The consistent and widespread decline in stream biodiversity at lower levels of urban development is more damaging than previously believed.
The study found that aquatic life shows significant loss of biodiversity with less than 2% of developed land. This clashes with a decade-old analysis that claims it takes between 20-30% of developed land before local water systems no longer sustain normal aquatic life.
“Perhaps of even greater concern is that the decline of stream-dwelling animals implies that there is chemical pollution that could also be detrimental to human health via groundwater and downstream drinking water supplies,” study co-author Dr. Ryan King said.
Read more at Baylor University