Study finds one in four freshwater species faces extinction risk
A new study reveals that 24% of 23,496 freshwater species, including fish and crustaceans, are at high risk of extinction. Key threats include pollution, dams, agriculture, and invasive species. This highlights the urgent need for freshwater conservation. The study, published in Nature, fills data gaps on freshwater biodiversity. It identifies Lake Victoria, Lake Titicaca, and regions in India and Sri Lanka as having the most threatened species. Crustaceans face the highest risk at 30%, followed by fish at 26%. Researchers emphasize the ecological importance of freshwater ecosystems, which support diverse species and provide significant economic value. The study serves as a baseline for tracking conservation efforts and identifying areas needing protection.