In this Book

summary
In this comprehensive, one-volume reference, Nature Conservancy scientist Bryan P. Piazza poses five key questions:
—What is the Atchafalaya River Basin?
—Why is it important?
—How have its hydrology and natural habitats been managed?
—What is its current state?
—How do we ensure its survival?
For more than five centuries, the Atchafalaya River Basin has captured the flow of the Mississippi River, becoming its main distributary as it reaches the Gulf of Mexico in south Louisiana. This dynamic environment, comprising almost a million acres of the lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley and Mississippi River Deltaic Plain, is perhaps best known for its expansive swamp environments dominated by baldcypress, water tupelo, and alligators. But the Atchafalaya River Basin contains a wide range of habitats and one of the highest levels of biodiversity on the North American continent.     
Piazza has compiled and synthesized the body of scientific knowledge for the Atchafalaya River Basin, documenting the ecological state of the basin and providing a baseline of understanding. His research provides a crucial resource for future planning. He evaluates some common themes that have emerged from the research and identifies important scientific questions that remain unexplored.

Table of Contents

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  1. Cover
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  1. Title Page, Copyright, Dedication
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  1. Contents
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  1. Preface
  2. pp. ix-xiv
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  1. 1. Introduction
  2. pp. 1-12
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  1. Part One: What is the Atchafalaya River Basin and How Was It Formed?
  1. 2. Geology of the Atchafalaya River Basin
  2. pp. 15-50
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  1. 3. Habitat Types in the Atchafalaya River Basin
  2. pp. 51-80
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  1. Part Two: Why is the Atchafalayariver Basin Important?
  1. 4. Agriculture and Forest Resources
  2. pp. 83-86
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  1. 5. Fish and Wildlife Resources
  2. pp. 87-136
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  1. 6. Nutrients, Carbon, and Pollutants
  2. pp. 137-150
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  1. 7. Stakeholders in the Atchafalaya River Basin
  2. pp. 151-154
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  1. Part Three: How is the Atchafalaya River Basin Managed?
  1. 8. Human Engineering in the Atchafalaya River Basin
  2. pp. 157-174
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  1. Part Four: What is the Current State of the Atchafalaya River Basin?
  1. 9. State of the Aquatic Resources
  2. pp. 177-198
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  1. 10. State of the Forests
  2. pp. 199-214
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  1. 11. State of the Fisheries and Wildlife Resources
  2. pp. 215-224
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  1. 12. State of the Basin’s Stakeholders
  2. pp. 225-230
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  1. Part Five: How Do We Create a New Future for the Atchafalaya River Basin?
  1. 13. Common Patterns across Scientific Disciplines
  2. pp. 233-238
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  1. 14. Important Scientific Questions
  2. pp. 239-245
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  1. Appendix 1: Annual Harvest of Hardwood Sawtimber and Pulpwood and Severance Tax Revenue from Hardwood Harvest in Atchafalaya Basin Parishes
  2. pp. 246-249
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  1. Appendix 2: Mammals, Birds, Nekton, and Herpetofauna of the Atchafalaya River Basin
  2. pp. 250-263
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  1. Appendix 3: Colonial Waterbird Data, Atchafalaya River Basin, Spring 2006
  2. pp. 264-265
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  1. Appendix 4: Summary of Studies Investigating Effects of Nutrients and Flooding on Regeneration and Seedling Growth for Baldcypress, Water Tupelo, and Red Maple
  2. pp. 266-270
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  1. Literature Cited
  2. pp. 271-296
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  1. Index
  2. pp. 297-306
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  1. Back Cover
  2. p. 307
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