Logs, stones and the like provide an interesting interface between the damp depths of the soil and the drier open ground surface, offering refuges for a fascinating array of animals. The communities of organisms that live beneath them are little noticed and even less studied, yet the potential for ecological work here is great. Some of the animals are relatively large and frequently not difficult to find. They exhibit a wide range of lifestyles – from slow slugs or snails to very fast centipedes, from generalist to specialist feeders and from herbivores to carnivores. With chapters covering the cryptosphere environment, species groups, identification, guidelines and ideas for further research, this much-expanded and updated new edition also includes extensive, easy-to-use, comprehensively illustrated keys. Ground-surface debris can be found almost anywhere, often presenting highly accessible microhabitats for study and bringing immediate rewards to the curious: here is the ideal tool to unlock these worlds.

Contents:
1. Introduction, Impacts of physical factors, Ecological aspects, Geographical influences 2. The Ecology of Urban Habitats, Terrestrial Urban Habitats, Aquatic Urban Habitats 3. Managment and Conservation, Pollution, Noxious Species, Habitat Management 4. Case Studies, Reclaiming Limestone Quarry Faces in Derbyshire, Ecological Parks in London, Habitat initiatives in Merseyside, The Forth and Clyde Canal in Glasgow, A Stormwater Retention Basin in the West Midlands, Coastal Habitats in Cardiff 5. Practical Work, Experimental Design, Health and Safety, Distribution of Pavement Plants, Flora of Urban Wasteland, Distribution fo Tar-spot Fungus on Sycamore Trees Colonisation of Stones by Invertebrate Animals, Distribution of Grey Squirrel Dreys, Vigilance Behaviour in Mallards

Studying invertebrates is a comprehensive guide to designing and carrying out ecological investigations, especially those involving sampling invertebrates. A highly practical guide to fieldwork, statistical testing and interpretation. The book introduces ways of designing and analysing experiments so that complex situations can be described and summarised, comparisons made, and interactions between organisms and their environment examined objectively. This digital reprint replaces ISBN 0-85546-313-9. First published in 2003. Editors' preface The books in this series are designed to encourage readers to undertake their own studies of natural history. Each one describes some relevant techniques, but they have not enough space to cover the substantial body of more generally applicable ideas and approaches that underlies the design and analysis of such field studies. By describing a selection of these general methods, Studying invertebrates aims to support those venturing into ecological fieldwork for the first time. The authors have plenty of experience in helping beginners to plan, carry out and interpret ecological surveys and experiments, and we hope this handbook will serve as a welcome companion and guide, especially for those who lack confidence in their knowledge of statistical and other methods.