Building up from microscopic basics to observed complex functions, this insightful monograph explains and describes how the unique molecular properties of water give rise to its structural and dynamical behaviour which in turn translates into its role in biological and chemical processes. The discussion of the biological functions of water details not only the stabilising effect of water in proteins and DNA, but also the direct role that water molecules themselves play in biochemical processes, such as enzyme kinetics, protein synthesis and drug-DNA interaction. The overview of the behaviour of water in chemical systems discusses hydrophilic, hydrophobic and amphiphilic effects, as well as the interactions of water with micelles, reverse micelles, microemulsions and carbon nanotubes. Supported by extensive experimental and computer simulation data, highlighting many of the recent advances in the study of water in complex systems, this is an ideal resource for anyone studying water at the molecular level.

Droughts are a major hazard to both natural and human-dominated environments and those, especially of long duration and high intensity, can be highly damaging and leave long-lasting effects. This book describes the climatic conditions that give rise to droughts, and their various forms and chief attributes. Past droughts are described including those that had severe impacts on human societies. As a disturbance, droughts can be thought of as "ramps" in that they usually build slowly and take time to become evident. As precipitation is reduced, flows from catchments into aquatic systems decline. As water declines in water bodies, ecological processes are changed and the biota can be drastically reduced, though species and populations may survive by using refuges. Recovery from drought varies in both rates and in degrees of completeness and may be a function of both refuge availability and connectivity. For the first time, this book reviews the available rather scattered literature on the impacts of drought on the flora, fauna and ecological processes of aquatic ecosystems ranging from small ponds to lakes and from streams to estuaries. The effects of drought on the biota of standing waters and flowing waters and of temporary waters and perennial systems are described and compared. In addition, the ways in which human activity can exacerbate droughts are outlined. In many parts of the world especially in the mid latitudes, global warming may result in increases in the duration and intensity of droughts. Drought and Aquatic Ecosystems is essential reading for freshwater ecologists, water resource managers and advanced students.

This book presents state-of-the-art research on architectures, algorithms, protocols and applications in pervasive computing and networks With the widespread availability of wireless and mobile networking technologies and the expected convergence of ubiquitous computing with these emerging technologies in the near future, pervasive computing and networking research and applications are among the hot topics on the agenda of researchers working on the next generation of mobile communications and networks. This book provides a comprehensive guide to selected topics, both ongoing and emerging, in pervasive computing and networking. It contains contributions from high profile researchers and is edited by leading experts in this field. The main topics covered in the book include pervasive computing and systems, pervasive networking security, and pervasive networking and communication. Key Features: * Discusses existing and emerging communications and computing models, design architectures, mobile and pervasive wireless applications, technology and research challenges in pervasive computing systems, networking and communications * Provides detailed discussions of key research challenges and open research issues in the field of autonomic computing and networking * Offers information on existing experimental studies including case studies, implementation test-beds in industry and academia * Includes a set of PowerPoint slides for each chapter for instructors adopting it as a textbook Pervasive Computing and Networking will be an ideal reference for practitioners and researchers working in the areas of communication networking and pervasive computing and networking. It also serves as an excellent textbook for graduate and senior undergraduate courses in computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering, software engineering, and information engineering and science.

Coral communities are among the most fascinating of all biotic assemblages on earth. It is their rich diversity and the strong biological interactions which characterize these communities that provides the focus for this book. Here I describe patterns of diversity, species interactions, and community organization as well as the processes which influence these structural attributes. Although this treatment of the subject will to some degree blend evolutionary and ecological phenomena, I am primarily interested in the dynamic properties of living coral communities. Hence, such processes as succession, competition, predation, herbivory, and disturbances will be emphasized in ecological terms, but not to the exclusion of evolutionary considerations. The former influence the maintenance of diversity in coral communities and local distribution and abundance patterns. The latter deal primarily with the origins of diversity, adaptations to the local environment, biogeographic distributions, and longevity in the fossil record. With the recent resurgence of interest in historical and large-scale geographical effects on the local diversity of ecological communities, ecological and evolutionary perspectives are beginning to be integrated into our understanding of community organization and dynamics. Hence, a synthesis of these perspectives is attempted in the final chapter of this book. This effort emerges as a consequence of academic experiences, research interests, and the strong influence of several individuals. My first exposure to ecology occurred at Pomona College where three faculty members guided my early explorations into this subject.

Das Buch Chemometrics and Cheminformatics in Aquatic Toxicology befasst sich mit den bestehenden und neu auftretenden Problemen der Verschmutzung der aquatischen Umwelt durch verschiedene metallische und organische Schadstoffe, insbesondere Industriechemikalien, Pharmazeutika, Kosmetika, Biozide, Nanomaterialien, Pestizide, Tenside, Farbstoffe und viele weitere. Es werden verschiedene chemometrische und cheminformatische Instrumente fur Laien beschrieben mitsamt ihrer Anwendung auf die Analyse und Modellierung der Toxizitatsdaten von Chemikalien in Bezug auf unterschiedliche aquatische Organismen. Eine Reihe von Datenbanken zur aquatischen Toxizitat sowie chemometrische Softwaretools und Webserver werden vorgestellt und praktische Beispiele fur die Modellentwicklung gegeben, einschliesslich der entsprechenden Abbildungen. Daruber hinaus enthalt das Werk Fallstudien und Literaturberichte, um das Verstandnis des Themas abzurunden. Ausserdem lernen die Leserinnen und Leser Werkzeuge und Protokolle wie maschinelles Lernen, Data Mining sowie Methoden des QSAR-basierten und ligandenbasierten chemischen Designs kennen. Daruber hinaus bietet das Werk: * Eine umfassende Einfuhrung in chemometrische und cheminformatische Instrumente und Techniken, insbesondere maschinelles Lernen und Data Mining * Eine Darstellung von Datenbanken zur aquatischen Toxizitat, chemometrischen Softwaretools und Webservern * Praktische Beispiele und Fallstudien zur Verdeutlichung und Veranschaulichung der im Buch enthaltenen Konzepte * Eine kompakte Erlauterung der chemometrischen und cheminformatischen Instrumente sowie ihrer Anwendung auf die Analyse und Modellierung von Toxizitatsdaten Chemometrics and Cheminformatics in Aquatic Toxicology ist ideal fur Forschende und Studierende der Chemie sowie der Umwelt- und Pharmawissenschaften und sollte auch in den Bibliotheken von Fachleuten in der chemischen Industrie sowie Aufsichtsbehoerden, die sich mit Chemometrie beschaftigen, einen Platz finden.

Great Salt Lake is an enormous terminal lake in the western United States. It is a highly productive ecosystem, which has global significance for millions of migrating birds who rely on this critical feeding station on their journey through the American west. For the human population in the adjacent metropolitan area, this body of water provides a significant economic resource as industries, such as brine shrimp harvesting and mineral extraction, generate jobs and income for the state of Utah. In addition, the lake provides the local population with ecosystem services, especially the creation of mountain snowpack that generates water supply, and the prevention of dust that may impair air quality. As a result of climate change and water diversions for consumptive uses, terminal lakes are shrinking worldwide, and this edited volume is written in this urgent context. This is the first book ever centered on Great Salt Lake biology. Current and novel data presented here paint a comprehensive picture, building on our past understanding and adding complexity. Together, the authors explore this saline lake from the microbial diversity to the invertebrates and the birds who eat them, along a dynamic salinity gradient with unique geochemistry. Some unusual perspectives are included, including the impact of tar seeps on the lake biology and why Great Salt Lake may help us search for life on Mars. Also, we consider the role of human perceptions and our effect on the biology of the lake. The editors made an effort to involve a diversity of experts on the Great Salt Lake system, but also to include unheard voices such as scientists at state agencies or non-profit advocacy organizations. This book is a timely discussion of a terminal lake that is significant, unique, and threatened.

U.S. mariculture production of bivalve molluscs-those cultivated in the marine environment-has roughly doubled over the last 25 years. Although mariculture operations may expand the production of seafood without additional exploitation of wild populations, they still depend upon and affect natural ecosystems and ecosystem services. Every additional animal has an incremental effect arising from food extraction and waste excretion. Increasing domestic seafood production in the United States in an environmentally and socially responsible way will likely require the use of policy tools, such as best management practices (BMPs) and performance standards.
BMPs represent one approach to protecting against undesirable consequences of mariculture. An alternative approach to voluntary or mandatory BMPs is the establishment of performance standards for mariculture. Variability in environmental conditions makes it difficult to develop BMPs that are sufficiently flexible and adaptable to protect ecosystem integrity across a broad range of locations and conditions. An alternative that measures performance in sustaining key indicators of ecosystem state and function may be more effective. Because BMPs address mariculture methods rather than monitoring actual ecosystem responses, they do not guarantee that detrimental ecosystem impacts will be controlled or that unacceptable impact will be avoided.
Ecosystem Concepts for Sustainable Bivalve Mariculture finds that while performance standards can be applied for some broad ecosystem indicators, BMPs may be more appropriate for addressing parameters that change from site to site, such as the species being cultured, different culture methods, and various environmental conditions. This book takes an in-depth look at the environmental, social, and economic issues to present recommendations for sustainable bivalve mariculture.

This second edition details new emerging areas of zebrafish research focusing on genetics and genomics, techniques for developing and analyzing zebrafish disease models, and methods for neuroscience. Zebrafish: Methods and Protocols, Second Edition guides readers through methods for mutagenesis and genome editing in zebrafish, applications of GFP-expressing transgenic fish, techniques for cancer models, imaging of infection and host-pathogen interactions, metabolism and transport of lipids, and the structure and function of neural circuits and their role in generating behavior. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and practical Zebrafish: Methods and Protocols, Second Edition is a useful complement to the first book for new and experienced zebrafish researcher alike.

Professor Gerald Esch has already published two books in what is becoming an informal series of essays exploring the way that discoveries about the biology of parasites have influenced ecological and evolutionary theories over a career that has spanned nearly 50 years. This book will be the third set of essays and will focus on key moments of discovery and explore how these achievements were due to collaboration, mentoring, and community building within the field of ecological parasitology. The book will not only describe case studies, pure science and biology but also act as a career guide for early-career ecologists emphasizing the importance of collaboration in the advancement of science.

The IUPAC Series on Analytical and Physical Chemistry of Environmental Systems provides the scientific community with a critical evaluation of the state of the art on physicochemical structures and reactions in environmental systems, as well as on the analytical techniques required to study and monitor these systems. The series is aimed at promoting rigorous analysis and understanding of physicochemical functioning of environmental systems. In Situ Monitoring of Aquatic Systems Chemical Analysis and Speciation Edited by Jacques Buffle University of Geneva, Switzerland George Horvai Technical University of Budapest, Hungary In order to control the impact of human activity on our environment it is necessary to develop efficient multi-parameter monitoring systems in addition to understanding the underlying environmental processes. To carry out the huge numbers of analyses necessary it is not feasible to employ classical sample collection and analysis techniques. Robust sensors and instruments for on-site and automatic measurements are therefore being developed. A major goal of this book is to evaluate the developments over the last 10–20 years which will form the basis of future sophisticated in situ monitoring systems. The emphasis is on micro-analytical monitoring techniques and microtechnology. This book also includes

• critical discussion of the state of the art of existing techniques and devices,
• what can be expected in terms of performance and
• possible improvements in the future.

In Situ Monitoring of Aquatic Systems will thus be invaluable to both researchers interested in the development of environmental monitoring systems and laboratories in charge of water quality assessment by providing them with a critical evaluation of existing and possible future options. Indeed it will be a valuable reference book for any researcher interested in developing new types of sensors for in situ monitoring.

In this book, the authors present topical research in the study of aquatic ecosystems of which there are two main types: marine ecosystems and freshwater ecosystems. Topics discussed include a change of biodiversity in subarctic freshwater ecosystems located in the northwest region of Russia; assemblages of zoosporic true fungi, heterotrophic straminipiles and plasmodiophorids in freshwater ecosystems; aquatic ecosystem health and the causes, effects and rehabilitation of the eutrophication of aquatic ecosystems.

Destruction of habitat is the major cause for loss of biodiversity including variation in life history and habitat ecology. Each species and population adapts to its environment, adaptations visible in morphology, ecology, behaviour, physiology and genetics. Here, the authors present the population ecology of Atlantic salmon and brown trout and how it is influenced by the environment in terms of growth, migration, spawning and recruitment. Salmonids appeared as freshwater fish some 50 million years ago. Atlantic salmon and brown trout evolved in the Atlantic basin, Atlantic salmon in North America and Europe, brown trout in Europe, Northern Africa and Western Asia. The species live in small streams as well as large rivers, lakes, estuaries, coastal seas and oceans, with brown trout better adapted to small streams and less well adapted to feeding in the ocean than Atlantic salmon. Smolt and adult sizes and longevity are constrained by habitat conditions of populations spawning in small streams. Feeding, wintering and spawning opportunities influence migratory versus resident lifestyles, while the growth rate influences egg size and number, age at maturity, reproductive success and longevity. Further, early experiences influence later performance. For instance, juvenile behaviour influences adult homing, competition for spawning habitat, partner finding and predator avoidance.
The abundance of wild Atlantic salmon populations has declined in recent years; climate change and escaped farmed salmon are major threats. The climate influences through changes in temperature and flow, while escaped farmed salmon do so through ecological competition, interbreeding and the spreading of contagious diseases. The authors pinpoint essential problems and offer suggestions as to how they can be reduced. In this context, population enhancement, habitat restoration and management are also discussed. The text closes with a presentation of what the authors view as major scientific challenges in ecological research on these species."

This book offers extensive coverage of the most important aspects of UVR effects on all aquatic (not just freshwater and marine) ecosystems, encompassing UV physics, chemistry, biology and ecology. Comprehensive and up-to-date, UV Effects in Aquatic Organisms and Ecosystems aims to bridge the gap between environmental studies of UVR effects and the broader, traditional fields of ecology, oceanography and limnology. Adopting a synthetic approach, the different sections cover: the physical factors controlling UVR intensity in the atmosphere; the penetration and distribution of solar radiation in natural waters; the main photochemical process affecting natural and anthropogenic substances; and direct and indirect effects on organisms (from viruses, bacteria and algae to invertebrate and vertebrate consumers). Researchers and professionals in environmental chemistry, photochemistry, photobiology and cell and molecular biology will value this book, as will those looking at ozone depletion and global change.

This work presents the state of the art of aquatic and semi-aquatic ecological restoration projects in The Netherlands. Starting from the conceptual basis of restoration ecology, the successes and failures of hundreds of restoration projects are described. Numerous successful projects are mentioned. In general ecological restoration endeavours greatly benefit from the progressive experience achieved in the course of the years. Failures mainly occur through insufficient application of physical, chemical or ecological principles. Spontaneous colonization by plants and animals, following habitat reconstruction, is preferred. However, sometimes the re-introduction of keystone species (for example, eelgrass, salmon, beaver) is necessary in case the potential habitats are isolated or fragmented, or if a seed bank is lacking, thus not allowing viable populations to develop. Re-introducing of traditional management techniques (for example, mowing without fertilization, low intensity grazing) is important to rehabilitate the semi-natural and cultural landscapes that are so characteristic of The Netherlands.

This volume contains original research papers presented during the Second International Symposium on the Limnology, Climatology, Palaeoclimatology, and Biodiversity of the African Great Lakes, organized by the International Decade for the East African Lakes (IDEAL). The book provides a comprehensive coverage of the large lakes of the African Rift System, touching on climate, limnology, palaeoclimatology, sedimentation processes, biodiversity, and management issues of these lakes.

The papers contained in this book have significantly advanced our understanding of natural and anthropogenic processes operating in the African Great Lakes, their temporal and spatial variability, their rates of change, and the linkages between environmental and ecological systems. For example, Lake Victoria has undergone dramatic shifts in the lake ecosystem caused by the introduction of the Nile Perch in the 1950s and of the water hyacinth during the past five years. The lake also dried up completely prior to 12,400 yr BP. Thus, the hundreds of species of fish in modern Lake Victoria may have evolved within the last 12,400 years; this is the fastest rate of vertebrate species evolution ever recorded.

This volume provides a comprehensive and comparative view of large African lake systems such as Lakes Victoria, Tanganyika, and Malawi. It serves as a basis for understanding the lakes' system history and sensitivity to processes of change, thus providing an essential tool for decisions related to the sustainable management of such precious resources. This book has been written to be of interest to a wide audience, including limnologists, palaeoclimatologists, evolutionary biology students andresearchers, as well as people generally interested in the aquatic environment.

Chemical and Biological Regulation of Aquatic Systems covers the fundamentals of chemical and microbial processes that control the quality of surface water. Topics discussed include the nature and environmental role of surface, complexation and redox reactions; fluxes in the water column and at sediment-water interface; bioavailability; intra- and extra-cellular processes; interactions of microbes with their environment; and microbial ecology. Basic principles are clearly explained and important examples are described in each case. For each environmental process, the respective roles of chemistry and biology are explained. The book features 600 references, 140 figures, and 55 tables. It's an excellent text for students in environmental sciences, researchers involved in quality control, and government and industry professionals who need to learn the fundamentals of an integrated approach to aquatic systems.

Artificial habitats have been used for centuries to successfully modify environments for the benefit of Man. In the aquatic environment, the use of artificial habitat technologies is of growing interest worldwide. Opportunities exist in both developed and developing nations to apply these technologies in many areas, including classical scientific investigations of ecosystem structure and function, engineering advances in underwater technology, and fisheries and environmental management.
The applications of artificial habitat technologies are taking on ever greater economic, social, and environmental importance globally, not only in developed countries such as Japan where highly sophisticated technologies are used, but also in developing nations, where lower cost practices are in use. There is growing pressure to increase production, while at the same time preserve or enhance the environments and ecosystems surrounding fisheries.
This book provides a comprehensive review of the facts, issues, and global trends emerging regarding the use of artificial habitats in aquatic ecosystems. It presents the most recent scientific advances in ecology and engineering technologies related to the building of artificial habitats, and it also presents many of the fisheries management and socioeconomic and environmental issues.
Artificial Habitats for Marine and Freshwater Fisheries will be of interest to a broad audience including natural resource scientists, planners, and managers, particularly those interested in aquatic and fisheries science and management; organizations and individuals interested in commercial and recreational fishing; ecologists; environmental economists, engineers, lawyers, and social scientists; and geographers.
Key Features
* Presents a global scope
* Draws together, for the first time, disparate literature
* Contains contributions by authors in the United States and Japan
* Features engineering chapters that focus on Japanese advanced technology often not available to the English language audience

Stream Ecology: Structure and Function of Running Waters is designed to serve as a textbook for advanced undergraduate and graduate students, and as a reference source for specialists in stream ecology and related fields. This Third Edition is thoroughly updated and expanded to incorporate significant advances in our understanding of environmental factors, biological interactions, and ecosystem processes, and how these vary with hydrological, geomorphological, and landscape setting. The broad diversity of running waters - from torrential mountain brooks, to large, lowland rivers, to great river systems whose basins occupy sub-continents - makes river ecosystems appear overwhelming complex. A central theme of this book is that although the settings are often unique, the processes at work in running waters are general and increasingly well understood. Even as our scientific understanding of stream ecosystems rapidly advances, the pressures arising from diverse human activities continue to threaten the health of rivers worldwide. This book presents vital new findings concerning human impacts, and the advances in pollution control, flow management, restoration, and conservation planning that point to practical solutions. Reviews of the first edition: ".. an unusually lucid and judicious reassessment of the state of stream ecology" Science Magazine "..provides an excellent introduction to the area for advanced undergraduates and graduate students..." Limnology & Oceanography "... a valuable reference for all those interested in the ecology of running waters." Transactions of the American Fisheries Society Reviews of the second edition: "Overall, a must for the field centre and a good starter text in stream ecology." (TEN News, October, 2007) "Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty." (P. R. Pinet, CHOICE, Vol. 45 (7), 2008) "... a very good, fluidly readable book which contains the latest key scientific knowledge of the ecology of running waters." (Daniel Graeber, International Review of Hydrobiology, Vol. 94 (2), 2009)

Yet another Springer world-beater, this is the first ever book devoted to the chemical ecology of algae. It covers both marine and freshwater habitats and all types of algae, from seaweeds to phytoplankton. While the book emphasizes the ecological rather than chemical aspects of the field, it does include a unique introductory chapter that serves as a primer on algal natural products chemistry.

Monocotyledons are a major subgroup of flowering plants that have embryos with only one seed leaf (cotyledon); they are characterized by parallel-veined leaves and flower parts in threes. Dr T.C. Brayshaw describes all of the aquatic monocotyledons in British Columbia, which comprise four orders and fourteen families of plants in freshwater and marine environments. Some of these are water weeds, intertidal marine grasses (such as Eel-grass), Water Plantain, Skunk Cabbage, duck-weeds, water-meals and Cattail. This edition contains Dr Brayshaw's finely detailed illustrations of these plants.

Cyanobacteria make a major contribution to world photosynthesis and nitrogen fixation, but are also notorious for causing nuisances such as dense and often toxic blooms' in lakes and the ocean. The Ecology of Cyanobacteria: Their Diversity in Time and Space is the first book to focus solely on ecological aspects of these organisms. Its twenty-two chapters are written by some thirty authors, who are leading experts in their particular subject. The book begins with an overview of the cyanobacteria - or blue-green algae, for those who are not specialists - then looks at their diversity in the geological record and goes on to describe their ecology in present environments where they play important roles. Why is one of the key groups of organisms in the Precambrian still one of the most important groups of phototrophs today? The importance of ecological information for rational management and exploitation of these organisms for commercial and other practical purposes is also assessed. Accounts are provided of nuisances as well as the ecology of the commercially successful Spirulina and the role of cyanobacteria in ecosystem recovery from oil pollution. Many chapters include aspects of physiology, biochemistry, geochemistry and molecular biology where these help general understanding of the subject. In addition there are three chapters dealing specifically with molecular ecology. Thirty-two pages of colour photos incorporate about seventy views and light micrographs. These features make the book valuable to a wide readership, including biologists, microbiologists, geologists, water managers and environmental consultants. The book complements the highly successful The Molecular Biology of Cyanobacteria already published by Kluwer.

This book serves as an advanced text on fisheries and fishery population dynamics and as a reference for fisheries scientists. It provides a thorough treatment of contemporary topics in quantitative fisheries science and emphasizes the link between biology and theory by explaining the assumptions inherent in the quantitative methods. The analytical methods are accessible to a wide range of biologists, and the book includes numerous examples. The book is unique in covering such advanced topics as optimal harvesting, migratory stocks, age-structured models, and size models.

When Mildred and John Teal moved to Sapelo Island, Georgia, in 1955, they stepped back in time to a virtually undeveloped landscape of salt marsh, maritime forest, freshwater ponds, sand dunes, and beaches. Over the course of a four-year stay their careful observations of the island's unique marine ecology and wonderfully varied flora and fauna became the basis for Portrait of an Island . The island's human history dates back more than four thousand years. The lure of Sapelo has drawn many to its shores, including tobacco millionaire R. J. Reynolds, who established the University of Georgia Marine Institute there in the 1950s. Surrounded by sixteen thousand acres of pristine marsh, Sapelo offers researchers and the public a rare opportunity for environmental studies. Now a state game refuge and national estuarine sanctuary, the island remains a special haven where humans and nature quietly and peacefully coexist. Portrait of an Island is essential reading for anyone who treasures tranquility.

When [ teach my undergraduate course in these animals belong together, and we nowlearn that Crustacea at the University of Copenhagen [always they may even encompass the speciose insects. With or tell my students: " Now, if on reading through the without insects the Crustacea are therefore unquestion- chapter on Crustacea you wonder, what could pos- ably one of the most important animal groups. Is this sibly be said in common about these animals, you why we study them? I think not. Our fascination with havegot it exactly right! Indeed, there is next to noth- Crustacea is even deeper rooted and not easily ana- ing that unite them". Crustaceans range in size from lyzed. But one thing is important to me in this context. much below millimeter size to the giant king crabs; As Ibrowse through aU the papers in this book it brings in morphology from the almost stereotyped segment up the memoryofthe highlyrewarding Summer Meet- repetition ofthe Remipedia to animals with a highly The Crustacean Society held in 2000 in Puerto ing of diverse array of appendages such as the Decapoda; Vallarta, Mexico, where I had the privilege to serve as in life form from suspension feeding anostracans to its president.