Read more
Zusatztext 'I would strongly recommend this well_structured and accessible book to undergraduate students of freshwater biology both as an introductory text and as signpost to other more in-depth studies' Glasgow Naturalist Informationen zum Autor Paul Giller, Department of Zoology and Animal Ecology, University College Cork, Ireland. email: p.giller@ucc.ie Bjorn Malmqvist, Umea University, Department of Animal Ecology, 901 87 Umea. email: bjorn.malmqvist@animecol.umu.se Klappentext An easy-to-read, beautifully illustrated undergraduate-level introduction to fresh- and running-water biology. Each chapter includes practical information on simple studies and experiments for students to try. The text begins with the physical features that define running water (lotic)habitats then continues with organisms that inhabit these habitats, and concludes with a discussion of applied issues surrounding water use, including pollution, species diversity, and conservation. The authors outline the range of living organisms in lotic habitats, and the environmentaladaptations they exhibit. They discuss population, community, and ecosystem patterns and processes, such as energy flow, nutrient cycling, migration, food webs, and community structure. Particular consideration is given to links between stream and river channels and their surrounding landscapes, toshort-term and seasonal changes, and to historical and biogeographical factors. The text concludes with a section of additional practical field work activities and a list for further reading. Zusammenfassung Although they constitute less than 1% of the world's water, freshwaters play a vital role in life on Earth. Running water, or lotic, habitats comprise a tiny proportion of these freshwaters, yet they offer important resources and are rich and complex environments. This book provides an essential introduction to the biology and ecology of lotic habitats, and their constituent organisms. Rarely has the breadth and complexity of all aspects of the biology of streams andrivers been dealt with in a single volume. The aim of this book is to delve into the rich and growing literature, and to provide an up-to-date introduction to stream and river biology. It begins by outlining the factors that make running water habitats unique, and describing the many differentwater-course systems. The authors then outline the range of living organisms in lotic habitats, and the environmental adaptations they exhibit. They discuss population, community, and ecosystem patterns and processes, such as energy flow, nutrient cycling, migration, food webs, and community structure. Each chapter includes practical information on simple studies and experiments for students to try. The book finishes with a discussion of applied issues surrounding water use, pollution, speciesdiversity, and conservation of this fascinating and immensely important habitat....