Science· 2026Q1
The global geography of threats to freshwater biodiversity
- 1citations
- Q1SCImago
- 2026year
Short summary
A global spatial assessment mapped 45 threats across 21,490 freshwater species, revealing that highly developed and water-managed regions face intense, overlapping threats, with freshwater species experiencing greater threat intensity and distinct spatial patterns than terrestrial ones.
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Key points
- Mapped 45 threats across 21,490 freshwater species (amphibians, fish, mammals, odonates, reptiles).
- Highly developed and water-managed regions show strong impacts from multiple, overlapping threats.
- Increased threat probability correlates with elevated extinction risk and population declines.
- Freshwater species experience greater threat intensity and distinct spatial patterns than terrestrial species.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
Human activities are eroding biodiversity, especially in freshwater systems. Despite major advances in quantifying species vulnerability and threats, we still lack a crucial understanding of where threats are affecting freshwater species globally. Here, we produced a species-centered spatial assessment of threats, mapping the impact of 45 threats across 21,490 freshwater species of amphibians, fish, mammals, odonates, and reptiles. We found that species in highly developed and water-managed regions are strongly affected by multiple overlapping threats. Although threats vary across taxa and regions, increasing threat probabilities elevate extinction risk and population declines, with freshwater species experiencing greater threat intensity and distinct spatial patterns than terrestrial species. Our findings establish a spatially explicit baseline for targeting the most urgently needed freshwater conservation and management interventions.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Science, 2026 · DOI ↗
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Nature and Landscape ConservationEnvironmental Science