Foundations of Stream and River Ecology - by Wyatt F Cross & Jonathan P Benstead & Amy M Marcarelli & Ryan A Sponseller (Paperback)

About the Book

"For students and practitioners, a comprehensive primer on the key literature in stream and river ecology. The study of streams and rivers combines ecology, chemistry, hydrology, and geology to reveal factors that control the biological diversity and functioning of these unique ecosystems. Although stream ecology is a relatively young discipline, foundational papers published over the past half-century have been fundamental to researchers' ability to understand, manage, and protect these dynamic habitats. This book is an overview and guide that highlights the development of stream ecology through the lens of classic publications in the primary literature. The chapters are thematic; each provides history and context on the topic, summaries of must-read publications, and forward-looking discussions that examine how past research has influenced current directions and may shape future efforts to understand stream and river ecosystems"--

Book Synopsis

For students and practitioners, a comprehensive primer on the key literature in stream and river ecology.

The study of streams and rivers combines ecology, chemistry, hydrology, and geology to reveal the factors that control the biological diversity and functioning of these unique ecosystems. Although stream ecology is a relatively young discipline, foundational papers published over the past half century have shaped our current understanding of these ecosystems and have informed our efforts to manage and protect them. Organized by topics such as the physical template, community structure, food webs, ecosystem energetics, and nutrient dynamics, the chapters of this book offer summaries of the key literature, historical and contextual information, and insightful discussions of how past research has influenced present studies and may shape future work.

Review Quotes

"Very comprehensive and concise. This book summarizes important papers in the field of stream ecology and ties them into nice packages, which was perfect for a newbie like me. Something I found super helpful about this book was that it did a great job in condensing the information from these papers while still showing the historical significance of their findings. . . . Foundations of Stream and River Ecology helped me catch up on literal decades of the field--and as an undergraduate getting his feet wet, it gave me a strong general feeling for what is a rich, emergent field with fascinating dynamics and applications into other fields."-- "Integrative and Comparative Biology Blog"

"For those who are starting out in stream ecology . . . this book is an excellent first step into the stream world. And all of us will benefit from discovering, or rediscovering, the foundations that support the expansion of our collective knowledge in stream and river ecology."--Nancy B. Grimm, Arizona State University, from the foreword

"This work will be a must-read for graduate students interested in developing a well-grounded understanding of the underpinnings of stream ecology, especially for students studying for their comprehensive examinations. For established researchers, this is a welcome addition to help us revisit foundational papers."--Emma Rosi, aquatic ecologist, Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies

About the Author

Wyatt F. Cross is professor of ecology at Montana State University. Jonathan P. Benstead is professor of biological sciences at the University of Alabama. Amy M. Marcarelli is professor of biological sciences and director of the Ecosystem Science Center at Michigan Technological University. Ryan A. Sponseller is associate professor of ecosystem ecology at Umeå University in Sweden.