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Arid lands of the Southwest

January 1, 2005

When thinking about plants and animals that inhabit hot arid lands of the southwestern U.S., fish are easily overlooked by most people. However, these desert lands often contain isolated springs or cienegas (a Spanish term referring to permanently saturated 'seep wetlands') and streams supporting native fishes that occur no where else in the world. These aquatic remnants from the last Ice Age have survived for thousands of years due to an amazing ability to tolerate harsh environmental conditions, especially extremely high water temperatures, high salinities, and unpredictable water flows.

Publication Year 2005
Title Arid lands of the Southwest
DOI 10.3133/fs20063068
Authors M. Saiki, G.G. Scoppettone, D. Gadomski, D. Becker
Publication Type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Series Title Fact Sheet
Series Number 2006-3068
Index ID fs20063068
Record Source USGS Publications Warehouse
USGS Organization Western Fisheries Research Center