Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Fish Also In Distress
On the heels of the VHS fish virus (See:
Ebola-like virus killing fish in Great Lakes) comes more bad news for freshwater fish species.
See: Silent streams? Escalating endangerment for North American freshwater fish
And the decline in freshwater and saltwater fish populations is just one small part in Earth's sixth mass extinction event which is happening before our eyes.
For example, most people are aware of the worldwide collapse of bee colonies. Less well known is that populations of fireflies (what I used to call "lighting bugs") have declined by 70% worldwide.
Ebola-like virus killing fish in Great Lakes) comes more bad news for freshwater fish species.
See: Silent streams? Escalating endangerment for North American freshwater fish
Nearly 40 percent of fish species in North American streams, rivers and lakes are now in jeopardy, according to the most detailed evaluation of the conservation status of freshwater fishes in the last 20 years...
"Fish are not the only aquatic organisms undergoing precipitous declines," said USGS researcher Noel Burkhead, a lead author on the report and the chair of the AFS Endangered Species Committee. "Freshwater crayfishes, snails and mussels are exhibiting similar or even greater levels of decline and extinction."
And the decline in freshwater and saltwater fish populations is just one small part in Earth's sixth mass extinction event which is happening before our eyes.
For example, most people are aware of the worldwide collapse of bee colonies. Less well known is that populations of fireflies (what I used to call "lighting bugs") have declined by 70% worldwide.
Labels: ecology, fishing, invasive species
