Publisher Description

This classroom resource provides clear, concise scientific information in an understandable and enjoyable way about water and aquatic life. Spanning the hydrologic cycle from rain to watersheds, aquifers to springs, rivers to estuaries, ample illustrations promote understanding of important concepts and clarify major ideas. Aquatic science is covered comprehensively, with relevant principles of chemistry, physics, geology, geography, ecology, and biology included throughout the text. Emphasizing water sustainability and conservation, the book tells us what we can do personally to conserve for the future and presents job and volunteer opportunities in the hope that some students will pursue careers in aquatic science. Texas Aquatic Science, originally developed as part of a multi-faceted education project for middle and high school students, can also be used at the college level for non-science majors, in the home-school environment, and by anyone who educates kids about nature and water. To learn more about The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment, sponsors of this book's series, please click here.

"Wetlands" has become a hot word in the current environmental debate. But what does it signify? In 1991, proposed changes in the legal definities of wetlands stirred controversy and focused attention on the scientific and economic aspects of their management. This volume explores how to define wetlands. The committee--whose members were drawn from academia, government, business, and the environmental community--builds a rational, scientific basis for delineating wetlands in the landscape and offers recommendations for further action. Wetlands also discusses the diverse hydrological and ecological functions of wetlands, and makes recommendations concerning so-called controversial areas such as permafrost wetlands, riparian ecosystems, irregularly flooded sites, and agricultural wetlands. It presents criteria for identifying wetlands and explores the problems of applying those criteria when there are seasonal changes in water levels. This comprehensive and practical volume will be of interest to environmental scientists and advocates, hydrologists, policymakers, regulators, faculty, researchers, and students of environmental studies.

In discussion with Ramsar’s Max Finlayson and Nick Davidson, and several members of the Society of Wetland Scientists, Springer is proposing the development of a new Encyclopedia of Wetlands, a comprehensive resource aimed at supporting the trans- and multidisciplinary research and practice which is inherent to this field. Aware both that wetlands research is on the rise and that researchers and students are often working or learning across several disciplines, we are proposing a readily accessible online and print reference which will be the first port of call on key concepts in wetlands science and management. This easy-to-follow reference will allow multidisciplinary teams and transdisciplinary individuals to look up terms, access further details, read overviews on key issues and navigate to key articles selected by experts.

Headwaters are the source of freshwater resources, the margins of drainage basins, and the first and zero order basins that surround every catchment. The challenge is to define appropriate, self-sustainable, management strategies and structures for these lands which meet the needs of the headwater habitat, including its human inhabitants, and the needs of habitats downstream. The contributors to this book strive to anticipate emerging and future problems; to discover integrated solutions to the problems already caused by land degradation, natural hazards and development processes; and to help develop better land management, environmental protection and landscape regeneration practices and policies. They also address the many challenges that remain: the concern for effective sharing of local experience in science and technology; community participation; the role of education; effectiveness and limits of current technology; the selection of appropriate policies and goals; modes of effective management; and the sustainability of current activities.Sustainable Management of Headwater Resources provides an understanding of current and prior situations and provides scientific analyses of local and regional headwater issues in India and Africa. The authors analyse the current situation through field experiments that provide reliable information on the status of headwater resources in these regions.This book originates from the conference on Sustainable Management of Headwater Resources at the 5th International Conference on Headwaters in Nairobi, Kenya.

The Clean Water Act (CWA) requires that wetlands be protected from degradation because of their important ecological functions including maintenance of high water quality and provision of fish and wildlife habitat. However, this protection generally does not encompass riparian areasâ€"the lands bordering rivers and lakesâ€"even though they often provide the same functions as wetlands. Growing recognition of the similarities in wetland and riparian area functioning and the differences in their legal protection led the NRC in 1999 to undertake a study of riparian areas, which has culminated in Riparian Areas: Functioning and Strategies for Management. The report is intended to heighten awareness of riparian areas commensurate with their ecological and societal values. The primary conclusion is that, because riparian areas perform a disproportionate number of biological and physical functions on a unit area basis, restoration of riparian functions along America's waterbodies should be a national goal.

Many species of fish occupying inland waters reside in watershedsthat were or still are surrounded by forests and are dependent inmajor ways upon such cover. The interactions between fishes andforests are complex, multifaceted, dynamic processes involving mostinland surface waters, forests, subsurface waters, geology andsoils, climate and its changes, and the biotic components of therelevant ecosystems. These interactions also include the aspects offorestry tied to human development, economics, population growthand even philosophies. Fishes and Forestry is truly a landmark publication. Theeditors, Professors Northcote and Hartman, have drawn together andcarefully edited chapters written by 56 scientists from around theworld, covering a vast wealth of information never before appearingwithin the covers of one book. Following an introductory chapter,this exceptional work is broadly divided into sections covering:the ecology of forests, streams, lakes and estuaries; fish biologyand ecology; forestry activities and their effects on aquaticsystems and fishes; 14 chapters covering examples of fish-forestryinteractions from around the world and a final section coveringmeans of effecting better fish-forestry interactions. Fishes and Forestry is an essential purchase for allthose involved in inland fisheries, forestry and their interaction,including fisheries scientists, fish biologists, ecologists,environmental scientists and forestry scientists. Libraries in alluniversities and research establishments where these subjects arestudied and taught should have several copies on their shelves.