Desert fishes: an interdisciplinary approach to endangered species conservation in North America

The habitat degradation and species endangerment that preceded and accompanied the North American environmental movement in the late 1960s and early 1970s found the conservation community ill‐prepared. Protective legislation and basic research necessary for structuring recovery efforts did not exist. Desert aquatic communities were among the first to need attention, and an interdisciplinary effort was mounted in an early application of conservation biology. The history and evolution of desert ecosystem preservation are discussed, and case histories are presented that may prove helpful in other parts of the world as habitats are inexorably reduced. The role of the Desert Fishes Council in co‐ordinating efforts of research scientists and resource managers to achieve common objectives is emphasized.