Plants and Animals

Biodiversity Management Issues for Freshwater Ecosystems

Freshwater ecosystems - rivers and streams and wetlands - are complex and dynamic. They are in a continual process of change and adjustment. They support a rich variety of animals and plants which require specific environmental conditions for their survival. The effects of human activities on these systems are equally complex and often interrelated. The series of ten brochures below describes major biodiversity management issues for rivers and streams. Each brochure outlines the source of the issue, its effect on the ecosystem and what can be done to reverse the impact. The Issues Overview - The Top Ten Issues (PDF - 275 KB) Issue 1 - Changes to natural flow patterns (PDF - 332 KB) Issue 2 - Changes to temperature patterns (PDF - 215 KB) Issue 3 - Changes to riparian vegetation (PDF - 333 KB) Issue 4 - Sedimentation of rivers and streams (PDF - 240 KB) Issue 5 - Toxic materials (PDF - 237 KB) Issue 6 - Increased salinity (PDF - 235 KB) Issue 7 - Removal of woody debris (PDF - 325 KB) Issue 8 - Changes to river channels (PDF - 368 KB) Issue 9 - Instream barriers (PDF - 312 KB) Issue 10 - Introducing fish outside their natural range (PDF - 239 KB)