Freshwater life – the first illustrated field guide of its kind for the wider southern African region – describes a vast range of plant and animal groups in a single volume. A ground-breaking concept that encompasses diverse groups from the large and conspicuous vertebrates to the diverse microscopic taxa, the book facilitates identification and describes the ecology of more than 1,000 freshwater organisms. Species have been selected on the basis of how likely they are to be encountered, and each account is accompanied by photographs and a distribution map. A comprehensive introduction details the ecology and signifi cance of freshwater systems. This indispensible, easy-to-use guide will prove invaluable to outdoor enthusiasts, students and conservationists.
The purpose of this book is to allow the general public to peer into freshwater ecosystems, which are usually well hidden to our eyesight. Anyone, who is interested in nature, will be amazed by this incredibly varied and colorful world full of amazing adaptations, behaviors, camouflage and strategies. To entomologists, hydrobiologists and limnologists I would like to submit quality picture materials confirming how beautiful discipline they have chosen to study.I am often asked about the techniques, equipment and methods used in freshwater macro photography. Therefore, the last part of the book is devoted to these topics and can be used as a step by step manual for photographers and all macro enthusiasts intending to explore fascinating world of aquatic invertebrates.The book includes:- 43 introduced groups of freshwater invertebrates.- Over 230 photographs of live specimens.- Tips for collecting and keeping the animals.- Recommendations for arranging the scene in an aquarium.- Aquatic macro photography equipment, methods and workflow.
Supplying sustenance for millions of the poorest people in the world, freshwater flora and fauna also contribute to overall economic well-being by means of export commodity trade, tourism, and recreation. As sources of high-quality nutrients, freshwater flora and fauna of edible value represent a viable option for alleviating the problems related to malnutrition in developing and underdeveloped countries. Although the nutritional benefits of freshwater flora and fauna are well known, there has long been a need for a book that supplies an assessment of their nutritional qualities. Well-illustrated with approximately 325 photographs, this book fills that need. Nutritional Freshwater Life details the characteristics of more than 300 species of nutritionally important freshwater animals and plants. The book covers algae and plants, crustaceans (prawns, crayfish, and crabs), mollusks (bivalves and gastropods), fish, and frogs. For each species of freshwater life identified, the book provides a photograph and details its characteristics such as scientific name, common names, habitats, global distribution, nutritional facts, and biological features.
This classroom resource provides clear, concise scientific information in an understandable and enjoyable way about water and aquatic life. Spanning the hydrologic cycle from rain to watersheds, aquifers to springs, rivers to estuaries, ample illustrations promote understanding of important concepts and clarify major ideas. Aquatic science is covered comprehensively, with relevant principles of chemistry, physics, geology, geography, ecology, and biology included throughout the text. Emphasizing water sustainability and conservation, the book tells us what we can do personally to conserve for the future and presents job and volunteer opportunities in the hope that some students will pursue careers in aquatic science. Texas Aquatic Science, originally developed as part of a multi-faceted education project for middle and high school students, can also be used at the college level for non-science majors, in the home-school environment, and by anyone who educates kids about nature and water. To learn more about The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment, sponsors of this book's series, please click here.
The conventional approach to river protection has focused on water quality and maintaining some "minimum" flow that was thought necessary to ensure the viability of a river. In recent years, however, scientific research has underscored the idea that the ecological health of a river system depends not on a minimum amount of water at any one time but on the naturally variable quantity and timing of flows throughout the year. In Rivers for Life, leading water experts Sandra Postel and Brian Richter explain why restoring and preserving more natural river flows are key to sustaining freshwater biodiversity and healthy river systems, and describe innovative policies, scientific approaches, and management reforms for achieving those goals. Sandra Postel and Brian Richter: explain the value of healthy rivers to human and ecosystem health; describe the ecological processes that support river ecosystems and how they have been disrupted by dams, diversions, and other alterations; consider the scientific basis for determining how much water a river needs; examine new management paradigms focused on restoring flow patterns and sustaining ecological health; assess the policy options available for managing rivers and other freshwater systems; explore building blocks for better river governance. Sandra Postel and Brian Richter offer case studies of river management from the United States (the San Pedro, Green, and Missouri), Australia (the Brisbane), and South Africa (the Sabie), along with numerous examples of new and innovative policy approaches that are being implemented in those and other countries. Rivers for Life presents a global perspective on the challenges of managing water for people and nature, with a concise yet comprehensive overview of the relevant science, policy, and management issues. It presents exciting and inspirational information for anyone concerned with water policy, planning and management, river conservation, freshwater biodiversity, or related topics.
Synthesizes the ecology and natural history of North American freshwater mussels for scientists, natural resource professionals, students and natural history enthusiasts.
