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Vol.
XXVIII, No. 2—March/April 2003
When
we think about biological diversity, the plant and animal treasures hidden
away in tropical rainforests or the unusual species that evolve on isolated
islands readily come to mind. It may surprise many people that the freshwater
systems of the southeastern United States contain an extraordinary diversity
of aquatic animals. The richest temperate freshwater fish fauna in the
world, for example, can be found in the Southeast. Even so,“new”
species are still being described as scientists learn more about the complexity
of the regions’ biological resources. At the same time, however,
habitat alterations, water pollution, invasive nonnative species, and
other problems threaten to turn this center of diversity into a center
of extinction. Read inside about efforts to save “the jewels in
our waters.” |
