Conservation Status of Imperiled North American Freshwater and Diadromous Fishes

Abstract

This is the third compilation of imperiled (i.e., endangered, threatened, vulnerable) plus extinct freshwater and diadromous fishes of North America prepared by the American Fisheries Society'S Endangered Species Committee. Since the last revision in 1989, imperilment of inland fishes has increased substantially. This list includes 700 extant taxa representing 133 genera and 36 families, a 92% increase over the 364 listed in 1989. The increase reflects the addition of distinct populations, previously non‐imperiled fishes, and recently described or discovered taxa. Approximately 39% of described fish species of the continent are imperiled. There are 230 vulnerable, 190 thretened, and 280 endangered extant taxa, and 61 taxa presumed extinct or extirpated from nature. Of those that were imperiled in 1989, most (89%) are the same or worse in conservation status; only 6% have improved in status, and 5% were delisted for various reasons. Habitat degradation and nonindigenous species are the main threats to at‐risk fishes, many of which are restricted to small ranges. Documenting the diversity and status of rare fishes is a critical step in identifying and implementing appropriate actions necessary for their protection and management.

Historical Changes in Fish Assemblage Structure in Midwestern Nonwadeable Rivers

“…Increased anthropogenic alteration of lotic systems and the decline of many fishes have prompted a growing concern for native fish conservation in North America (Abell et al, 2002;Jelks et al, 2008). The successful conservation of lotic fish fauna is dependent upon an adequate understanding of how fish faunas change through time and space (Matthews, 1998;Jackson et al, 2001).…”

Genetic calibration of species diversity among North America's freshwater fishes

“…This assessment is particularly needed for North American freshwater fishes. Indeed, 40% of the fauna is in peril (3), and it continues to support a multibillion dollar commercial and recreational fishery (4). Despite more than 2 centuries of descriptive taxonomic inquiry, problems inherent to species identification have hampered the study, conservation, and management of the richest diversity of temperate freshwater fish (5).…”

Retrospective analysis of fish community change during a half-century of landuse and streamflow changes

“…Moreover, the spatial and temporal scales of data collection are not typically designed to test explicitly for those changes. Thus, creative ways of retrospectively analyzing available data could provide necessary information for conservation of highly imperiled faunas, such as freshwater stream organisms that have been heavily impacted by human activities (Dudgeon et al 2006, Jelks et al 2008. Compounding these uncertainties is a weak understanding of linkages between alterations of stream habitats and biota because multiple stressors occur simultaneously.…”