Nearly a quarter of all freshwater species facing extinction risk: Study

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Lauren Taylor Anchor

By Lauren Taylor (Anchor), Kalé Carey (Reporter), Bast Bramhall (Video Editor)

A new study reveals nearly a quarter of the world’s freshwater species are at risk of extinction. The research, published Wednesday, Jan. 8, in the journal Nature, analyzes more than 23,000 species of fish, crabs, dragonflies and other creatures.

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According to the study’s co-author, “Most species don’t face just one threat, but multiple factors acting together,” underscoring the complexity of the situation.

This is the first global study focusing on the risks facing animals living in rivers, lakes, streams, wetlands and bogs. Although freshwater ecosystems make up only 1% of Earth’s surface, they are home to 10% of its animal species.

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Data from the study reveals decapods, such as crabs and shrimp, are among the most vulnerable. 30% of these species face extinction.

Freshwater fish are also at significant risk, with 26% of species threatened. Additionally, 16% of dragonfly-related species face similar dangers.

Experts point to a combination of factors, including pollution, invasive species, climate change, and the construction of dams, as some of the leading threats to the ecosystems.

The study shows that 54% of the species analyzed are impacted by global pollution, with agricultural pesticides seeping into waterways and increasing harm to already vulnerable groups.

The authors warn without immediate action to address these threats, the situation will continue to deteriorate, putting even more species at risk.

The study also reports that at least 90 freshwater animal species have already been driven to extinction.

Tags: Agriculture, Climate Change, Fish, Pollution

[Lauren Taylor]

NEARLY A QUARTER OF THE WORLD’S FRESHWATER SPECIES ARE AT RISK OF EXTINCTION ACCORDING TO A NEW STUDY..

RESEARCHERS REVEAL MANY ANIMALS LYING BENEATH THE SURFACE ARE CLASSIFIED AS CRITICALLY ENDANGERED.

THE STUDY, PUBLISHED IN THE JOURNAL NATURE, DIVES DEEP INTO MORE THAN 23 THOUSAND SPECIES… INCLUDING FISH, CRABS, DRAGONFLIES AND OTHER FRESHWATER CREATURES

ONE OF THE STUDY’S CO AUTHORS SAYS “Most species don’t have just one threat putting them at risk of extinction, but many threats acting together. ”

THIS IS THE FIRST GLOBAL ANALYSIS FOCUSED ON RISKS TO SPECIES IN RIVERS, LAKES, STREAMS, BOGS AND WETLANDS.

DESPITE FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS ONLY MAKING UP ONE PERCENT OF THE EARTH’S SURFACE, THEY’RE HOME TO 10 PERCENT OF ANIMALS.

ACCORDING TO THE DATA:

DECAPODS, LIKE CRABS OR SHRIMP FACE THE BIGGEST THREAT AT 30 PERCENT.

FOLLOWING CLOSE BEHIND AT 26 PERCENT ARE FRESHWATER FISH LIKE SALMON AND EELS..

AND 16 PERCENT OF SPECIES SIMILAR TO DRAGONFLIES ARE AT RISK

EXPERTS POINT TO POLLUTION, INVASIVE SPECIES, CLIMATE CHANGE AND DAMS AS THE BIGGEST THREATS TO FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS.

THE PAPER HIGHLIGHTS 54 PERCENT OF THE STUDIED SPECIES IS IMPACTED BY GLOBAL POLLUTION.

WHILE THE WIDESPREAD USE OF PESTICIDES IN AGRICULTURE ENDS UP IN THE WATER FURTHER HARMING VULNERABLE ANIMALS.

RESEARCHERS WARN: IF ACTION ISN’T TAKEN, THESE COMPOUNDING THREATS WILL ONLY WORSEN WITH TIME.

THE STUDY SAYS 90 DIFFERENT SPECIES HAVE ALREADY BEEN FORCED INTO EXTINCTION.