Conservation and Recovery of North America’s Imperiled Freshwater Fauna & Ecosystems

Moderators: Shawn Staton*, Becky Cudmore, and Noel M. Burkhead
Emails: statons@dfo-mpo.gc.ca; cudmoreb@dfo-mpo.gc.ca; noel_burkhead@usgs.gov

Date: Tuesday, September 13, 2005
Time: 8:00 am to 3:20 pm
Location: Egan 3

North American freshwater ecosystems are facing a biodiversity crisis with 67% of freshwater mussels, 51% of crayfishes and 37% of fishes vulnerable to extinction. Derived extinction rates for freshwater fauna are 5X higher than those for terrestrial species. Measures to address this freshwater biodiversity crisis are ongoing in Canadian, American and Mexican waters. The identification of ‘conservation hot spots’ has been useful in directing attention and limited resources to globally significant watersheds. Targeted conservation actions in these watersheds could provide the greatest benefit for the largest number of imperiled freshwater species. The preservation of North America’s most imperiled freshwater fauna will depend on the combined success of recovery efforts within these watersheds. This symposium will showcase both ecosystem and species-specific recovery programs in these regions, as well as highlight priority research activities to support these initiatives.

Link to list of presentations in this symposium

Sponsor:

Fisheries & Oceans Canada (Great Lakes Laboratory for Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences)