| Abstract: | The Alabama River system, comprising the Alabama, Coosa, and Tallapoosa subsystems, forms the eastern portion of the Mobile River drainage. Physiographic diversity and geologic history have fostered development in the Alabama River system of globally significant levels of aquatic faunal diversity and endemism. At least 184 fishes are native to the system, including at least 33 endemic species. During the past century, dam construction for hydropower generation and navigation resulted in 16 reservoirs that inundate 44% of the length of the Alabama River system main stems. This extensive physical and hydrologic alteration has affected the fish fauna in three major ways. Diadromous and migratory species have declined precipitously. Fish assemblages persisting downstream from large main-stem dams have been simplified by loss of species unable to cope with altered flow and water quality regimes. Fish populations persisting in the headwaters and in tributaries to the mainstem reservoirs are now isolated and subjected to effects of physical and chemical habitat degradation. Ten fishes in the Alabama River system (including seven endemic species) are federally listed as threatened or endangered. Regional experts consider at least 28 additional species to be vulnerable, threatened, or endangered with extinction. Conserving the Alabama River system fish fauna will require innovative dam management, protection of streams from effects of urbanization and water supply development, and control of alien species dispersal. Failure to manage aggressively for integrity of remaining unimpounded portions of the Alabama River system will result in reduced quality of natural resources for future generations, continued assemblage simplification, and species extinction. |
| Genre: | Book chapter |
| ProdID: | 5211300 |
| Citation Author: | Freeman, M.C.; Irwin, E. R.; Burkhead, N.M.; Freeman, B.J.; Bart, H.L., Jr. |
| Citation Contributing Office: | Patuxent Wildlife Research Center |
| Citation Datum: | |
| Citation Day: | |
| Citation Edition: | |
| Citation Editor: | Rinne, John N.; Hughes, Robert M.; Calamusso, Bob (editors) |
| Citation End Page: | 585 |
| Citation Issue: | |
| Citation Keywords: | |
| Citation Language: | English |
| Citation Larger Work Title: | Historical Changes in Large River Fish Assemblages of the Americas |
| Citation LatN: | |
| Citation LatS: | |
| Citation LonE: | |
| Citation LonW: | |
| Citation Month: | |
| Citation No Pagination: | |
| Citation Number Of Pages: | |
| Citation Online Only Flag: | |
| Citation Phsyical Description: | |
| Citation Projection: | |
| Citation Public Comments: | OCLC: 61894396 ISBN 1-888569-72-7 Proceedings of the AFS Symposium, Changes in Fish Community Structures in Large USA Rivers, held in Phoenix, Arizona, USA, 21 August 2001. PDF on file: 6401_Freeman.pdf |
| Citation Publisher: | |
| Citation Series: | American Fisheries Society Symposium |
| Citation Series Code: | |
| Citation Series Number: | 45 |
| Citation Search Results Text: | Status and conservation of the fish fauna of the Alabama River system; 2005; Book chapter; 45; Historical Changes in Large River Fish Assemblages of the Americas; Freeman, M.C.; Irwin, E. R.; Burkhead, N.M.; Freeman, B.J.; Bart, H.L., Jr. |
| Citation Start Page: | 557 |
| Citation Volume: | |
| Citation Year: | 2005 |
| Type: | citation/reference |
| Text: | Status and conservation of the fish fauna of the Alabama River system; 2005; Book chapter; 45; Historical Changes in Large River Fish Assemblages of the Americas; Freeman, M.C.; Irwin, E. R.; Burkhead, N.M.; Freeman, B.J.; Bart, H.L., Jr. |
| URL (THUMBNAIL): | http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/thumbnails/outside_thumb.jpg |
| Date Other: | Tue, 9 Jun 2009 09:23 -0500 |
| Publisher: | |
