Why Biodiversity in Stony Creek?

 A healthy and productive human population depends on the biodiversity of Earth. In general terms biodiversity can be described as the variety of different forms of life on Earth. The biodiversity on Earth has its own intrinsic value and additionally has utilitarian value which directly benefits the human population. Currently there is a crisis surrounding biodiversity, Naggs (2017) suggests the size and impact of the human population is attributing to a 6th mass extinction event. Due to this, there is a need to collect data on and conserve the biodiversity left on Earth in hopes of protecting remaining natural habitats. 

Stony Creek is a stream that flows through rural Dinwiddie, Co. VA. It is a tributary of the Nottoway River and is a part of the Chowan River drainage basin and the larger Albermarle-Pamlico Estuarine system. Stony Creek supports diverse communities of biota; specifically, populations of Roanoke Logperch (Percina rex), a federally endangered species of darter and the Chowanoke Crayfish (Faxonius virginiensis) a threatened species of crayfish. This stream also provides many different ecosystem services to the residents of Dinwiddie County (e.g., recreation, habitat, flood control). Stony Creek is subject to habitat degradation due to forestry, agriculture, and urbanization. The importance of a biodiversity survey of this area would be two fold: 1. To assess the richness and evenness of the organisms found within Stony Creek as to better understand community structure. 2. Obtain valuable information on this ecosystem to aid stakeholders in making informed decisions regarding management, as data concerning this ecosystem is lacking. 

Naggs, F. (2017). Saving living diversity in the face of the unstoppable 6th mass extinction: A call for urgent international action. the journal of population and sustainability, 1(2), 67-81.