Fish species, like sturgeon, are facing severe rates of decline — what else to know and how to help.
This NATIONAL THREATENED SPECIES DAY, we are shedding light on the incredible, albeit at risk, species that populate our planet’s fresh waterways.
While there are distinctions between humans and the wild, one universality binds us all: our dependence on freshwater. But there is only so much of it. Of all the water that exists on the planet, only 3.5% of it is fresh, and 2% of that is locked away in ice caps. In other words, every drop counts.
Freshwater habitats are sources of great biodiversity. 10% of all known animals and 50% of all known fish species can be found in freshwater ecosystems. But because of climate change, pollution, and overfishing, these systems have become stressed and species face catastrophic declines.
One such species on the brink of extinction is the prehistoric sturgeon. Don’t know much about sturgeon? Here are some things to you ought to know:
- A sturgeon’s lineage traces back to the dinosaurs
- Sturgeons have long lifespans, with some living to be more than 100 years old
- Sturgeons don’t have scales but scutes
- They also don’t have teeth, using barbels to detect their food
According to IUCN (The International Union for Conservation of Nature), sturgeons are the most threatened species group on Earth, in large part due to the flourishing caviar industry. To ensure a fighting chance, they need your help. Donate today to save species, like the sturgeon, who make up our planet’s precious BIODIVERSITY.
