCN-CI Biodiversity Assessment Unit, U.S.A. Marcelo F. Tognelli IUCN-CI Biodiversity Assessment Unit, U.S.A. With the support of: William Darwall IUCN Species Programme, United Kingdom Kevin Smith IUCN Species Programme, United Kingdom Khaldoun Al Omari IUCN West Asia Middle East Regional Office Simon N. Stuart IUCN Species Survival Commission Johannes Els Breeding Center for Endangerd Arabian Wildlife Contributors: Fishes Chapter authors: Jörg Freyhof Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research, Germany Nashat A. Hamidan Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature, Jordan Gary R. Feulner The Chadbourne & Parke, United Arab Emirates Ian Harrison Center for Environment and Peace, Conservation International, U.S.A. Reviewers: Jörg Freyhof Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research, Germany Gary R. Feulner The Chadbourne & Parke, United Arab Emirates Molluscs Chapter authors: Eike Neubert Naturhistorisches Museum der Burgergemeinde, Switzerland Zuhair Amr Jordan University of Science and Technology, Jordan Dirk van Damme University of Ghent, Belgium Reviewers: Nieves García IUCN-CI Biodiversity Assessment Unit, U.S.A. Mary B. Seddon IUCN/SSC Mollusc Specialist Group, United Kingdom Dirk van Damme University of Ghent, Belgium Odonata Chapter authors: Wolfgang Schneider Senckenberg Research Institute, Germany Boudjéma Samraoui University of Guelma, Algeria Compiler: Jean-Pierre Boudot Université de Lorraine, France Reviewers: Marcelo F. Tognelli IUCN-CI Biodiversity Assessment Unit, U.S.A. Nieves García IUCN-CI Biodiversity Assessment Unit, U.S.A. Crabs Chapter author: Neil Cumberlidge Northern Michigan University, U.S.A. Reviewer: Anna McIvor IUCN Species Programme, United Kingdom Plants Chapter authors: Annette Patzelt Oman Botanic Garden, Sultanate of Oman Richard V. Lansdown Ardeola Environmental Services, United Kingdom Sabina G. Knees Centre for Middle Eastern Plants, United Kingdom Reviewers: Marcelo F. Tognelli IUCN-CI Biodiversity Assessment Unit, U.S.A. Nieves García IUCN-CI Biodiversity Assessment Unit, U.S.A. Tulia Defex IUCN-CI Biodiversity Assessment Unit, U.S.A. vii Contents Foreword .................................................................................................................................................... x Acknowledgments ..................................................................................................................................... xi Executive Summary ................................................................................................................................... xiv Chapter 1. Background. Harrison, I., García, N., Freyhof, J., Neubert, E., Amr, Z., Van Damme, D. and Cumberlidge, N. ........................................................................................................................ 1 1.1 Biophysical characteristics ................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Aquatic Biodiversity .......................................................................................................... 3 1.3 Regional Threats ............................................................................................................... 4 1.4 Precautionary Principle ....................................................................................................