Freshwater Fish

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Freshwater Fish

• An Endangered Group

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What are freshwater fish?

• They live in freshwater with a salinity of the
  less than 0.05 such as rivers, lakes and streams
• 41 of all known species of fish are found in
  freshwater
• Their gills are able to diffuse water while
  keeping the salts of the bodily fluids inside
• Their scales keep water from diffusing in through
  their skin
• They have well developed kidneys that enable a
  lot of water to pass through their kidneys

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Why are freshwater fish endangered?

• Their freshwater habit is being polluted
• Their breeding sites are being cut off by dams
• They are being over-fished
• Human activities such as construction, water
  diversion and waterfront development are
  disrupting theirs and other animals eco-systems

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Why are freshwater fish important to us?

• Freshwater ecosystems provide the majority of
  peoples drinking water
• These ecosystems are home to more than 40 of the
  worlds fish species
• Freshwater fish are essential to freshwater
  ecosystems balance and without them our
  freshwater resources will disappear

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Threats to Freshwater Fish

• The creation of dams and water-diversion systems
  block migration routes for fish and disrupt their
  habitats
• Water withdrawal for human use shrinks and
  degrades habitats
• Runoff from agricultural and urban areas hurts
  water quality
• Draining of wetlands for development depletes
  habitats.
• Overexploitation and pollution threaten
  groundwater supplies
• Invasion of exotic species can harm native
  animals and plants
• Global warming may lead to devastating floods and
  droughts

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Solutions

• Restrict the construction of dams
• Provide incentives for farming business to reduce
  the use of pesticides
• Establish protected wetland areas
• Regulate water withdrawal for human use

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What I think

• Freshwater fish are important to the
  freshwater ecosystem. We need to ensure their
  survival by acting on the stated solutions. If
  not, freshwater fish will move from being
  endangered to being extinct.

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Bibliography

• http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freshwater_fish
• http//environment.nationalgeographic.com/environm
  ent/habitats/freshwater-threats.html
• http//www.excellentspirit.com/index.php?optionco
  m_contentviewarticleid72endangered-freshwater
  -fishcatid23kaleb-blogItemid66

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The End

• By Allison Mulock