Current Status and Conservation of Springs in Taiwan: Water Quality Assessment and Species Diversity of Aquatic Animals

Even though spring ecosystems are ecologically unique and socio-culturally important worldwide, they hardly attract research attention. The aims of this study were to evaluate the environmental status water quality, inventory species diversity aquatic animals in 65 springs Taiwan from 2012 2017, which seven unable be sampled due fact that dried or sealed up. 58 with complete quality data was assessed by River Pollution Index (RPI). Based on RPI, these mainly non-/mildly polluted (26 springs, 44.8%) lightly (23 spring, 39.6%), nine (15.5%) moderately polluted. However, when applied RPI may intensify pollution rankings because dissolved oxygen is an assessing factor, hypoxia naturally observed springs. To avoid concern, we suggest choosing concentration coliform instead content it During 6 years period, collected 48 fish 44 24 gastropoda bivalve 46 16 shrimp 34 14 crab 18 Within collected, 31 fish, 20 bivalves, 12 shrimps, crabs native Taiwan. They totaled 27.2 35% known island. Thus, considered a conservation hotspot animals. Other than species, exotic also represent threats, as seventeen fishes (35.4%), four bivalves (16.6%), two shrimps (12.5%) found show diverse vital ecosystem services, such delivering social, cultural, economic value, conserving endangered freshwater animals, developing new academic theories, supplying habitat refugees climate change. Unfortunately, currently threatened multiple anthropogenic disturbances, overconsumption groundwater land development urbanization, deterioration agricultural, domestic, industrial pollution, inappropriate tourism management tactics. restore sustain Taiwan, effective strategies practical measures urgently required minimize human-caused threats revitalize social awareness