 |
 |
For those of you interested in what's going on in the world of aquatic biodiversity...this paper may be of interest. It was presented at the November 2017 meeting of the Southeastern Fishes Council. Cindy *Cindy A. Williams* *Fish & Aquatic Conservation Program, AIS & FIS Program Coordinator* *US Fish & Wildlife Service* *1875 Century Blvd, 4th Floor* *Atlanta, GA 30345* 404-679-4148-direct 404-679-4180- fax 404-345-4238 cell [log in to unmask] *Working toward delivering the best science**. >}}}}}}}}(> * *<*),,^^^^^^,,^-,-<* *"With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts" - Eleanor Roosevelt* *Don't let Perfection become the enemy of GOOD. Paul Ryan* "Power isn't control at all--power is strength, and giving that strength to others. A leader isn't someone who forces others to make him stronger; a leader is someone willing to give his strength to others that they may have the strength to stand on their own." *Above all, taking the shield of faith, with which you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. *>)))))))(> ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Hunter, Chuck <[log in to unmask]> Date: Tue, Dec 19, 2017 at 10:07 AM Subject: Report on declines of listed and at-risk fishes from the Conasauga River To: Donald Imm <[log in to unmask]>, Robin Goodloe <[log in to unmask]>, Alice Lawrence <[log in to unmask]>, Steve Seibert < [log in to unmask]>, Susan Cielinski <[log in to unmask]>, Daffny Pitchford <[log in to unmask]>, Michelle Eversen < [log in to unmask]>, Mary Jennings <[log in to unmask]>, "Harris, Michael" <[log in to unmask]>, Matthew Dekar < [log in to unmask]>, Aaron Valenta <[log in to unmask]>, Nicole Adimey <[log in to unmask]>, David Viker <[log in to unmask]>, Brett Hunter <[log in to unmask]>, Cynthia Williams <[log in to unmask]>, Greg Masson <[log in to unmask]>, "Brown, Allan" <[log in to unmask]>, Stephanie Chance <[log in to unmask]>, Mike Chouinard < [log in to unmask]>, Janet Ertel <[log in to unmask]> Quite a few important publications in the latest Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management ( http://www.fwspubs.org/toc/f wma/8/2?ai=vjm&ui=4nev&af=H <http://el.allenpress.com/wf/click?upn=u-2BSGcaopYDGd0DSu-2B4CnCaVV4r6XYRU06V5GrjKQHtWBHHuoUGrzJcDx-2B-2BxGMmv7pPTVES9Cvs-2F-2F9gvSdMEIog-3D-3D_SNGBs1ewTYs3DE9lnGnkbXF-2BBvHufSWFBGoWgVWHnIuc7hZRdbAVPQlXY0OK-2Bz-2BJONYHpwXetsAzdLb26ymHhxDTzgdgU2OYm8TSD23tXVl5eESYD3J8bdwXvDJQkQckNJDwtkLJLy33L7VUMJ7tGJxzeWzTKSQ1G21ruqm01SF0yhjgZ1tUMFp7hKGUGZ4konM85jsiLhafRfzfyN-2FOZeQj1HBlsvUyM07ibaJFEXcgRJ-2BGTAGI-2BALxj2AP1ef2> ). Included among them is a disturbing report on the status of several fishes endemic to the Upper Coosa Basin, and specifically population strongholds found along the Conasauga River when compared to the Etowah River. I found this passage on page 429 particularly important for a number of reasons (both including the Conasauga, as well as the surrounding predominate land uses that may serve as warnings throughout the Southeast): ...The Conasauga and Etowah study reaches differ in the extent and intensity of row-crop agriculture, which flanks much of the upper Conasauga mainstem in Georgia but is, at present, a minor land use in the upper Etowah watershed. Several studies have reported elevated levels of agriculturally derived nutrients and contaminants in the Conasauga River study reach (Sharpe and Nichols 2007; Jacobs 2013; Lasier et al. 2016). Jacobs (2013) additionally documents occurrence of bioavailable estrogen in water and sediments of tributaries that join the Conasauga mainstem either upstream or in our study reach, occurrence of intersex condition in approximately 13% of the fish collected in these tributaries, and lowered growth in two fish species exposed to sediment from tributaries with the highest estrogen levels. Widespread application of poultry litter on agricultural fields is a likely source of steroid hormones in the Conasauga (Lasier et al. 2016). Water and sediments in the river also have detectable levels of the pesticide glyphosate or its breakdown products, derived from pesticide applications to agricultural fields along the Conasauga mainstem and tributaries (Lasier et al. 2016). Runoff from row-crop and animal husbandry operations may also contribute to elevated nutrient levels in the Conasauga River study reach. Mainstem water samples from the study reach show occurrence of particularly high levels of total nitrogen (e.g., .5 mg/l) and total phosphorus (e.g., .300 ug/L; Freeman et al. 2007; Sharpe and Nichols 2007; Lasier et al. 2016). Stable nitrogen isotope ratios of herbivorous consumers in the Conasauga mainstem downstream from the national forest also show evidence of nitrogen enrichment from agricultural sources (Sharpe and Nichols 2007; Baker 2012). Other studies have found changes in fish community structure associated with increased nutrients (Evans-White et al. 2013; Taylor et al. 2014), although mechanisms are unclear. However, elevated nutrient loading may be responsible for changes in water clarity and benthic habitats that we have observed in the Conasauga River.... From what I have been shown by the good folks out of the GA Ecological Services Field Office, the lack of adequate field buffers clearly justify NRCS, USFWS Partnerships for Fish and Wildlife, and other agencies focusing incentives to increase extent and width of such buffers specifically along the Conasauga River. Thanks, Chuck Chuck Hunter Chief, Division of Strategic Resource Management Regional Refuge Biologist National Wildlife Refuge System U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1875 Century Boulevard, Suite 420 Atlanta, GA 30345 404-679-7130 (office) 770-331-4475 (cell) [log in to unmask] -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= To view the FWFjobs archives or Join/Leave the list go to: http://listserv.utk.edu/archives/fwfjobs.html