2009 Research Highlights
Examining water quality and quantity and the implications for aquatic wildlife
Scientists with the Eastern Forest Environmental Threat Assessment Center have previously studied water availability and the factors that control it. In partnership with the World Wildlife Fund, the question of water quantity was expanded to include the question of water quality, especially with regard to sensitive aquatic wildlife. The study focused on key biodiversity-rich river basins of the southern United States, and existing water quality databases were queried for water quality data, as measured by turbidity. These data were related to land use and precipitation to predict turbidity. This relationship was considered with regard to potential climate change impacts on precipitation intensity and the tolerance of aquatic wildlife to turbidity exposure. Results suggest that sensitive river basins and aquatic wildlife in the South do have predictable vulnerabilities to water quality and quantity stress. Furthermore, these vulnerabilities may be exacerbated under what is projected to be a wetter climate where precipitation is less frequent but more intense.
Contact: Steve McNulty, Southern Global Change Program team leader, steve.mcnulty@usda.gov
Partners: World Wildlife Fund
