Study shows oxygen levels dropping in rivers, lakes and streams
Inland waters like rivers, lakes, streams and reservoirs need oxygen to survive, just like we do, but oxygen levels have dropped dramatically since 1900, researchers warn. The reason? Human behavior. That’s according to researchers of the Netherlands’ Utrecht University in their study, published Friday in the journal Science Advances. “More farming, more wastewater, more dams, and a warmer climate — they all change how our freshwater ecosystems function,” said one of the paper’s lead authors, Junjie Wang, in a written statement. Co-author Jack Middelburg, added, “We found that the main causes lay in these direct human activities. First, it turns out that nutrient input through, for example, over-fertilization, is a major driver of this acceleration. Secondly, the longer travel time of freshwater to the sea through the construction of dams and reservoirs has proven to be just as important.” The results of this oxygen depletion are already being felt around the globe, in the form of dying fish, disrupted food chains and poor water quality.
Related articles:
