The Biology of Streams and Rivers

This is an introduction to the study of stream and river biology worldwide. Streams and rivers not only provide a socially and economically vital resource for humans but are also important and unique in their own right. The book is designed to provide a grounding in research in the area as well as a basis for field courses, project work, or for lectures. It's aim is to encourage students, researchers new to the field, and interested naturalists to couple the intellectual rewards of studying this exciting subject with work in the field in what are pleasant and fascinating habitats.

Running water habitats are unique, rich and complex. Although they comprise less than one per cent of the world's water, they provide the vital link between the vast stores of water in the sea and it's recycling via precipitation. Beginning with the physical features that define running water ('lotic') habitats, the book goes on to consider the organisms that inhabit them, their adaptions to their environment, and their ecology. It also explores some of the community and ecosystem patterns and processes and concludes with a discussion of the many applied issues surrounding water use - pollution, species diversity, and conservation. Particular consideration is given to the links between stream and river channels and their surrounding landscapes, to short-term and seasonal changes, and to historical and biogeographical factors. A further reading section leads the reader to in-depth coverage of the research literature, and suggestions are made for practical and field work.

Author: Paul Giller and Bjorn Malmqvist
Publisher: OUP
Extra Details: Pictorial Card Covers 6 x 9 inches tall.296 Pages.Illustrated with B&W artworks.NEW BOOK.