Canal de Castilla Rey (Palencia), considered the beginning of the Northern Branch, Valladolid and Medina de Rioseco, lying at the end of the Southern Branch and Campos Branch respectively. The countryside crossed by the canal is of interest for its birdlife. In the Tierra de Campos there are two large Special Protection Areas ("La Nava-Campos Norte" and "La Nava-Campos Sur") which are notable for the birds such as great bustards ("Otis tarda") which live in the dryland farming areas (sometimes described as "steppes") which are typical of the region. The canal, on the other hand, provides habitats for wetland birds such as the
Edwardsiella tarda the world where "E. tarda" is found and they were hoping to discover how similar levels may be in the United States. This could offer scientists a "baseline for the development of more reliable molecular diagnostic tools." The study found that two distinct genotypes do exist within "E. tarda" but does state that it's completely possible that there are more. This study will be used to improve the accuracy of "molecular diagnostics to better understand the role these genetically distinct "E. tarda" groups play in fish health." Abayneh T. Colquhoun DJ., Sorum H.2013. Edwardsiella piscicida sp. nov., a novel species