A DIVERSE AND ENDANGERED AQUATIC ECOSYSTEM OF THE SOUTHEAST UNITED-STATES

We document the biodiversity and conservation status of an extraordinarily diverse and endangered ecosystem in the United States that has failed to attract the same attention as tropical ecosystems-the rivers and streams of Alabama and adjoining states Relative to North America as a whole, Alabama is a highlight of aquatic diversity supporting 38% of native, freshwater fishes, 43% of native freshwater gill-breathing snails, 60% of native mussels, and 52% of native freshwater turtles. Of these 41%, 77%, 34% and 22% of the fishes, snails, mussels, and turtles, respectively, are endemic to Alabama and adjacent state. Like many tropical systems of developing nations, this fauna is in an imperiled state, with 10%, 65%, 69%, and 43% of Alabama's fishes, gill-breathing snails, mussels, and turtles, respectively, considered either extinct, endangered threatened, or of special concern. Unlike tropical systems, however, little effort has been made to protect the taxa and their habitats Only 40% of fishes, 1% of gill-breathing snails, 32% of mussels, and 20% of freshwater turtles are formally listed as either threatened or endangered via the U.S. Endangered Species Act of 1973; no critical habitat has been protected Clearly, the biodiversity crisis in not limited to tropical systems of developing nations Although the Endangered Species Act of 1973 helps to ensure a future of sustainable diversity efforts must be made to hasten recognition, protection, and recovery of critical habitat particularly for hotspots such as the aquatic systems of Alabama.