India’s river interlinks may carry invasive species to more areas

AI Summary

A study warns that river interlinking in India could spread invasive species and aquatic pathogens from the Lower Ganga basin into other river systems, including the Mahanadi. The Mahanadi is home to 69 threatened species, and researchers caution that these connections could damage distinct basin ecosystems.

The Lower Ganga basin hosts 13-15 invasive alien species and could become a major source of invasives for the Mahanadi, home to 69 threatened species; water connections under the river interlinking project could also help aquatic pathogens to spread and flatten the unique biota that individual river basins boast today