Welcome to my blog! I am considering the biodiversity of the middle stretch of the White River in Arkansas, with a special focus on the area of the Ozark-St Francis National Forest around the Leatherwood Wilderness. The construction of the dam, and the nearby dam on the Norfolk River, created deep reservoirs. Water is released from these reservoirs near the bottom of the lake, where water temperatures average 40-50 degrees Fahrenheit year round. This is much lower than the natural temperature of the water, and very quickly after completion of the project, many of the native fish species were forced to move further downstream to warmer areas. In the light of this vacuum, the state of Arkansas has stocked several trout species in large numbers, establishing a world famous fishery.
Over the course of this blog, I will be exploring what other effects this temperature change has had on other biotic communities, both aquatic and terrestrial.
