A recent study published on January 8, 2025, in the journal Nature reveals alarming statistics regarding freshwater biodiversity. Approximately 24% of freshwater species, including crustaceans, fish, and insects, are at a 'high risk of extinction' due to significant pressures such as pollution, dam construction, and intensive agriculture.
Freshwater ecosystems, which encompass rivers, lakes, and wetlands, host over 10% of known species, including a third of vertebrates and half of all fish, despite covering less than 1% of the Earth's surface. This rich yet fragile biodiversity is crucial for the livelihoods of billions and plays a vital role in mitigating climate change.
The study analyzed 23,496 species, finding that decapods (like shrimp and crabs) are particularly threatened, with 30% at risk. Other vulnerable groups include freshwater fish, tetrapods (frogs and reptiles), and odonates (dragonflies), with extinction risks of 26%, 23%, and 16%, respectively. Since 1500, 89 freshwater species have been confirmed extinct, with 178 more suspected.
The authors emphasize the urgent need for improved freshwater management practices that prioritize biodiversity to prevent further declines.