Freshwater Ecology: Challenges in Aquatic Biodiversity Conservation
Abstract
Freshwater ecology focuses on the study of aquatic ecosystems such as rivers, lakes, streams, wetlands and ponds, examining the interactions among organisms and their physical environment. Despite covering less than 1% of the Earth's surface, freshwater ecosystems support a disproportionately high level of global biodiversity. However, these ecosystems face numerous threats, including pollution, habitat degradation, climate change, invasive species and overexploitation of resources. Conserving aquatic biodiversity is essential for maintaining ecosystem services, ecological stability and sustainable water resources for future generations.