Ecology and Classification of North American Freshwater Invertebrates, Second Edition [Hardcover]

James H. Thorp (Editor), Alan P. Covich (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0126906475 | ISBN-13: 978-0126906479 | Publication Date: April 23, 2001 | Edition: 2

The First Edition of Ecology and Classification of North American Freshwater Invertebrates has been immensely popular with students and researchers interested in freshwater biology and ecology, limnology, environmental science, invertebrate zoology, and related fields. The First Edition has been widely used as a textbook and this Second Edition should continue to serve students in advanced classes. The Second Edition features expanded and updated chapters, especially with respect to the cited references and the classification of North American freshwater invertebrates. New chapters or substantially revised chapters include those on freshwater ecosystems, snails, aquatic spiders, aquatic insects, and crustaceans.

* Most up-to-date and informative text of its kind
* Written by experts in the ecology of various invertebrate groups, coverage emphasizes ecological information within a current taxonomic framework
* Each chapter contains both morphological and taxonomic information, including keys to North American taxa (usually to the generic level) as well as bibliographic information and a list of further readings
* The text is geared toward researchers and advanced undergraduate and graduate students

Editorial Reviews

Review

From the Reviews of the First Edition:
"This is a book by biologists for biologists, constructed with care, professionalism and detail. I found no chapter to be disappointing, and those covering the groups I know best were fair and helpful syntheses. This book will be immediately helpful to me and my graduate and senior undergraduate students; it will be a valuable reference in several of our biology courses such as limnology, ecology and invertebrate biology."
--QUARTERLY REVIEW OF BIOLOGY

From the Publisher

From Reviews of the First Edition:

"...book by biologists for biologists, constructed with care, professionalism and detail. ...it will be a valuable reference in several of our biology courses such as limnology, ecology and invertebrate biology." (Quarterly Review of Biology, 1992)

"...an excellent textbook for advanced undergraduates and beginning graduate students in freshwater invertebrate zoology, ecology, and taxonomy." (Journal of the North American Benthological Society)

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 1056 pages
• Publisher: Academic Press; 2 edition (April 23, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0126906475
• ISBN-13: 978-0126906479
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.6 x 2.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,476,075 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Good bench reference for non-insects, May 25, 2004

By 

B. D. Marshall (Bozeman MT) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Ecology and Classification of North American Freshwater Invertebrates, Second Edition (Hardcover)

The other reviewers' descriptions are correct: this is a valuable reference. I would like to like to clarify this a little however. The text is an important tool for taxonomists and ecologists working with aquatic macroinvertebrates. However, its emphasis is clearly on non-insects. If you need to identify insects-the most abundant aquatic macroinvertebrates, you should use Merritt and Cummins (1996) text: An introduction to the Aquatic Insects of North America. If you will be identifying samples for stream bioassessments you will need both of these books-and probably some others-as bench references.

To use these references to identify organisms, you will need access to a laboratory because you will need glassware, forceps, microscopes and other tools and chemicals. Sometimes a dissecting scope is required. Sometimes you will need to mount parts of organisms on microscope slides to view them on a compound scope at high magnification. If you represent a volunteer group and don't have access to (or experience with) this type of equipment, this book may not be for you. You might be better off with Resse Voshell's book: A Guide to Common Freshwater Invertebrates of North America. His text generally has family-level taxonomy based on characteristics observable in the field. Both books contain interesting ecological information in addition to taxonomic identification.

So yes, this book clearly deserves two "Thumbs Up" but you should consider your experience level, taxonomic need, and how you will use this book before you purchase it. I hope this helps you decide if the book is right for you. Feel free to email me with questions if necessary ([e-mail]). Best regards.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent support for benthic macroinvertebrate surveys, January 19, 2004

By 

David J. Wilson (Belleville, Michigan United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Ecology and Classification of North American Freshwater Invertebrates, Second Edition (Hardcover)

A retired chemist, I have been using Thorp and Covich in connection with benthic macroinvertebrate surveys related to stream water quality work. The drawings are extremely clear, and the keys are excellent. As an amateur, I particularly appreciate the book's comprehensive glossary. If you find that Voshell's fine but brief Guide to Common Freshwater Invertebrates of North America does not provide you with the level of detail you need, you'll almost certainly find Thorp and Covich very useful. A minor flaw--the page(s) listed in the index for an item are often three pages earlier than the page(s) in the book at which the item actually occurs.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Major Source of Aquatic Invertebrate Information, January 23, 2004

By 

David B Richman (Mesilla Park, NM USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Ecology and Classification of North American Freshwater Invertebrates, Second Edition (Hardcover)

The second edition of "Ecology and Classification of North American Freshwater Invertebrates" has provided aquatic biologists with a powerful tool. The study of freshwater organisms has gained in importance as we see our precious water resources become more scarce and polluted. As water flows downhill it takes with it every chemical and waste product we deposit on the surface. Fresh water (and marine) organisms are a first line of defense alerting us to the destruction. The presence or absence of many of these organisms is often significant in regard to water quality and environmental health.

In addition, there is increased interest in our freshwater systems and their biota, both among professionals and knowledgeable amateurs. The lack of funding and specialists in certain areas for the needed research in aquatic systems may make the role of the latter more important with time, as has already occurred in astronomy and to a lesser degree in other areas of study.

This book is a good summery of aquatic organisms from Protozoa to Arthropoda. Despite a few irritating typos, it compares well with earlier editions of Pennak's "Freshwater Invertebrates of the United States" in coverage (the 4th edition of Pennak drops both the protoctists and the insects, while retaining the non-insect arthropods and including some color illustrations). If one can afford them they are both worth having, but for reasonably up-to-date overall coverage and inclusiveness and at a cheaper price, Thorp and Covich (eds.) book is a good reference for all Canadian and U. S. freshwater invertebrates in the very broad sense.