Track 1) Geobiology of aquatic systems in marine and fresh water 

Rivers and streams of North America’s Central Highlands physiographic province and the adjacent Mobile Basin and Gulf Coast drainages of the United States harbor one of the most diverse aquatic biotas in the world; these aquatic ecosystems have been ranked internationally as among the most diverse ecosystems in the world (Hocutt and Wiley 1985, Lydeard and Mayden 1995). Likewise, the diverse aquatic fauna of this region is considered one of the most imperiled aquatic faunas in the world by a number of groups including The Nature Conservancy and the American Fisheries Society. The diversity within this region is thought to be related to the varied geological history of the landscape. Although none of the river systems in the highlands or gulf coast drainages have ever been glaciated and were only partially inundated by the Cretaceous sea (thus minimizing extinctions of species and communities), their component biotas have been strongly impacted by the geological processes acting on the landscape as a whole. While portions of this region have been isolated for millions of years, they have, at different times, exchanged tributaries through stream capture events transferring a stream system and its biota from one basin to another. All of these factors are known to be conducive to enhancing the diversification process via isolation, divergence, and speciation. Thus, the natural order of these largely abiotic processes for this unique landscape of aquatic ecosystems predicts a set of biotic processes for species and communities unique to this extremely diverse area. Hence, the diversity of fishes in this area offers several unique opportunities to investigate many important ecological and evolutionary questions of interest and utility for both academic and applied areas of academic research and teaching. Further, we contend that the only way to gain an understanding of the biological processes involved in shaping this biota is through a comprehensive analysis of the geology and climatology of the area in which the organisms are found.

Further, through consideration of sociological data such as land use population centers, and rates of population growth, the tremendous amount of information we have regarding the fishes in these communities can be used in a predictive manner to determine where future problem areas may lie and what strategies might best be utilized to develop effective conservation strategies for the future. The central and southeast USA aquatic ecosystems, and related Earth Systems, are one of the initial data-rich areas selected for student research in the SLU Center for Environmental Sciences.

Map of southeastern USA drainage networks, shaded area shows raster data- box where we maintain a relational database. We are developing learning modules that show the complex relationships between the geology, fresh water fish diversity, and human features in these regions. The databases are useful to students, teachers, land use planners, conservationists, and researchers alike.

In addition to the fish databases, we are working in conjunction with the Saint Louis Zoo, who have established two conservation centers in Missouri for collecting data and preserving the environments of the Hellbender (the largest salamander species in North America) and the endangered American Burying Beetle. The Hellbender populations have dropped by 70-85% in the past 10 years, and efforts are underway to understand the environmental and/or anthropogenic changes that have contributed to this loss. Inclusion of data on the populations and Earth Systems that influence the life-cycle of these (and other) organisms will help the conservation efforts and be useful to researchers, conservationists and biologists, and students. All of these data when appropriately digitized and made available on the web will serve as extremely useful educational tools at both the K-12 and college levels, for the outreach component of the center. Further, given the collaborative nature of the research and the significant outreach component of the center, these data and the studies resulting from them provide a significant database for public education. Understanding aquatic biodiversity in central USA provides an ideal medium in which to investigate relationships between the different biologic, geologic, and climate and weather-related systems. Students and researchers are able to compare diverse data sets, and determine how humans and weather and aquatic organisms (fish), and other species, and bedrock geology all interact and influence each other.