The Ecology Of Temporary Waters [Paperback]

Temporary fresh waters, whether seasonal rivers, streams, ponds or microhabitats such as a hollowed tree trunk or pitcher plant reservoirs, exhibit amplitudes in both physical and chemical parameters which are much greater than those found in most water bodies. Organisms that live in these types of habitat have, therefore, to be particularly well adapted to these conditions if they are to survive. Survival often depends on exceptional physiological tolerance or effective immigration and emigration abilities. Originally published in 1987, this book is one of the very few available on the subject and should be of great interest to freshwater ecologists and zoologists and botanists concerned with adaptation to extreme environments. This interesting book describes some of the temporary waterbodies found in many parts of the world, such as rainpools, billabongs, and meltwater streams.... This book fills a gap in the literature and should stimulate further work on these fascinating waterbodies. Rosalind M. Pontin in The Biologist (1988) 35 (3): p. 162. Here is a book on an unusual topic but one that will certainly prove to be thought-provoking ..... it has a mass of material not easily available to ecologists, limnologists, botanists and zoologists, especially those concerned with plant-animal adaptations.... Professor Williams is to be congratulated for making easily available the contents of this new book. Richard E. Schultes, Botanical Museum, Harvard University, in RHODORA (1988) There really aren't any other books on the biota of temporary bodies of water, and this one presents a decent introduction. Although the book is short, Williams covers a lot of territory - the strength of this book lies in its breadth ..... certainly as an introduction and as a teaching aid, the Ecology of Temporary Waters is a useful addition. Michael Berrill, Trent University, Ontario, Canada in The Quarterly Review of Biology (1988) 63 (4): p. 473. An interesting little bookl£6