Developing inventories of catfish, Cypriniformes and freshwater fishes in Florida and Thailand’s Mae Klong River Basin are Florida Museum initiatives to help researchers understand freshwater fish diversity.
Although less than 3% of Earth’s water is fresh, about 44% of all fish species live in freshwater habitats. The diversity and abundance of freshwater fishes play a key role in global and local economies – from being a major food source to supporting recreation and tourism – and help maintain natural nutrient cycles in freshwater ecosystems.
Understanding the species-level diversity and distribution of freshwater organisms is crucial for effective on-the-ground conservation work to protect the ecosystems at-risk species rely on for survival.