Leiden University Scholarly Publications

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Barbarossa, V.; Bosmans, J.; Wanders, N.; King, H.; Bierkens, M.F.P.; Huijbregts, M.A.J.; Schipper, A.M. (2021)

Threats of global warming to the world's freshwater fishes

Article / Letter to editor
Climate change poses a significant threat to global biodiversity, but freshwater fishes have been largely ignored in climate change assessments. Here, we assess threats of future flow and water temperature extremes to similar to 11,500 riverine fish species. In a 3.2 degrees C warmer world (no further emission cuts after current governments' pledges for 2030), 36% of the species have over half of their present-day geographic range exposed to climatic extremes beyond current levels. Threats are largest in tropical and sub-arid regions and increases in maximum water temperature are more threatening than changes in flow extremes. In comparison, 9% of the species are projected to have more than half of their present-day geographic range threatened in a 2 degrees C warmer world, which further reduces to 4% of the species if warming is limited to 1.5 degrees C. Our results highlight the need to intensify (inter)national commitments to limit global warming if freshwater biodiversity is to...Show moreClimate change poses a significant threat to global biodiversity, but freshwater fishes have been largely ignored in climate change assessments. Here, we assess threats of future flow and water temperature extremes to similar to 11,500 riverine fish species. In a 3.2 degrees C warmer world (no further emission cuts after current governments' pledges for 2030), 36% of the species have over half of their present-day geographic range exposed to climatic extremes beyond current levels. Threats are largest in tropical and sub-arid regions and increases in maximum water temperature are more threatening than changes in flow extremes. In comparison, 9% of the species are projected to have more than half of their present-day geographic range threatened in a 2 degrees C warmer world, which further reduces to 4% of the species if warming is limited to 1.5 degrees C. Our results highlight the need to intensify (inter)national commitments to limit global warming if freshwater biodiversity is to be safeguarded.Show less
All authors
Barbarossa, V.; Bosmans, J.; Wanders, N.; King, H.; Bierkens, M.F.P.; Huijbregts, M.A.J.; Schipper, A.M.
Date
2021-03-15
Journal
Nature Communications
Volume
12
DOI
doi:10.1038/s41467-021-21655-w