Scientists by Environmental Issue: Living Waters Although people typically picture rainforests and jungles when they think of biodiversity, the world’s oceans, lakes, and rivers actually hold some of the planet’s greatest diversification of animals. In fact, there are over 30,000 species of fishes, making them the most diverse group of vertebrates on Earth. Fish, shrimp, and snails are valuable to humans as more than just food—they perform an important service as natural indicators of both freshwater and ocean ecosystem health. Their sensitivity to pollution, climate change, and other environmental problems in the water alerts us to issues that can affect human health, too. Find out how Field Museum researchers travel from the coral reefs of south Florida and the Philippines to the deep-sea vents of the Pacific studying some of the most species-rich and unique communities on Earth. Select which scientist you’d like to meet first: Rüdiger Bieler—Mollusk Diversity Kevin Feldheim—Lemon Sharks Jamie Ladonski—Aquatic Biodiversity of the Great Lakes Region Janet Voight—Octopuses and Animals of Hydrothermal Vents Harold Voris—Marine Snakes Philip Willink—Fish of North and South America   back to Scientist by Environmental Issue >>   continue to Asian Biodiversity >> Introduction | Investigate Biodiversity | YBC | Meet the Scientist | Explore Global Diversity | Events and Programs | Take Action! | Teaching Biodiversity | Biodiversity Exhibition | Credits Only when areas that harbor unique species are recognized can they be protected. —Janet Voight, Ph.D., Associate Curator, Invertebrates The Field Museum