In the lower elevations and larger water bodies where these darters are found, pollution and contaminants could also pose problems for this species.
However, increased pollution from the oil industry and other enterprises poses a serious threat to this area's fishing industry.
Dr. Carr's studies also revealed that pollution of their ocean and beach habitats poses a serious threat to the turtles' survival.
It had previously been thought that pollution posed the greatest threat to inshore marine mammals.
Overfishing and marine pollution pose additional problems for the population.
Light pollution poses a serious threat in particular to nocturnal wildlife, having negative impacts on plant and animal physiology.
The order states that the company disagrees with the department's assessment that the pollution poses "a significant threat to public health and the environment."
The Clinton Administration said today that it would start focusing all environmental protection standards on the risks that pollution poses to the health of children.
That finding, the first formal government declaration that the pollution poses a health risk, was considered a necessary precursor to a dredging order.
Water scarcity, contamination, and pollution also pose great challenges.