Oberdorff T. auteur aut IRD Lek S. auteur aut IRD Guégan Jean-François auteur aut IRD text journalArticle eng text/pdf reformatted digital access Loss of endemic species represents a symptom of general degrading ecosystem conditions that is the indirect result of biodiversity alteration. Here, we developed a predictive model relating species richness of endemic riverine fishes to measured biological, climatic, and historical variables using data from 118 rivers distributed all over the Northern Hemisphere. In a minimally adequate multiple general least square model, total riverine fish species richness, historical biogeography (Pleistocene glaciations), and contemporary climate accounted for 63% of the variability in endemic species richness : the strongest correlate being riverine fish species richenss. Our findings suggest that (1) endemism and richness patterns are generally similar (fish diversity "hot-spots" areas sustain higher endemic species richness) ; (ii) glaciation in the Pleistocene have had a significant negative influence on endemic species richness in the more septentrional areas ; and (iii) certain basins situated in desertic areas (subtropical dry-zone of deserts) have unusually high numbers of endemics. These last areas should not be overshadowed when setting conservation priorities. (Résumé d'auteur) specialized POISSON D'EAU DOUCE COURS D'EAU ESPECE ENDEMIQUE DIVERSITE SPECIFIQUE BIODIVERSITE BIOGEOGRAPHIE HISTOIRE PLEISTOCENE CLIMAT 036EAUCON02 2 75-81 1999 https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010020829 10.1046/j.1461-0248.1999.t01-2-22051.x [F B010020829] https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010020829 https://horizon.documentation.ird.fr/exl-doc/pleins_textes/pleins_textes_7/b_fdi_53-54/010020829.pdf IRD - Base Horizon / Pleins textes 2000-03-22 2018-06-19 fdi:010020829 fre