RENO, Nev. (AP) - Scientists say global warming will prove a daunting challenge to protecting terminus lakes, whose water supplies are largely affected by upstream water users.

Scientists from around the world are meeting at the University of Nevada, Reno, this week to share research on terminus lakes, including Walker and Pyramid lakes in Nevada.

Jim Thomas, an organizer of the conference and research professor at the Desert Research Institute, says all terminus lakes are fragile ecosystems, and all are threatened.

Scientists also will discuss how climate change impacts closed-basin lake systems. As the planet warms, stream flows likely will decrease while evaporation rates rise and irrigation demands increase.