Conservation of Freshwater Fishes

Description

Freshwater fish are one of the most diverse groups of vertebrates, but are also amongst the most threatened. With contributions from leaders in the field, this is the first assessment of the global state of freshwater fish diversity, synthesising the opportunities, challenges and barriers facing the conservation of freshwater fish biodiversity. The book includes the first global assessment of the number, type and distribution of threatened freshwater fish species, discussing the features of freshwater fish biology and ecology that render so many species vulnerable to extinction. Introductory chapters on why freshwater fish are so sensitive to environmental change and disturbance lead into chapters providing detailed reviews of the key threatening processes and potential solutions. A concluding chapter summarises the key issues and looks to the future for opportunities and challenges for the conservation and management of freshwater fish.

Gerard P. Closs is Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Zoology at the University of Otago, New Zealand. He has published over 100 papers exploring various freshwater ecological topics and has advised government agencies on catchment and river protection, conservation of native fish species, and management of introduced fish. Martin Krkosek is Assistant Professor and Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellow in Ocean Science at the University of Toronto. His research focuses on the ecology, epidemiology, and conservation of fish populations and coastal ecosystems, and is represented in over 50 scientific papers. He is also an advisor to government agencies and conservation organizations. Julian D. Olden is H. Mason Keeler Endowed Professor in the School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington, and Adjunct Research Fellow at the Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Queensland. His research focuses on the conservation of freshwater ecosystems and is represented by over 160 scientific papers.

'It is not often that I moved to write that a book is excellently and authoritatively written and edited throughout, but this is one of those rare occasions ... I unhesitatingly recommend this book to anyone involved with freshwater fish conservation in any capacity. ... The excellent reviews and thoughts presented here will certainly bring such readers rapidly up to speed on the current state of freshwater fish conservation around the world. Finally, this book also lends itself to adoption as a teaching text for advanced undergraduate and postgraduate classes, with all but the last chapter ending with a series of discussion questions which would serve well as tutorial, essay and even examination subjects!' Ian J. Winfield, Journal of Fish Biology