Imperilled species in aquatic ecosystems: emerging threats, management and future prognoses

Abstract

Earth's aquatic habitats are some of its most important ecosystems and support populations of many of its most imperilled species. The future demands of Earth's growing human populations will increasingly stress its aquatic resources on multiple spatial and temporal scales, as highlighted by numerous authors when predicting trends in biodiversity in many key aquatic hotspots. Identifying key stressors and understanding potential linkages between these stressors are important first steps to mitigating human impacts on at-risk aquatic resources. Here, an overview is provided of the established and emerging threats to aquatic biodiversity at local, regional and global scales, including emerging diseases, expanding influence of invasive species, new industries, and the accelerating trajectory of climate change, as well as perspectives on potential management strategies. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.