Pollution And Water Management Are Leading Causes Of Declining Freshwater Fauna: Study
Pollution And Water Management Are Leading Causes Of Declining Freshwater Fauna: Study ( Representative Image )
A global health assessment has revealed that pollution is the primary cause of habitat loss and the decline in freshwater fauna, including fish and invertebrates. The study, published in Nature on Tuesday, found that a quarter of all freshwater species are facing extinction threats.
The research, which spanned over a decade, focused on 23,496 species listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. It assessed freshwater ecosystems in India, particularly in the Western Ghats and the Himalayas, which are considered biodiversity hotspots.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-08375-z
Pollution, including agricultural and forest effluents, domestic waste, and industrial discharge, is responsible for threatening around 59% of freshwater fish species globally. Other factors contributing to the decline include excessive water extraction, agriculture, invasive species, and habitat destruction due to infrastructure like dams.
The study highlighted that India, with its rich freshwater fish diversity, is experiencing significant threats to its species, particularly in the Western Ghats and the Indo-Burma border areas. Over 300 species in the Western Ghats alone are facing extinction.
Rajeev Raghavan, assistant professor at Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies, noted that Kerala is the most affected state in India, with habitat loss, pollution, and over-exploitation being the main causes of the decline in freshwater fish species.
In addition to these threats, climate change and the increasing demand for water are further stressing freshwater ecosystems. Experts warn that the loss of these ecosystems, which support 10% of all known species, could have severe consequences for biodiversity and environmental sustainability.
The study also pointed out that 39% of odonates (dragonflies and related species) are under threat from dams and water extraction, while 37% are affected by land-use changes. These findings underscore the urgent need for better management of freshwater resources to protect the planet’s aquatic biodiversity.
