Gulf Coast's Ecological Heritage at RiskThe Gulf Statesspacer
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Alabama
Alabama Canebrake pitcher plant
Introduction
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Biodiversity & Land Conservation
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Biodiversity and Land Conservation
Alabama exhibits extraordinary biodiversity in coastal and inland ecosystems. The state—while ranked only 25th in land area among all US states—is fifth in terms of biodiversity. With Alabama second only to Hawaii in terms of species lost to extinction, it is obvious that human activities have already begun to negatively impact the state's biologically rich ecosystems. Combined threats from climate change and continued human development could undermine Alabama's efforts to protect its natural heritage. For example:

  • Pitcher plant bogThe coastal region stretching from the Florida panhandle to Mobile Bay is one of the richest areas in the United States in terms of biodiversity—harboring threatened or endangered species such as the federally endangered Alabama canebrake pitcher plant, red-cockaded woodpecker, or the Alabama beach mouse. Habitat losses due to continued human development combined with climate change impacts could increase the threats to these species.

  • Much of Alabama's biodiversity is centered in the Cahaba River watershed and includes some of the highest numbers of fish and amphibians in the US. The Cahaba River has the world's largest remaining stand of the imperiled shoals lily, locally known as the Cahaba Lily.

  • Red hills salamander, 'Phaeognathus hubrichti'Half of Alabama's aquatic species are considered endangered or threatened, and nearly 100 plant species are deemed globally rare. With many of these species bound to moist habitats and thus critically dependent on sufficient fresh water, any declines in local precipitation and runoff would be detrimental to Alabama's biodiversity.

  • If climate-related disturbances, such as fires and storms, increase, invasive species, including blue tilapia, Brazilian pepper, water hyacinth and others, are likely to spread and become dominant at the expense of the great biodiversity of the region's native species.


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Photo Credits:
Alabama Canebrake pitcher plant - Threatened & Endangered Species of Alabama. R. Johnson & B. Wehrle; www.pfmt.org.
Pitcher Plant Bog - R. Twilley.
Red hills salamander - Copyright 1997 Matthew J. Aresco.
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