EPAS Blog
Welcome to the El Paso Aquarium Society Blog.
Here you will find some of the most relevant topics with regards to conservation efforts, educational posts with regards to the fish keeping hobby, and the latest updates within the fish world. All of the blog posts are meant to be educational in nature, and any graphics, media, or otherwise displayed within/linked within the posts belong to their corresponding copyright owner. The opinions and information within each blog post is that of the author of each blog post respectively and do not necessarily represent the interests, or otherwise, of the El Paso Aquarium Society. Should you find a blog post that seems to be infringing on copyright, or would otherwise seem to be inaccurate, controversial, etc., do not hesitate to reach use via the “Contact” tab.
History of the Chihuahuan Desert Ecoregion
Regarded as one of the most diverse desert ecoregions in the Western Hemisphere, per the National Park Service, the Chihuahuan Desert garden is home to more than 3,500 plant species, and 170 species of amphibians and reptiles. The Chihuahuan Desert spans an impressive 250,000 square miles from the northern regions beyond White Sands, down to the Southernmost part of the American border and into states of Mexico including Chihuahua and Nuevo Leon.
At one point in time, the region now recognized as the biggest desert in North America was covered in water. However, over time, the environment began to change, and it continues to change today due to man-made alterations to the topography of the environment. All of these environmental changes have had lasting impacts on the desert, and these impacts have caused depletion of resources that many wild animals rely on. Per the NPS, the Chihuahuan desert region is one of the most endangered regions in the world. Home to more than 400 species of birds, the importance of safeguarding this unique habitat is imperative.
With more than 16 million people relying on the water that flow through the Chihuahuan Desert ecoregion, per the World Wildlife Fund, we too must be willing to protect our precious ecosystem if we would like to see future generations of humans thrive in this arid Desert region. To learn more about the Chihuahuan Desert and the Rio Grande, you can click HERE.
Resources:
https://www.nps.gov/im/chdn/ecoregion.htm
https://www.worldwildlife.org/pages/water-security-in-the-chihuahuan-desert
What is the Rio Bosque?
Written by: Andres C., May 17th, 2024
Per the University of Texas at El Paso’s Center for Environmental Resource Management, the Rio Bosque is a Wetlands Park spanning 372 acres within the City of El Paso, and managed by the group.
The Wetlands are home to a diverse array of animals, including birds, beavers, and a plethora of insects. Per UTEP’s Center for Environmental Resource Management, the Bosque is home to more than 264 different bird species, either through migration patterns, or due to the protection and sources of food that can be found within the park.
Unfortunately; however, the Rio Bosque is currently in danger. The wetlands are at risk of being destroyed due to a highway expansion project that the City of El Paso and the Texas Department of Transportation announced earlier in 2024. To lose such a valuable, and diverse ecosystem would be a loss not only for the animals that depend on the park for survival, but for the many future generations of El Pasoan’s that would no longer have access to this nature preserve.
Currently, the Friends of The Rio Bosque, a volunteer support group for the Rio Bosque Wetlands Park is seeking signatures on a petition to stop the moving forward of the highway expansion plans that would endanger the Rio Bosque. If you are interested in putting your name on the petition, you can do so HERE.
To learn more about the Rio Bosque, or to become a member of the Friends of The Rio Bosque, you can click HERE.
Resources:
https://www.utep.edu/cerm/rio-bosque/rio-bosque-home.html
https://www.utep.edu/cerm/rio-bosque/friends-of-the-rio-bosque.html
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