How is human activity related to impaired water-quality for wildlife?
Pollution from agricultural, industrial, and urban areas threatens wildlife terrestrial and aquatic. Chemicals from agricultural lands, like fertilizers and pesticides, can alter soil and water quality and can be harmful, and sometimes fatal, to many wildlife species. Run-off from agricultural fields pollute waterbodies by increasing nutrients and chemicals in the nearby rivers, lakes, and streams. These pollutants interfere with the aquatic food chains and poison many aquatic species. Terrestrial wildlife that may be using these waterways for consumption may also ingest harmful toxins, which may result in decline of their population. Many other human activities such as, severe deforestations, overuse of water-resources, global warming, urbanization, over-fishing, poaching, and mining all affect wildlife adversely.
