Printer Friendly
The Free Library
19,573,962 articles and books
Member login
User name  
Password 
 
Join us Forgot password?

1,147 fish species threatened with extinction: IUCN


More than 1,000 freshwater fish species are threatened with extinction, reflecting the strain on global water resources, an updated global "Red List" of endangered species endangered species, any plant or animal species whose ability to survive and reproduce has been jeopardized by human activities. In 1999 the U.S. government, in accordance with the U.S.  showed Tuesday.

The list by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN IUCN

International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources.
) is the most respected inventory of biodiversity covering more than 47,000 of the world's species.

Scientists looked at 3,120 freshwater fish this year, 510 more than a year ago. They found that 1,147, or a third, are now threatened with extinction.

"Creatures living in freshwater have long been neglected," said Jean-Christophe Vie, deputy head of species programme at the IUCN.

"This year we have again added a large number of them to the IUCN Red List The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (also known as the IUCN Red List or Red Data List), created in 1963, is the world's most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of plant and animal species.  and are confirming the high levels of threat to many freshwater animals and plants.

"This reflects the state of our previous water resources. There is now an urgency to pursue our effort but more importantly, to start using this information to move towards a wise use of water resources."

The scientists also added 1,360 species of dragonflies and damselflies to the Red List, and found that out of 1,989 in all, 261 were at risk of disappearing.

Dragonflies provided a good gauge of the state of freshwater ecosystems as "many are very sensitive" to changes, said Vie.

"We found that they are highly threatened wherever we looked," he said, noting that water resources were under strain due to pollution and intensive usage.

Meanwhile, the tiny Kihansi Spray Toad The Kihansi Spray Toad, Nectophrynoides asperginis, is a dwarf toad, with adults reaching no more than three quarters of an inch long. It was discovered in 1996. It was found only in spray zone around the Kihansi and Mhalala waterfalls in the southern Udzungwa Mountains in , which once numbered at least 17,000 at the Kihansi Falls in Tanzania, joined the list of creatures which are now extinct in the wild Extinct in the Wild (EW) is a conservation status assigned to species or lower taxa, the only living members of which are being kept in captivity or as a naturalized population outside its historic range. .

"Its decline is due to the construction of a dam upstream of the Kihansi Falls that removed 90 percent of the original water flow to the gorge," said the IUCN in a statement.

Overall, this year's survey found that over a third, or 17,291 species out of 47,677 assessed are now threatened with extinction.

Last year, the Red List examined 44,838 species and found that a similar proportion (16,298 species) were close to becoming extinct.

"What we haven't got this year is good news," said Vie.

The overall situation may be worse than reflected according to according to
prep.
1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians.

2. In keeping with: according to instructions.

3.
 the IUCN, since data was lacking for 14 percent of the species surveyed.

In addition, the survey only covers a fraction of the world's species.

"These results are just the tip of the iceberg tip of the iceberg
n. pl. tips of the iceberg
A small evident part or aspect of something largely hidden: afraid that these few reported cases of the disease might only be the tip of the iceberg. 
. We have only managed to assess 47,663 species so far; there are many more millions out there which could be under serious threat," said Craig Hilton-Taylor, manager of the IUCN Red List unit.

The environmental group WWF See Windows Workflow Foundation.  also urged action, saying the latest Red List update "should cause alarm over the continuing unprecedented loss of species and the failure so far of mechanisms to arrest biodiversity loss."

"As crucial climate talks in Copenhagen draw near and with the International Year of Biodiversity around the corner, this is a wake-up call for world leaders For a list of heads of state, see .
World leaders is a MMORPG. The game involves creating a state, joining an alliance and going into war. It is mostly played by players from Israel, China, USA, Britain, Brazil and Saudi-Arabia.
," said Amanda Nickson, Director of the WWF International Species Programme.
Copyright 2009 AFP Global Edition
No portion of this article can be reproduced without the express written permission from the copyright holder.
Copyright (c) Mochila, Inc.

 Reader Opinion

Title:

Comment:



 

Article Details
Printer friendly Cite/link Email Feedback
Author:AFP
Publication:AFP Global Edition
Date:Nov 3, 2009
Words:499
Previous Article:US vows to get tough on Karzai
Next Article:Nissan to boost Renault battery supply: report



Related Articles
Evidence of global extinction crisis builds.
Mammals encounter tougher times, new assessment of species shows: latest report finds more than a fifth face extinction threat.
30 percent of world's sharks threatened with extinction.
Atlantic sharks at risk due to over-fishing: study
Quarter of Atlantic sharks and rays face extinction
Southern Africa's freshwater species 'in peril'
1,147 fish species threatened with extinction: IUCN

Terms of use | Copyright © 2012 Farlex, Inc. | Feedback | For webmasters | Submit articles