Nearly a Quarter of Freshwater Species Face Extinction, Study Finds

A global assessment reveals the dire state of freshwater biodiversity, with pollution, habitat loss, and human intervention driving the crisis.

A comprehensive study published in *Nature* assessed over 23,000 freshwater species, finding 24% are threatened with extinction.
Freshwater ecosystems, which cover less than 1% of Earth's surface, support 10% of all known species but are disproportionately affected by human activities.
Major threats include pollution, dams, water abstraction, agriculture, invasive species, and disease, often impacting species in combination.
Regions like the Western Ghats in India, Lake Victoria in Africa, and Lake Titicaca in South America are identified as biodiversity hotspots under significant threat.
The study underscores the need for targeted conservation strategies for freshwater species, distinct from those for terrestrial and marine ecosystems.