A shocking new study reveals that 1 in 4 freshwater animals—from darting fish to iridescent dragonflies—are now threatened with extinction. Published in Nature, this landmark research is the first to spotlight the global crisis brewing in rivers, lakes, and wetlands.
Freshwater habitats cover less than 1% of Earth’s surface, yet they’re home to 10% of all known animal species. “These ecosystems might look resilient, but they’re incredibly fragile,” says biologist Patricia Charvet. Pollution, dams, invasive species, and climate change are turning these waters into danger zones.
Researchers analyzed 23,500 species, including crabs and fish, and found a ‘perfect storm’ of threats. Agriculture runoff chokes life from rivers, while dams block migration routes. “We’re losing biodiversity faster than we can document it,” warns zoologist Catherine Sayer.
What now? Experts urge global action to protect freshwater ecosystems before they—and the species relying on them—vanish.
A shocking new study reveals that 1 in 4 freshwater animals—from darting fish to iridescent dragonflies—are now threatened with extinction. Published in Nature, this landmark research is the first to spotlight the global crisis brewing in rivers, lakes, and wetlands.
Freshwater habitats cover less than 1% of Earth’s surface, yet they’re home to 10% of all known animal species. “These ecosystems might look resilient, but they’re incredibly fragile,” says biologist Patricia Charvet. Pollution, dams, invasive species, and climate change are turning these waters into danger zones.
Researchers analyzed 23,500 species, including crabs and fish, and found a ‘perfect storm’ of threats. Agriculture runoff chokes life from rivers, while dams block migration routes. “We’re losing biodiversity faster than we can document it,” warns zoologist Catherine Sayer.
What now? Experts urge global action to protect freshwater ecosystems before they—and the species relying on them—vanish. 
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