Description
Book SynopsisThe challenges that the world''s running water systems now face have never been more numerous or acute; at the same time, these complex habitats remain absolutely crucial to human wellbeing and future survival. If rivers can ever be anything like sustainable, ecology needs to take its place as an equal among the physical sciences such as hydrology and geomorphology. A real understanding of the natural history and ecology of running waters must now be brought even more prominently into river management. The primary purpose of this textbook is to provide the up-to-date overview that students and practitioners will require to achieve this aim.The book''s unifying focus is on rivers and streams as ecosystems in which the particular identity of organisms is not the main emphasis but rather the processes in which they are involved - specifically energy flow and the cycling of materials. It builds on the physicochemical foundations of the habitat templet and explores the diversity and adaptat
Trade ReviewWell-structured, easy to navigate and readable, clearly explaining even complex concepts. Enough of this ambitious volume is sufficiently timeless to ensure that it becomes an instant classic-an essential addition to the (wooden or electronic) bookshelf of freshwater ecologists from undergraduates onwards-and remains a key point of reference for many years to come. Get the book! * Freshwater Biological Association (FBA) Newsletter 2023 *
Two renowned stream ecologists summarize the current knowledge on lotic ecosystems from an ecologist's perspective. From the preface, the authors' sincere passion for running water systems is obvious, they write from an engaged and motivated perspective, while still retaining scientific rigor and objectivity. A great resource for graduate students and scientists working on the ecology of streams and rivers, and probably also for practitioners involved in the management of lotic ecosystems. This book's appeal goes wide beyond the stream and river ecologist communities. For terrestrial ecologists, lake limnologists, oceanographers who want to have an in-depth overview of running water systems, this book is a fantastic resource and sure to find a broad readership. * Patrick Fink, ASLO Bulletin 2024 *
Table of Contents1: Streams and rivers as ecological systems 2: The habitat templet 3: The diversity of life in streams and rivers 4: Matching the habitat templet: adaptations and species traits 5: Population ecology 6: Community patterns and processes 7: Species interactions and food webs 8: Running waters as ecosystems: metabolism, energy, and carbon 9: Running waters as ecosystems: nutrients 10: New horizons
