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Summary Conclusions

Presently, the major threats to our southern aquatic animals include population fragmentation resulting from impoundments and other habitat alterations, sedimentation, and pollutants. Other threats include homogenization of the aquatic communities, resulting from species introductions, and interbasin connections. Grumbine (1990) noted difficulties in conserving rare species: “Providing for viable populations of native species on Federal lands will require some unprecedented combinations of administrative and legal reform.” Grumbine considered restoring natural fire cycles, reintroducing extirpated and endangered species, closing roads, and reforestation as important components of this reform.

The extraordinary diversity of aquatic animals in the Southeastern United States still exists today in spite of the many threats to their environments. Sustaining these animals and their habitats will require surmounting many difficult challenges.