SPRING SYMPOSIUM New Currents in Conserving Freshwater Systems American Museum of Natural History Center for Biodiversity and Conservation April 7 and 8, 2005 Freshwater New Currents in Conserving Freshwater Systems is sponsored by the American Museum of Natural History’s Center for Biodiversity and Conservation and the World Wildlife Fund, in collaboration with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, and U.S. Geological Survey. Support for New Currents in Conserving Freshwater Systems is provided by Daniel and Sheryl Tishman, and the Mack Lipkin Man and Nature Lecture Series. Additional support is provided by Symposium Content Coordinators: The Conservation Trust of the Robin Abell and Ian Harrison National Geographic Society, the Symposium Logistics Coordinator: American Society of Ichthyologists Fiona Brady and Herpetologists, The Nature Technology Coordinators: Tony Alexander Conservancy, and the American Ho-Ling Poon Fisheries Society. Program Editor: The Center for Biodiversity and Jennifer Stenzel Conservation was established with a leadership grant from The Starr Foundation Program Design: and the support of many other generous foundations, corporations, and individuals. James Lui Many people contributed to the planning and execution of this symposium, and while they are far too numerous to list individually, the Center for Biodiversity and Conservation extends its thanks to all of them. For their significant role in shaping the form and content of this symposium, we especially wish to acknowledge the members of the symposium’s steering committee and content advisors, who are named on the back page of this program. We also wish to acknowledge the valuable contributions of Nancy Dammann Davis, Michele Thieme, John Sparks, Scott Schaefer, Erin McCreless, Julie Pomerantz, Tara Corseri, Jeanne McCarthy, Jason Ross, and Adam Cherson. Copyright © 2005 This program was prepared by the Center for Biodiversity and Conservation under award Center for Biodiversity NA04OAR4700191 from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and Conservation, U.S. Department of Commerce. The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations American Museum of are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Natural History the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration or the Department of Commerce. Printed on 100% post-consumer content recycled paper. SPRING SYMPOSIUM rNew Currents in Conserving Freshwater Systems American Museum of Natural History Center for Biodiversity and Conservation April 7 and 8, 2005 SPONSORED BY American Museum of Natural History Center for Biodiversity and Conservation World Wildlife Fund National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Park Service National Biological Information Infrastructure, U.S. Geological Survey NEW CURRENTS IN CONSERVING FRESHWATER SYSTEMS SPRING SYMPOSIUM April 7 and 8, 2005 TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction....................................................................................................3 Symposium Schedule ...............................................................................4-7 Presentation Summaries and Participant Biographies (in alphabetical order)....................................................................................8-26 Center for Biodiversity and Conservation................................27 Symposium Collaborators.....................................................................28 Symposium Steering Committee and Content Advisors ..............................................................................29 Note: Additional symposium information, including speaker publications lists and suggested freshwater resources, can be accessed via the CBC website at www.cbc.amnh.org An archived transcript of the symposium presentations will also be available online in the coming months. American Museum of Natural History NEW CURRENTS IN CONSERVING FRESHWATER SYSTEMS SPRING SYMPOSIUM Freshwater rivers, lakes, wetlands, springs, and groundwaters are home to an astounding wealth of life — tens of thousands of species of fish, invertebrates, reptiles, amphibians, birds, and mammals.These species are besieged by an array of threats ranging from the local to the global — dams, the invasion of exotic species, overfishing, pollution, stream channelization, water extraction and diversion, and the panoply of impacts linked to development of the terrestrial landscape.Across the world, freshwater habitats and species are among the most imperiled components of global biodiversity. Freshwater systems sustain all life, including human communities.While conserving the ecological integrity of these vital systems is a critical goal, it remains elusive. Dedicated scientists and managers have worked for decades to improve the health of freshwaters, yet in most places the outcome is far from certain.There is an urgent need to develop and apply innovative, science- based approaches to freshwater biodiversity conservation, and to share success stories. Because human activities are so closely tied to freshwater systems, conservation of the biodiversity within those systems faces a set of unique challenges.Working with users of water — local communities, industries, farmers, and others — to develop and implement sustainable solutions that meet the needs of both people and freshwater species is a basic foundation of many successes. Infusing these collaborations with the best science, even in the most data-poor situations, is integral to defining and achieving sustainability. Innovations in generating and applying that science represent an important conservation frontier. Just as freshwater biodiversity conservation must transcend “hard” science to include social, cultural, economic, and political considerations, so too does freshwater biodiversity science need to extend beyond biology.There is no doubt that strong biological information underpins effective conservation. But physical sciences like hydrology are equally important to the design and application of integrative conservation solutions. Bringing together scientists with shared interests and different disciplinary backgrounds to form working partnerships will be crucial to the next generation of freshwater conservation achievements. This symposium provides a forum for these interdisciplinary and international exchanges. Experts from around the world — researchers and practitioners with a range of experiences — will explore new collaborations and ideas for enhancing the effectiveness of their conserva- tion efforts.Whether innovations take the form of new scientific tools or improved methods for applying existing ones, the urgency of conserving freshwater biodiversity requires that we immediately embrace the best ideas and put them into action. 3 NEW CURRENTS IN CONSERVING FRESHWATER SYSTEMS A Biodiversity Science Symposium American Museum of Natural History Kaufmann and Linder Theaters DAY ONE Use of Genetic Tools to Examine Regional THURSDAY,APRIL 7, 2005 Patterns of Biodiversity 7:30 – 8:30 a.m. REGISTRATION DAVID J. BERG, Professor of Zoology, Miami University, Ohio, USA SESSION I Videography of Subsurface Aquatic Life — INNOVATIONS IN UNDERSTANDING A Useful Procedure to Make Environmental FRESHWATER SYSTEMS Conservation of Subterranean Animals Attractive:The Lobau Wetlands (Austria) 8:30 a.m. – 12:05 p.m. Experience NTRODUCTORY EMARKS I R DAN DANIELOPOL, Senior Scientist,Austrian MICHAEL J. NOVACEK, Senior Vice President Academy of Sciences, Institute of Limnology,Austria and Provost of Science,American Museum of Natural History, USA Imperiled Giants of the Mekong ZEB HOGAN, Aquatic Ecologist, University of ELLEN V. F UTTER, President,American Museum Wisconsin, USA of Natural History Remote Sensing of Freshwaters to Support Moderator: DAN ASHE, Science Advisor to the Conservation Efforts Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of Interior, USA STEPHEN K. HAMILTON, Associate Professor of Zoology,W.K.Kellogg Biological Station, and Department of Zoology, Michigan State University, USA K EYNOTE ADDRESS Innovations Around the World:What Do We Need, and Why? 12:05 – 1:15 p.m. LUNCH BREAK MELANIE L.J. STIASSNY, Axelrod Research Curator, Department of Ichthyology,American Museum of Natural History, USA SESSION II INNOVATIONS IN PLANNING FOR CONSERVATION Pantanal: Driving Forces and Terrestrial- 1:15 – 5:25 p.m. Freshwater Interactions Moderator: FELICITY ARENGO, Associate WOLFGANG J. JUNK, Scientist, Max Planck Director, Center for Biodiversity and Conservation, Institute for Limnology,Working Group Tropical American Museum of Natural History, USA Ecology, Germany Water Snakes, Livelihoods, and Bridging Troubled Waters — Taxonomic Conservation:Tonle Sap, Cambodia Science in the Service of Freshwater Fish Conservation in South Africa SHARON BROOKS, School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, UK PAUL SKELTON, Managing Director, South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, South Africa Macro- and Micro-Scale Circulation Modeling in the Mesopotamian Marshlands B REAK (20 minutes) of Southern Iraq AZZAM ALWASH, Director, Eden Again Project, Iraq 4 NEW CURRENTS IN CONSERVING FRESHWATER SYSTEMS Freshwater Ecosystems and Mobile Species PANEL DISCUSSION: in Australia: Is Conservation Possible LAYING THE GROUNDWORK FOR When Current Models for River FRESHWATER CONSERVATION — Conservation are Poor? WHAT CHARACTERIZES INNOVATIONS RICHARD KINGSFORD,