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Threats to Aquatic Biodiversity

To learn more about the major threats to aquatic biodiversity please select from the following:
Alterations to Hydrology

Human activities are causing species to disappear at an alarming rate. It has been estimated that between 1975 and 2015, species extinction will occur at a rate of 1 to 11 percent per decade. Aquatic species are at a higher risk of extinction than mammals and birds. Losses of this magnitude impact the entire ecosystem, depriving valuable resources used to provide food, medicines, and industrial materials to human beings.

While freshwater and marine ecosystems face similar threats, there are some differences regarding the severity of each threat. Runoff from agricultural and urban areas, the invasion of exotic species, and the creation of dams and water diversion have been identified as the greatest challenges to freshwater environments (Allan and Flecker 1993; Scientific American 1997). Overfishing is the greatest threat to marine environments, thus the need for sustainable fisheries has been identified by the Environmental Defense Fund as the key priority in preserving marine biodiversity.

Other threats to aquatic biodiversity include urban development and resource-based industries, such as mining and forestry that destroy or reduce natural habitats. In addition, air and water pollution, sedimentation and erosion, and climate change also pose threats to aquatic biodiversity.

Additional Resources: If you would like to learn more about the threats to marine and freshwater biodiversity take a look at the following web sites.

Ships in Harbor - Exotic Species (USEPA)
Pollution - Factories (USEPA)

Biological Indicators | Aquatic Biodiversity | Statistical Primer

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