MARQUETTE, MI— A study coauthored by an NMU Biology professor emeritus says one out of every four freshwater animal species is at risk of extinction.
Dr. Neil Cumberlidge is an expert in African freshwater crabs. He worked with scientists from six continents to explore extinction risks of the world’s freshwater crabs, crayfish and shrimp. Information from those studies was used in a database for the global freshwater animal study published in the journal Nature.
Results showed that crabs, crayfish and shrimp are at the highest risk of extinction of the groups studied, with 30% threatened, followed by 26% of freshwater fish and 16% of dragonflies and damselflies.
Cumberlidge says freshwater species have already gone extinct since 1500, with another 187 likely extinct but awaiting confirmation.
The study was led by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. It’s the largest study of its kind and represents 20 years of research by experts in relevant animal groups.
