Freshwater Biodiversity and Ecosystem Resilience under Anthropogenic Pressure

Abstract

Freshwater ecosystems support a disproportionate share of global biodiversity and provide essential services, yet they are among the most threatened ecosystems on Earth. This article reviews the status of freshwater biodiversity and the principal anthropogenic pressures acting on it, including habitat alteration, flow regulation, pollution, invasive species, overexploitation and climate change. The concepts of ecosystem resilience, alternative stable states and regime shifts are examined, along with the role of functional and response diversity in buffering ecosystems against disturbance. Cumulative and interacting stressors are shown to produce nonlinear biodiversity losses, with sensitive taxa disappearing first and tolerant generalists persisting. Conservation and restoration strategies, including environmental flows, connectivity, nutrient control, invasive species management and integrated catchment governance, are discussed. Priorities for research and policy are identified to maintain biodiversity and the resilience of freshwater ecosystems under continuing anthropogenic pressure.