Southern Appalachian Forests: A Critical Biodiversity Area

Threats Facing Aquatic Ecosystems in Southern Appalachia

While there are several factors threatening the health of the forests and aquatic systems in this region, one of the largest threats is non-point source pollution (NPS). NPS pollution occurs when pollutants are released over a wide area and cannot be traced back to a single source. Some of the most common aquatic pollutants that are attributed to silvicultural activities are sediments and chemicals (i.e. herbicides and pesticides). NPS pollution is responsible for 70 percent of the degradation of streams and aquatic systems in the Southeast (Potter et al 2004). In fact, the increase in sediment and chemical pollution within some watersheds of this region are correlated with a 20-40% decline in species richness and diversity. Aquatic invertebrates have been negatively affected by NPS pollution and many are eliminated due to excess sediments covering surfaces such as rocks that are necessary for nesting and foraging, or due to decreasing amounts of dissolved oxygen in water bodies (Voshell 2019). Controlling NPS pollution in silviculture is critical to maintaining water quality and aquatic biodiversity in the Southern Appalachians (Potter et al 2004).