The southeastern region has the highest aquatic biodiversity and highest levels of imperilment in the United States, including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, US Virgin Islands, Virginia, and West Virginia . A necessary step to conserve this biodiversity is to identify conservation opportunity areas (COA) that contain suitable habitat for the most imperiled species. This project will identify COAs based on modeled habitat suitability for aquatic regional species of greatest conservation need (RSGCN). In addition, it will produce habitat suitability models for as many of the 580 RSGCN fish, mussels, and crayfish as possible in the southeast. Additionally, this multi-state effort, qualifies for the America the Beautiful Grant which has been applied for.

Mussels Need Fish

Mussels give birth to larvae (Glochidia) which attach to the gills of fish until they develop into juvenile mussels and drop off.

Support aquatic Habitat

Mussels Create Lures

Some mussels like Lampsilis display their mantle tissue which resembles a small fish, like a fishing lure, to attract their host fish!

However, America the Beautiful grant funds require cost share and match. Your donations would help NC with their portion of this match to identify COAs for aquatic species to inform restoration and conservation efforts.