Many
freshwater environments containing thousands of unique species are
endangered by pollution and habitat loss. Also, freshwater creatures are
not really noticed by the media and general public, who'd rather pay
attention and donate to funds protecting large and/or cute mammals and
birds. This has led me to make my senior thesis about a freshwater fish
advocacy group.
This
project sets out to answer two questions: Why don’t people care about
freshwater fish? How can we make them care enough to do something to aid
their conservation? I will do research on these two questions using
surveys and internet sources, and then compile my findings into a video
which I hope will answer the second question.
Jepson,
P., & Darwall, W. (2013, June 13). Is freshwater advocacy group the
solution? Retrieved August 28, 2014, from
http://www.seriouslyfish.com/is-freshwater-advocacy-group-the-solution/
This
is a video discussing how small and isolated the groups discussing
freshwater biodiversity are compared to marine and charismatic land
animal conservation groups. It proposed a freshwater biodiversity
advocacy group that amateurs who care, like anglers and aquarists, can
join. This source was the one giving me the idea for this thesis
project. It is geared towards conservationists and serious aquarists.
Leathwick, J. R., Collier, K. J., & Chadderton, W. L. (2007). Identifying freshwater ecosystems with nationally important natural heritage values: Development of a biogeographic framework.
Wellington, N.Z.: Science & Technical Pub., Dept. of Conservation.
Retrieved September 2, 2014, from
http://www.doc.govt.nz/documents/science-and-technical/sfc274.pdf
This
source talks about the effects of catastrophic events like earthquakes
on recolonizing freshwater ecosystems, as well as the worth of
conserving some specific habitats in New Zealand. It considers the
distributions of diadromic (pure freshwater) organisms highly important
in gauging changes over time in New Zealand’s biota, as they don’t leave
the rivers and lakes they call home. This source is geared towards
researchers and college students studying ecology and not the general
public or amateur naturalists, judging by the length and language.
The freshwater biome. (n.d.). Retrieved September 2, 2014, from http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/exhibits/biomes/freshwater.php
A
source giving background as to what habitats I’m actually studying. Has
little to do with fish, but does describe where they live. Will be used
in the very beginning of products and presentations, to provide
background. This source is intended for use by laymen, as the article
contains little jargon and explains what it does have.
Maceda-Veiga, A. (2014, August 13). The aquarium hobby: Can sinners become saints in freshwater fish conservation? [PDF]. John Wiley & Sons.
A
rare scholarly source on the aquarium hobby. It has a neutral tone on
it, because it has led to the introduction of invasive species into
worldwide freshwaters and has many ignorant amateurs killing fish
earlier than they should, despite the hobby of fishkeeping leading to a
greater awareness of fish amongst a small section of the general public
and a few passionate aquarists leading conservation and research
efforts.
Endangered Species and Habitats. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.neaq.org/conservation_and_research/projects/project_pages/SustainableOrnamentalFishInitiative.php
Ofish - Conservation Benefits of Wild Capture. (n.d.). Retrieved September 10, 2014, from http://www.ornamental-fish-int.org/data-area/conservation/untitled2/-conservation-benefits-of-wild-capture
Conservation - Ornamental Aquatic Trade Association. (n.d.). Retrieved September 10, 2014, from http://www.ornamentalfish.org/conservation-welfare/conservation
Conservation Fisheries :: Home. (n.d.). Retrieved September 22, 2014, from http://conservationfisheries.org/
Duda,
M. (2003). PUBLIC OPINION ON FISH AND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT ISSUES AND
THE REPUTATION AND CREDIBILITY OF FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES IN THE
NORTHEAST UNITED STATES. Retrieved September 22, 2014, from http://fishandboat.com/response_mgmt03.pdf
Hinman, K. (2001). BOOSTING PUBLIC AWARENESS OF FISH. Saltwater Sportsman. Retrieved September 22, 2014, from http://wildoceans.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/SWS_301_for_web.pdf
A
flyer posted in 2001 with very obvious intent. The date's significant
because it's before Finding Nemo, a movie that boosted awareness of
marine fish significantly for a while. This flyer argues people don't
consider fish as animals worthy of respect, and only a source of food in
rivers and oceans. However, it mentioned a significant improvement in
conservation efforts at the time. This article is about marine sport and
food fish, so isn’t as directly involved with my thesis as other
sources. Since I’m concerned with the general public’s opinion in such
matters, though, it’s still valuable.
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