Whether itB次元官网网址檚 forests being felled for monoculture crops or development encroaching on habitats, a new study highlights how human activity is causing freshwater species to be wiped out at a faster rate.
The study found 43 per cent of mammals dependent on the rivers, streams and lakes that make up freshwater systems are threatened and three in four of them globally face threats from the expansion of human activity.
Increasing aridity, pesticide pollution, croplands and the growing footprint of human development had the strongest negative impacts on the affected species, according to the study.
According to Jason Fisher, who co-authored the study B次元官网网址楢ccelerated human-induced extinction crisis in the worldB次元官网网址檚 freshwater mammals,B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址淭here are a lot of freshwater mammals that are in trouble unfortunately.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淲e knew there was going to be some issues there but we didnB次元官网网址檛 know just how bad it was going to be.B次元官网网址�
The University of Victoria wildlife ecologist noted it shouldnB次元官网网址檛 come as a huge surprise that biodiversity decreases as rainforests are cut down for single-crop farmland or as pesticides bioamplify through the food chain.
However, the researchersB次元官网网址� data analysis put empirical weight behind those observations for the first time and it filled a gap in understanding about whatB次元官网网址檚 happening in freshwater ecosystems. The analysis also compared different global regions defined by specific climates and vegetation conditions, helping to dispel critiques that impacted species are just localized cases.
B次元官网网址淲hat we have done is say B次元官网网址楲ook these are global patterns, these are things that are seen worldwide and theyB次元官网网址檙e not subtle effects either,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� Fisher said. B次元官网网址淪o that tells us we have a real problem here.B次元官网网址�
Freshwater habitats cover just three per cent of the earthB次元官网网址檚 surface, but they support a much higher percentage of overall life, with about a third of all vertebrate species being dependent on them. The findings represent a bellwether as Fisher said freshwater mammals are feeling the impacts right now, so humans are next in line.
He gave the example of climate change models showing aridity will increase, while human populations in AmericaB次元官网网址檚 southwest are already dealing with major reservoirs like Lake Mead drying up.
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The study used International Union for Conservation of Nature databases B次元官网网址� which track the status of species globally B次元官网网址� to look at how the richness of 142 freshwater mammals, ranging from rodents to larger carnivores, are being affected by human actions.
Reversing the trend of freshwater mammals getting pushed closer to extinction will take actions such as ending forest clearcuts, reducing widespread pesticide use and moving to mixed agro-forest models for food production, Fisher said.
The researchers also found that protected areas provide a greater richness of freshwater species, with lands managed or owned by Indigenous Peoples being twice as effective as regular protected plots.
B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 a really big deal, weB次元官网网址檙e starting to recognize in the last couple of years just how important those areas are going to be for conservation and this is another piece of that puzzle about how Indigenous areas are helping keep biodiversity areas on the map,B次元官网网址� Fisher said.
He hopes the study will lead to people putting more pressure on governments to establish more protected and Indigenous-managed areas, especially freshwater ones as the study said theyB次元官网网址檙e few and far between. The scientist said freshwater systems in B.C. support vital salmon runs, but conservation and restoration of those waterways arenB次元官网网址檛 keeping up with impacts caused by large-scale forestry.
B次元官网网址淭he health of these freshwater systems has to be built into government planning and land use planning and currently itB次元官网网址檚 not, itB次元官网网址檚 just sitting on the sidelines.B次元官网网址�
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