Conservation Monitoring in Freshwater Habitats: A Practical Guide and Case Studies

ISBN-13: 9789401777339 / Angielski / Miękka / 2016 / 415 str.

Clive Hurford; Michael Schneider; Ian Cowx

Opis

This conservation monitoring reference focuses on the development of clear, site-specific management goals in freshwater habitats. Field trials are discussed, and the results expose areas for improvement in many existing monitoring projects.

Spis treści

List of contributors.- Acknowledgements.- Section 1: Setting the scene. 1. Conservation monitoring in freshwater habitats: an introduction.- 2. Options for planning management.- 3. The Water Framework Directive and the Habitats and Birds Directives.- Section 2: Biological indicators for freshwater habitats. 4. Freshwater mammals as indicators of habitat condition.- 5. Waterbirds as bioindicators of environmental conditions.- 6. Monitoring fish populations in river SACs.- 7. Assessment of aquatic invertebrates.- 8. Riverine plants as biological indicators.- 9. Phytoplankton (toxic algae) as biological indicators.- 10. Monitoring biological invasions in freshwater habitats.- Section 3: Rivers: threats and monitoring issues. 11. Threats to river habitats and associated plants and animals.- 12. The development and application of Mean Trophic Rank (MTR).- 13. Monitoring the Ranunculion habitat on the River Itchen.- 14. Observer variation in river macrophyte surveys.- 15. The implications of observer variation for existing macrophyte recording methods.- 16. Unitisation of protected rivers.- Section 4: River case studies. 17. Monitoring the Ranunculion habitat of the Western Cleddau.- 18. Monitoring of Cryphaea lamyana on the Afon Teifi SSSI/SAC.- 19. Monitoring sea lamprey Petromyzon marinus ammocoetes in SAC rivers.- 20. Monitoring juvenile Atlantic salmon and sea trout in the River Sävarån.- 21. Shad monitoring in the Afon Tywi SAC.- 22. Monitoring the effects ofacidification and liming on water quality in a boreal stream.- Section 5: Lake and wetland case studies. 23. A baseline for monitoring the freshwater Natura 2000 vegetation of the Teifi pools.- 24. Aquatic plant monitoring in the Broads.- 25. Monitoring stoneworts Chara spp. at Bosherston Lakes.- 26. Monitoring wetland mammals.- 27. Ringed Seals in the Gulf of Bothnia.- Section 6: Integrated surveillance, monitoring and management at Doñana Natural Space. 28. An integrated monitoring programme for Doñana Natural Space.- 29. Monitoring aquatic ecosystems at Doñana Natural Space.- 30. Endangered waterbirds at Doñana Natural Space.- 31. Monitoring marsh dynamics through remote sensing.- 32. New technologies for long-term biodiversity monitoring.- Section 7: Appendices. Glossary.- Index.-

Blurb

The predicted changes to global weather patterns and increases in the human population will put unprecedented pressure on European freshwater habitats and the species that depend on them.  Our success in conserving the ecological value of these habitats will depend greatly on carefully planned conservation management integrated with efficient and reliable monitoring.   

Conservation Monitoring in Freshwater Habitats focuses on the need to develop clear, site-specific, conservation management goals; something rarely considered in previous publications on freshwater monitoring. The early chapters explore the use of biological indicators for monitoring and provide practical guidance for developing and implementing efficient and reliable monitoring projects. The remainder of the book is dedicated to a series of carefully selected case studies illustrating best practice in both decision-making and application across a range of habitats and species.

This timely book will provide a valuable reference for students and researchers in biological and environmental sciences, and for practitioners working in government departments, conservation organisations and ecological consultancies. It will be an essential resource for anyone working towards fulfilling the requirements of both the Water Framework Directive and the EC Habitats Directive.