Effects of Human Activities on Water Quality and Fish Biodiversity: A Review (Published)
This review analyzed the intricate relationships between human processes, the quality of water and fish biodiversity in different freshwater bodies. Aquatic ecosystems are of immense ecological significance and support vast extents of biodiversity, their degradation due to human activities is of immediate concern. Other important factors like agricultural run-offs, storm waters, urbanization, industrial discharges, deforestation, overfishing, habitat fragmentation and loss, and climate change are responsible for compromising the water quality of aquatic ecosystems, and life therein. Activities that impact freshwater systems change their temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, turbidity and nutrients levels; resulting in alterations, degradation, eutrophication, sedimentation, and loss of plant and animal species. This review highlights the need for and suggests integrated policies that are focused on community participation and technological innovation as part of mitigative measures. There are serious and persistent gaps in basic information, especially, poorly monitored areas that require data collection and long-term ecological monitoring. Being able to deal with these challenges would help sustain the delicate balance of aquatic ecosystems that need protection from increasing environmental changes.
Keywords: Water Quality, fish biodiversity, human activities