Streams. Their Ecology And Life

Streams are important habitats and are complicated because so many different kinds of animals and plants live in or near them. This book, in four parts, explains stream ecology to the general reader. The first part describes the ecological processes and interactions that take place in streams and rivers. The dynamic aspects of streams, including the abiotic factors, energy sources, and food webs, are defined, described, and reviewed. The second part of the book is a simplified classification of streams and rivers that relies on the size of the river as well as on the geographic location of rivers. The third part of the book is a description of the animals and plants commonly in and along the streams and rivers mostly of North America. The last chapter of the book is devoted to the various threats to America's rivers and streams.