Without habitat there is no wildlife. Any threats to the habitat of an animal or plant species are a serious threat to that species existence.

Threats to Aquatic Environments

Healthy aquatic ecosystems are those where human disturbances have not impaired the natural functioning or significantly altered the structure of the system. An unhealthy aquatic ecosystem is one where the natural state is out of balance.

These disturbances can be physical, chemical, or biological. Symptoms of poor ecosystem health include the following:Frog in Algae

• Species loss;
• Accelerated growth of organisms. One example is algae blooms caused by an excess of phosphorous and nitrogen compounds in the water. This condition is called "eutrophication";
• Increased incidences of tumours or deformities in animals;
• Changes in chemical properties and species composition. Perhaps one of the most significant has been a reduction of pH in water caused by acid rain;
• Increased concentrations of pathogens in water and sediments. The presence of certain organisms, for example Coliform bacteria, may indicate unsanitary conditions. Pathogens can cause a variety of human diseases such as diarrhea, typhoid, and cholera; and
• The loss of traditional Aboriginal culture associated with the ecosystem.

Adapted from Environment Canada's Freshwater Website