Why are San Diego fairy shrimp threatened?

Answer 1

San Diego fairy shrimp are threatened by habitat loss, altered hydrology of their habitat and off-highway vehicle activity. They are listed as Endangered by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. By 1998, their habitat (vernal pools) was reduced to less than five percent of its historical extent (USFWS 1998). Remaining vernal pools are threatened by continuted urban development, increases or decreases in water flow into the pools, and physical destruction of habitat by vehicles. San Diego fairy shrimp occur in vernal pools in mesas from Northern Baja California through Orange County; Most of the historical vernal pool habitat was converted to residential development.