Standing between life and extinction : ethics and ecology of conserving aquatic species in North American deserts

North American deserts—lands of little water—have long been home to a surprising diversity of aquatic life, from fish to insects and mollusks. With European settlement, however, water extraction, resource exploitation, and invasive species set many of these native aquatic species on downward spirals. In this book, conservationists dedicated to these creatures document the history of their work, the techniques and philosophies that inform it, and the challenges and opportunities of the future. A precursor to this book, __Battle Against Extinction__, laid out the scope of the problem and related conservation activities through the late 1980s. Since then, many nascent conservation programs have matured, and researchers have developed new technologies, improved and refined methods, and greatly expanded our knowledge of the myriad influences on the ecology and dynamics of these species. __Standing between Life and Extinction__ brings the story up to date. While the future for some species is more secure than thirty years ago, others are less fortunate. Calling attention not only to iconic species like the razorback sucker, Gila trout, and Devils Hole pupfish, but also to other fishes and obscure and fascinating invertebrates inhabiting intermittent aquatic habitats, this book explores the scientific, social, and political challenges of preserving these aquatic species and their habitats amid an increasingly charged political discourse and in desert regions characterized by a growing human population and rapidly changing climate. Our goal organizing this work was to update the landmark 1991 volume, 'Battle Against Extinction', and provide scientists and the public with a contemporary view of the status of aquatic ecosystems in North American deserts and rationales and approaches for their conservation. While predecessor editors W.L. Minckley and J.E. Deacon painted a grim picture, they noted that knowledge for effective conservation existed, but the missing ingredient was societal willingness to act. Many chapters in this new volume report worsening situations in the intervening decades, while others report modest success and cautious optimism. Several chapters also report practical, on-the-ground examples of conservation strategies for endangered species and habitats. However, the task of 'Standing Between Life and Extinction' remains difficult and the future is ominous "The desert Southwest may seem an unlikely habitat for fish, but roughly 40 species are native to the area, having evolved in special ways to adapt to dry conditions. In this volume of essays, conservationists dedicated to these creatures document the history of their work, the techniques and philosophies that inform it, and the challenges and opportunities that face its future. The volume was conceived and written as the successor to Battle Against Extinction (Arizona, 1991), which the editors call "a conservation classic and the bible for those struggling to save desert fishes and their habitats.""-- Provided by publisher