Multispecies and watershed approaches to freshwater fish conservation

Daniel C. Dauwalter, Timothy W. Birdsong, Gary Pace Garrett

"This book is a valuable resource for those involved in conservation of freshwater fishes that seek proactive, integrated, holistic approaches to conservation of freshwater, riparian, and upland habitats. Many case studies from freshwater systems throughout the United States are profiled and they include the implementation of multispecies assessments, conservation area prioritizations, partnership-based conservation planning, and watershed-scale conservation delivery. Freshwater systems in the United States continue to suffer substantial alterations that threaten freshwater fish diversity, habitat quality, and watershed function. Analytical approaches that integrate conservation biology, aquatic connectivity, and spatial prioritization principles to provide rigorous, science-based, and spatially explicit information to inform conservation planning and delivery can be used to reverse these trends. In addition, innovative planning approaches can yield diverse, multi-agency partnerships and large-scale funding programs that focus on initiating conservation plans and supporting meaningful and transformative conservation delivery for freshwater fishes and enhance habitat resiliency at watershed scales. Throughout the book you will find examples of innovative conservation approaches that focus on entire aquatic communities at watershed scales while incorporating species life history needs and compatible human uses. In addition, many chapters detail the importance of conservation planning principles and predictive modeling for efficient conservation delivery that benefits the greatest number of species. Implementation of these concepts will not only help to restore and preserve native fishes and their habitats but can also increase awareness and capacity of local landowners, communities, and recreational users to act as advocates and stewards of these aquatic systems."--Publisher's description.