Project Summary
The Lake Pontchartrain Basin is
one of the most ecologically and economically important oligohaline
systems in the United States.Due to its characteristic
east-west salinity gradient, it harbors a distinctive and ever
changing fish community.Much of the culture and economy of
the southeastern Louisiana is based on the aquatic resources of the
basin.Although most people in the region are generally
concerned about the health and abundance of the sportfishes (i.e.
redfish and speckled trout) in the basin, relatively few are
concerned or even aware of the non-game (i.e. Blackbanded Darter or
Sailfin molly) and exotic (Rio Grande Cichlid and Common Carp)
species that occur throughout the basin.
In 1974, Douglas published the
Freshwater Fishes of Louisiana, the most comprehensive
treatise on Louisiana fishes.Unfortunately, this publication
has long been out of date and is not readily available to most
Louisianans.Other educational fish posters are available;
however,
they depict only marine fishes
or only freshwater fishes.Prior to this project, no pamphlet
or other educational-outreach material existed specifically for the
fishes of the Lake Pontchartrain Basin. This project was funded by
the
Lake Pontchartrain
Basin Foundation.
Recent generations of sportsman, outdoorsman, and environmentalists are likely not aware of the immense freshwater, estuarine, and marine biodiversity in the Lake Pontchartrain basin.The production of organismal-based educational material has been immensely popular for other agencies (e.g., Sea Grant Programs) interested in outreach and education.
Overall, the Lake Pontchartrain Basin is healthier than it was20 years ago.Redfish and speckled trout populations are increasing, and formerly uncommon species of fishes, are returning to the basin.It seems timely that updated educational material on fishes of the Lake Pontchartrain Basin be made available to the people of south Louisiana.The objective of this project was to produce an educational poster depicting the fishes in the basin, inclusive of non-game, sport, and exotic fishes.Distributed through Turtle Cove, these posters arenow available to educational and environmental groups during various workshops and environmental events held at Turtle Cove, along with beingavailable to other interested groups throughout Louisiana and the Gulf region.
The images used in the production of this
poster were illustrated by
Joe Tomelleri(pictured
right),one of the premier fish illustrators in the
world.His illustrations have appeared in more than 500
publications, including many magazines, advertisements, newspapers,
greeting cards, clothing, signage, identification guides, websites,
and most recently, in two fish books:
Fishes of Alabama (Boschung& Mayden 2004) and
the
Trout and Salmon of North America (Behnke et al.
2002).
Thirty fish illustrations are represented on this poster including non-game fishes, sportfishes, endangered fishes, and exotics fishes that occur in the Lake Pontchartrain Basin.Not only does the poster include images of fishes that occur in Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Maurepas, but it also includes lesser-known fishes that occur in the Tangipahoa, Amite, Tickfaw, and Blind Rivers.
Read descriptions of each fish in the
poster.
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