Habitat Destruction

Freshwater habitats are among the most degraded on Earth: 72% of rivers have been fragmented by dams, weirs, or water withdrawals. Mangrove forests — critically important as nursery habitat for juvenile marine fish — have been reduced by 50% since 1950, primarily through conversion to shrimp aquaculture. Coral reef degradation through bleaching, coastal development, and sedimentation from deforestation threatens the 4,000+ species of reef fish. Riparian deforestation removes shading (increasing water temperature, reducing dissolved oxygen), bank stability (causing sedimentation), and organic matter input (the primary energy source for food webs in small forested streams).