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Includes the Missouri River, Mississippi River, Yukon River, Rio Grande, Colorado River; mostly in the Midwest to Rocky mountain region.  Located all across the country.

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Floodplain habitat is mostly gone due to irrigation of agricultural land.  Also fertilizer runoff and chemical and sewage dumping cause major problems.  Rivers and streams are severely affected by this runoff and pollution, which spread throughout the entire river or stream.

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Global warming has caused a shortage of drinkable water provided by these rivers and streams, a loss of fish and ecosystems, and a chemical and fertilizer spread throughout the ocean from river deltas.

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The major examples from across the country include the mayfly nymph, stonefly nymph, caddis fly larva, water penny, and many other macro-invertebrates.  Amphibians are also very important indicator species and include frogs, toads, and salamanders.

Mayfly Nymph

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The most notable examples are the red shiner, fathead minnow, and Asian carp.

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The climates of large rivers and streams in the lower 48 states and Hawaii are all dependent on the state and the area that the rivers and streams are located. Since this ecosystem is spread out among a huge area the climate varies greatly. Some rivers are apart of multiple biomes.  Because of this variety, some river ecosystems have to deal with cold winters and freezing while others have to deal with brutally hot summers.

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Rivers and Streams are used for a multitude of recreational activities.  These include water sports like skiing, wakeboarding, boating, etc.  Other uses include travel-based recreation by boat, canoe, and kayak and water activities near the shore like swimming, fishing, etc.  Commercially, rivers can be used for good transportation along major rivers like the Mississippi.  Also, 90% of all North American rivers have dams, many of which are used to generate power.

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Here are just some of the many generalist species:

Insects:  mosquitoes, ticks, leeches, dragonflies, and water fleas; serve as a vital food source.

Bass:  Fish found in almost all freshwater ecosystems and even some saltwater ecosystems.

Turtles:  Common reptile that most rivers and streams have at least one species of.

Birds:  Ducks, geese, swans, cranes, and herons are common birds found around most rivers (migrate between regions).

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North American River Otter:  Found mainly in the more humid, moist areas of the United States.  They cannot be found in the Midwest. These otters can live in most freshwater areas across North America. They feed on any living organisms they may find such as insects, craw fish, fish, or amphibians. These otters are also very sensitive to environmental pollution.

American Alligator: Found only in freshwater areas such as swamps, lakes, and rivers and mainly in the southeastern region of the United states in Florida, Louisiana, and Texas. American Alligators are crucial to the survival of other organisms and the shaping of its ecosystem. They feed on almost anything.

American Beaver:  They can be found all over North America including, Florida, Idaho, southern California, and southern Nevada. They are most commonly found in Idaho. Beavers build dams on
slow flowing rivers and streams and are also considered foundation species. Their diet mainly consists of tree bark and they do not eat meat.

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Algae:  Found basically anywhere there is water. Green algae signals that  the river is clean, but blue – green algae signals that there is pollution in the water. Animals that consume blue – green algae may die due to toxins. Algae does, however, provide a food source to many organisms.

Mangrove Trees:  These trees grow roots underwater and are found at the mouths of rivers. They are usually found in large groups. These trees prevent soil erosion and provide a habitat to many underwater organisms.

Water Celery:  Water celery mainly grows totally submerged underwater and in warm climates. They can grow to about 9 feet long and are found in freshwater. Water Celery provides food for waterfowl and other organisms.

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Prior to a fire in a US or Hawaii ecosystem, water flow in the rivers and streams is usually slow as the area is usually experiencing a drought.  After a fire destroys an area of vegetation, the rivers and streams experience two effects.  First, during the first 5-10 years, the lack of plants increases the amount of water runoff to rivers and streams, increasing there water level and nutrient levels.  And second, after 15-25 years when plants return, water flow decreases again by around 15-25%.  Without fire, this cycle won't occur.  In very rare occurrences, human influence from chemical pollution or oil spills can cause an actual fire on the surface of the water.

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Approximately 28.4 million anglers freshwater fishing according to the US Fish and Wildlife Service.  In total, these anglers spent $14.7 billion on fishing trips in 2001.  In a twenty year study, though, it is believed that 40% of all North American freshwater species are either vulnerable, threatened, or endangered.  61 species are already considered extinct.  This is mainly due to overfishing across the country; the decline started in the 1970's and has only increased.

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The major specialist species of the US rivers and streams are the large-river dependent fish.  Species under this classification include the paddlefish, blue catfish, crystal darters, and longnose gar.  These species can only survive in large river ecosystems and have been jeopardized by the widespread use of dams and locks which cut off large rivers and prevent migration.  Because of this, species either have become extinct or have had to adapt to large tributaries.  About 100 fish species can be classified as large-river specialist species.

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The main top predators across the continental US and Hawaii include the American Alligator (Southeastern US only), the otter, trout, salmon, and blue catfish.

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Invasive Species:  http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/aquatics/asiancarp.shtml#.UJWRFmcvpK8

Indicator Species:  http://www.troutnut.com/specimen/220

Colorado River:  http://magazine.nature.org/cs/groups/webcontent/@web/@magazine/documents/media/colorado-river-loop700x450.jpg

Pollution:  http://toxicsoupmovie.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/spewingpipes-480x319.jpg

Native and Generalist Species:  http://www.wisegeek.org/what-animals-are-most-common-in-a-freshwater-biome.htm; http://pacificrivers.org/conservation-priorities/native-aquatic-species; http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/american-river-otter/; http://animals.nationalgeographic.com

Role of Fire:  http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2012/06/04/fire-drought-and-water-stress/

Hunting/Harvesting:  http://www.fws.gov/fishing/; http://www.usgs.gov/newsroom/article.asp?ID=2019#.UjZf90zD_IU

Specialist Species:  http://www.news.wisc.edu/21813

Top Predator:  http://chamisa.freeshell.org/food.htm