First published in 1974, this book has become a classic in the
field. The book sought to identify hypotheses that had been erected
in the past, and to investigate the extent to which they had been
adequately tested. The various environmental and methodologic
factors that needed to be addressed in attempting future tests of
hypotheses were discussed. There was no attempt to present an
encyclopedic account of the literature. A very large volume of
publications was traced and obtained. This effort was considered to
be closed when new documents added little to the accumulated
pattern of ideas, but even so, over 400 titles appear in the
references. The volume should therefore continue to be of value as
a source of ideas for benthic biologists, and teachers and students
of limnology. The historic survey of the literature provided
remains as useful to future students as it did then. The reason why
so many projects to this day begin with sampling along a transect
from the shore to a deep spot or the lake center is that early
benthic biologists were puzzled as to how organisms could have been
adapted to these somewhat transient freshwater bodies (in contrast
to the oceans). This approach makes very little sense for many
purposes, as it maximizes all of the sediment and water column
variables in the system. Questions such as this, and the need to
select an appropriate piece of sampling gear, rather than using
what lies on the supply room floor, still need to be addressed. In
a new foreword, Dr. Brinkhurst identifies new themes and progress
made since the original work was presented 25 years ago. Many of
the current workers in the field were asked to assist in this brief
update. Much of this work is in the applied realm, which has
expanded considerably as our awareness of environmental problems
have increased. The pressing issue of the effects of the
introduction of exotic species and their disruptive effect on
ecosystems, to give but one example, is referenced. The author sees
a linkage between the much disparaged Lake Typology studies of
early limnology and recent attempts to trace progressive
eutrophication, meaning that current researchers ignore their roots
at their peril. Community studies and production work are covered,
and updated in the foreword. The great improvement in taxonomic
guides to major faunal elements, such as dipteran larvae and
oligochaete worms, should enable current workers to bring greater
focus to benthic ecology, as well as to benefit from the arguments
in the Discussion and Conclusions section of the work. While the
faunal elements differ, research on soft bottom communities,
emphasized in this work, has much in common in freshwater and the
oceans apart from the scale of equipment and platforms in most
instances. This book still remains the only comprehensive review of
the field on a world-wide basis. "The renewed availability of The
Benthos of Lakes is most welcome. Relatively few books have been
published which present an ecosystem approach to the dynamics of
benthic habitats and communities." Alfred M. Beeton, former Acting
Chief Scientist of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA) and Chair of the Science Advisory Board of
NOAA. Adjunct Professor, School of Public Health, University of
Michigan Dr. Ralph Brinkhurst received his B.Sc. and Ph.D. from the
University of London, specializing in zoology and entomology. In
1972, he obtained his D.Sc. for studies on aquatic oligochaetes.
Dr. Brinkhurst taught at the University of Liverpool and Toronto
University before joining the Public Service of Canada, first as
Director of the St. Andrew's (New Brunswick) laboratory, and then
as head and founder of the Ocean Ecology Laboratory at the
Institute of Ocean Sciences (British Columbia). He later initiated
a consulting laboratory, Aquatic Resources Center, near Nashville,
TN.
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