We would like to draw your attention to the following session at the Joint Aquatic Sciences Meeting 2014 (18-23 May 2014, Portland, Oregon):
Session 065 - Connectivity within watersheds: effects, functions, and values of headwaters and isolated aquatic features on downstream waters Session link: http://www.sgmeet.com/jasm2014/sessionschedule.asp?SessionID=065 Aquatic resources are widely distributed within watersheds and provide a multitude of ecological and societal benefits. These ecosystem services are influenced by the hydrological, chemical, and biological connections between aquatic features on the landscape. However, many of these connections can be geographically discontinuous or ephemeral in nature, making their influence hard to quantify. Understanding the role connectivity plays between a single or a group of similar aquatic features and its ultimate affect on the properties of downstream waters is vitally important for policy and decision making, including assessing which waters should and should not be protected. For example, in the US, protecting aquatic resources under the Clean Water Act calls for showing their individual importance to and connectivity with larger, downstream waters, questioning the protection of many streams and wetlands. This session will address the science as well as policy behind the hydrological, biogeochemical, limnological, and biological aspects of connectivity of individual resources and groups of resources in aggregate - within watersheds. We particularly welcome submissions that examine the connectivity and effect of headwater resources, geographically isolated wetlands, and ephemeral streams on downstream waters, as well as international legislative approaches related to the protection of these and other aquatic features. Submission Link: http://www.sgmeet.com/jasm2014/ Abstract Deadline: 23:59 U.S. Central Standard Time on Friday, 7 February 2014. We look forward to seeing you in Portland! Hadas Raanan Kiperwas, ORISE Fellow, US Environmental Protection Agency [email protected] Jason Todd, US Environmental Protection Agency [email protected] Heather Golden, US Environmental Protection Agency [email protected]
