Applied Aquatic Ecosystem Concepts

Numerous concepts are applied to everydayexperiences that we have in our homes, at the cottages, while fishing,canoeing, or swimming Applied Aquatic Ecosystem Concepts by Gerald L. Mackie,provides explanations for observations that we often take for granted; whywater and skies are blue, why snow flakes are six-sides, why pipes burst in thewinter and why objects in water are "bent" from our angle or view.Applied Aquatic Ecosystem Concepts is a single source for information onfreshwater concepts, the application of these concepts, and their integrationand use for assessing impacts of different kinds of pollution. Applied AquaticEcosystem Concepts not only applies physical, chemical and biological conceptsof rivers and lakes and specialized aquatic habitats, but also describespollution, how to assess toxicity of pollutants, water quality, environmentalimpacts, conservation status of species at risk and how to control exoticspecies."This is a fantastic book thatcomprehensively gives a good introduction to aplethora of aquatic ecological concepts. I was amazed at the balancebetweenthe general application of ecological principles and the degree of detailusedto do so. Without overkill, the author provides adequate detail for eachsection,effectively using figures and tables in a manner that conveys the importantcomponents being outlined. Each chapter begins with a very useful set ofpointsthat are highlighted and discussed, and then each point is marked withinthe chapter.Further, the concepts are described without too many scientific references,which canbe distracting in educational texts. The glossary, species lists and indexare adequateand useful for general reference. This would be an especially good text forteaching atthe undergraduate and graduate levels in aquatic ecology or aquaticenvironmentalbiology. Lessons and labs could be easily developed around this text.Mackie has donea superb job at integrating a multitude of aquatic ecology principleswithin an appliedcontext, which I feel will be useful to many educators andprofessionals."RichardW. Merritt, ProfessorDepartments of Entomology and Fisheries and WildlifeMichigan State UniversityEast Lansing, MI 48824