For their great commercial importance as a human food delicacy, crayfish are now becoming of wider interest to molecular biologists, and also to conservationists due to the fact that in some countries many of the native crayfish species are under threat from human activity, disease, and competition from other introduced crayfish species. Helmed by three editors in Japan, Europe, and the US, this book invites contributions from experts around the globe, covering the conservation status and biology of all endangered species, taxonomy, and distribution of crayfishes worldwide.

Recent Advances in Freshwater Crustacean Biodiversity and Conservation focuses on minor crustacean groups and regionally endemic groups, all from freshwaters. Chapters in this book cover crustaceans such as Maxillopods, Mysids, Cumaceans, Isopods, Amphipods, Branchiopods, Copepods, and Decapods. Each looks at global or regional fauna and discusses conservation issues for that group. The majority of the chapters are based on papers presented at symposia organized by the editors at two international scientific meetings held in Barcelona and Washington DC. The contributors are world-renowned experts on their groups, as well as on freshwater crustacean conservation and biodiversity at global levels. It has previously been difficult for conservation managers, NGOs, and university professors and students who may not have access to comprehensive journal subscriptions to find relevant information on diversity and conservation of freshwater crustaceans. This book meets that need, addressing crustacean groups not previously treated and providing additional information beyond any presented in existing books. As the editors write in their introduction: we cannot conserve and we cannot protect what we do not know exists. This is a reliable, cutting-edge reference for anybody involved in crustacean research: students, researchers, agencies, and NGOs, as well as science educators, conservationists, and government conservation policymakers. The book will also be useful for those working in aquaculture and fisheries, given that many of the taxa discussed are economically important.

Recent Advances in Freshwater Crustacean Biodiversity and Conservation focuses on minor crustacean groups and regionally endemic groups, all from freshwaters. Chapters in this book cover crustaceans such as Maxillopods, Mysids, Cumaceans, Isopods, Amphipods, Branchiopods, Copepods, and Decapods. Each looks at global or regional fauna and discusses conservation issues for that group. The majority of the chapters are based on papers presented at symposia organized by the editors at two international scientific meetings held in Barcelona and Washington DC. The contributors are world-renowned experts on their groups, as well as on freshwater crustacean conservation and biodiversity at global levels. It has previously been difficult for conservation managers, NGOs, and university professors and students who may not have access to comprehensive journal subscriptions to find relevant information on diversity and conservation of freshwater crustaceans. This book meets that need, addressing crustacean groups not previously treated and providing additional information beyond any presented in existing books. As the editors write in their introduction: we cannot conserve and we cannot protect what we do not know exists. This is a reliable, cutting-edge reference for anybody involved in crustacean research: students, researchers, agencies, and NGOs, as well as science educators, conservationists, and government conservation policymakers. The book will also be useful for those working in aquaculture and fisheries, given that many of the taxa discussed are economically important.

For their great commercial importance as a human food delicacy, crayfish are now becoming of wider interest to molecular biologists, and also to conservationists due to the fact that in some countries many of the native crayfish species are under threat from human activity, disease, and competition from other introduced crayfish species. Helmed by three editors in Japan, Europe, and the US, this book invites contributions from experts around the globe, covering the conservation status and biology of all endangered species, taxonomy, and distribution of crayfishes worldwide.

It was the year of 1969 when this monograph was originally published in Japanese by Professor TADASHI KAWAI, titled as "The Plasma Proteins, Their Fundamental and Clinical Aspects." After I read through the Japanese edition, I was impressed by its rather complete coverage of the subjects and their detailed descriptions. I have felt that this excellent monograph should be distributed not only among our Japanese scien tists but also among many other colleagues throughout the world. I am happy, the refore, to know that the English edition of his monograph, partly revised, is ready to be published at this time. Professor KAWAI received his postgraduate medical training in U.S.A. for seven years, and was certified by the American Board of Pathology in both Anatomical and Clinical Pathology in Fall, 1962. Thus, I believe, he is the most suitable fellow for publishing the English edition of this kind.