VULNERABILITY OF AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS TO URBANIZATION: IMPLICATIONS FOR BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH

Abstract

Urbanization places simultaneous pressures on aquatic ecosystems, compromising their ecological integrity and the benefits associated with water quality and hydrological regulation. This study aimed to analyze the vulnerability of these ecosystems to urbanization and its implications for biodiversity conservation and environmental health. A narrative literature review was conducted, selecting 32 articles published between 2024 and 2026 and organizing them into four themes: urban pressures; biodiversity, habitats, and ecosystem functioning; environmental health and ecosystem services; and conservation and restoration strategies. The qualitative comparative synthesis indicated that soil sealing, inadequate sanitation, channelization, and altered flows jointly contribute to environmental degradation. Responses include water contamination, habitat simplification, community reorganization, and changes in biogeochemical processes, demonstrating that maintained richness does not ensure ecological integrity. Potential health risks and ecosystem service losses were identified, although contamination evidence alone does not establish disease occurrence. Intervention outcomes depend on local conditions, control of degradation sources, and sustained management. The study concludes that reducing vulnerability requires integrating sanitation, runoff management, habitat protection, and catchment planning, supported by multidimensional, long-term monitoring.