River Biota

River systems involve a complex interaction of a rich diversity of microorganisms, plants and animals with their physical and chemical environment. Uniquely, the river habitat presents particular problems for organisms exposed to unidirectional currents, seasonal variation in flow, and disturbance due to pollution and other human interference.
Drawing on chapters from the two volumes of The Rivers Handbook, this book describes river organisms - the taxa, their adaptations and ecologies, and their trophic interactions. After considering the principles, practice and problems associated with making reliable observations on river organisms, the final chapters investigate how river biota are impacted by human activity, and how in turn they can be used as indicators of these effects in river management. Aimed at final-year undergraduate and postgraduate students, the book will also be of interest to all those concerned with river conservation, including environmental scientists, river engineers and river managers.