The following schedule is from the 72nd Annual Conference of the Southeastern Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies which was held October 21-24, 2018 in Mobile, Alabama.
AUTHORS: Paul D. Johnson, Michael L. Buntin, Todd B. Fobian, Jesse T. Holifield, Thomas A. Tarpley – Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division, Alabama Aquatic Biodiversity Center
ABSTRACT: In 2005 the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) created the Alabama Aquatic Biodiversity Center (AABC) to address conservation needs of Alabama’s rarest riverine species. Alabama rivers host some 97 federally listed species, including the richest mollusk and crayfish species assemblages in the world. Many once wide-ranging species are now restricted to single or very few occurrences. The primary goal of the AABC is to establish new populations of critically rare species. This is achieved through captive propagation and reintroduction of conservation targets into unoccupied watersheds within their historical ranges. Additionally, because basic biological data for many species are lacking, the program supports primary research efforts (e.g., systematics, environmental physiology, life history, toxicology) through research partnerships with universities and other government laboratories. Cooperative efforts also extend towards habitat recovery in selected Alabama watersheds. Specifically the Geological Survey of Alabama (GSA) and the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) work cooperatively with the ADCNR to provide habitat and water quality data (GSA) and administrative support (USFWS) for critical habitats supporting these species. Current AABC reintroduction efforts have released over 175,000 individuals of 17 mollusk species, since 2010. All initial reintroduction's are persisting, but additional stockings are anticipated to successfully establish numerous reproducing populations.
