Tag archives for freshwater species
Posted by 
Few fish can inspire as much horror as the Asian carp (well, except perhaps the dreaded candiru). But except for a few well publicized collisions with leaping fish, the Asian carp is rarely dangerous to human beings. Instead, ecologists warn that the Asian carp can wreak havoc on aquatic food chains by vacuuming up plankton…
Two colorfully named freshwater mussels received protection under the Endangered Species Act this week: the snuffbox and rayed bean. As NG Freshwater Fellow Sandra Postel has pointed out before, freshwater mussels as a group are among the most critically endangered species in North America. Although they have long served as an important food source…
This is the first post in a new series that celebrates the extraordinary diversity of freshwater ecosystems around the world. Every Friday, we’ll present a new species, and examine what each can teach us about the importance of preserving, and in some cases restoring, freshwater habitats. This week, we take a look at the…
Sandhill Cranes Are Home–for Now–in the Middle Rio Grande
Posted by Sandra Postel of National Geographic's Freshwater Initiative in Water Currents on February 7, 2011 
Here in the middle stretch of the Rio Grande, this time of year is an avian spectacle of sight and sound. The sandhill cranes are home for the winter. Many have journeyed long distances from their breeding grounds in the northern Rockies, and they’re here to spend a few quiet months along the river’s…
