Radioactivity in aquatic ecosystems: implications for biodiversity

This work reviews the impacts of natural and anthropogenic radioactivity, focusing on both abiotic and biotic matrices in aquatic ecosystems. Several nuclear accidents, such as those at Chornobyl (Ukraine, 1986) and Fukushima (Japan, 2011), have introduced substantial radionuclide loads, turning these sites into long-term case studies for understanding radiological stress on biodiversity. Wildlife indicators, such as wild boars and sentinel aquatic species, play an important role in revealing how radiocontamination moves within the ecosystems, supporting the need for multidisciplinary strategies to safeguard biodiversity. Radioactivity poses significant challenges to ecosystems, and understanding key case studies provides insights into how radionuclide contamination impacts biodiversity.