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Environment
William Perry, Postdoctoral Research Associate at the School of Biosciences, Cardiff University

How DNA analysis of our rivers and lakes can reveal new secrets about their biodiversity

Analysing the environmental DNA of rivers could transform our understanding of what lives in them. Juice Flair/Shutterstock

Freshwater ecosystems are the lifeblood of the natural world, yet they are facing a silent crisis. A 2022 report by the World Wildlife Fund revealed a staggering 83% decline in global freshwater vertebrate populations since 1970, a rate far exceeding that of any other habitat.

The level of degradation to nature is alarming, but ecosystems are complicated, as are the effects of human activity. So, the story is often more nuanced.

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