The interconnected nature of multiple threats is impacting freshwater biodiversity.

Abstract

Freshwater biodiversity is in crisis across the globe: the significant extraction, modification and pollution of freshwater resources puts these communities and systems at great risk. Here, using probabilistic network analysis and International Union for the Conservation of Nature threat data, we show that globally and across all taxonomic groups and geographical regions, threats to freshwater species are interconnected and do not occur in isolation. However, we also find that species in higher risk categories are more acutely threatened by single, dominant threats as compared with species at lower risk of global extinction. Determining when and which species are threatened by isolated threats or a suite of co-occurring threats provides crucial insights for the design of effective freshwater conservation strategies.