Spatial and temporal patterns in the threats to at-risk freshwater fish species in Canada

Abstract

This study identifies the current spatial and temporal patterns of threats to at-risk freshwater fishes within Canada. Data for 65 at-risk freshwater fishes were collated from the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada Assessment and Status reports with threat calculators. Using these data, the overall threat impact level and the threat impact of the 11 categories in the threat calculator were compared for all species and separately by conservation status, which indicates their risk of extinction. These threats were also compared temporally to a study completed in 2006 and spatially between National Freshwater Biogeographic Zones. The threats of invasive species and pollution had the highest impacts, accounting for 18.9% and 16.8% of the weighted impact on at-risk freshwater fishes, respectively. Since 2006, all threats have been increasing, except for natural disasters. The Great Lakes–Upper St. Lawrence River Biogeographic Zone had significantly more at-risk freshwater fishes and overall weighted threat impact than other zones, with pollution, invasive species, and natural system modification contributing the most to the imperilment in this region.