Overview
This text integrates ecological perspectives with geomorphological aspects of rivers, streams and other freshwater ecosystems. It takes a fresh approach to the more traditional texts of fluvial geomorphology, hydrology and freshwater ecology by taking a functional and holistic approach. It considers rivers as four dimensional complex systems of interacting patches: the upstream-downstream progression (headwater streams, middle-order high-energy systems, large alluvial rivers), the transverse dimension (mainstream, backwaters, oxbow lakes, marshes, carrs, riparian ecosystems), the vertical dimension (epigean and groundwaters) and the temporal dimension (natural variations and anthropegenic impacts). In each dimension, emphasis is placed on the relationships between fluvial dynamics and biotic processes and their relative effects on the spatial distribution of flora and fauna. The ""reversible process"" concept is demonstrated to be important for environmental management especially in explaining how human intervention can produce delayed impacts at locations remote from the site of the intervention. The book is structured with discussion of controls leading to hydro-geomorphological dynamics, spatial patterns of biota, interactions and change. Each chapter provides a novel review of each topic adapted to the hydrosystem concept. The final chapter looks at the applications of the fundamental scientific principles discussed to contemporary problems of river management, particularly environmental impact assessment and the evaluation of alternative management procedures. Finally research needs for achieving truly ecologically sound management of fluvial hydrosystems are identified. This book should be of interest to students of courses in fluvial geomorphology, water industry personnel, freshwater ecologists, fisheries, environmental scientists, conservationists, and civil engineers.
Full Product Details
Author: G.E. Petts ,
C. Amoros
Publisher: Chapman and Hall
Imprint: Chapman and Hall
Edition: 1996 ed.
Dimensions:
Width: 15.50cm
, Height: 2.00cm
, Length: 23.50cm
Weight: 1.440kg
ISBN: 9780412371004
ISBN 10: 0412371006
Pages: 322
Publication Date: 30 September 1996
Audience:
College/higher education
,
Professional and scholarly
,
Undergraduate
,
Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active
Availability: In Print
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Reviews
`Students of environmental science, ecology, geomorphology and civil engineering will all benefit from this textbook.' Water Bulletin `After reading it, I pondered for a long time over what made it good and finally concluded that in this case it was the whole instead of the parts. The text is very well written, easy to read and comprehend, interesting in its presentation, practically void of mathematical equations, and contains an excellent reference listing of over 500 publications. in conclusion, I highly recommend this book for anyone working in the water resource field who esires a better understanding of large river systems. All of us can learn from this book, and it will become a valuable addition to one's library, used frequently, and will not sit gathering dust.' Journal of the American Water Resources Association, 34:3 (1998)
Students of environmental science, ecology, geomorphology and civil engineering will all benefit from this textbook.' Water Bulletin After reading it, I pondered for a long time over what made it good and finally concluded that in this case it was the whole instead of the parts. The text is very well written, easy to read and comprehend, interesting in its presentation, practically void of mathematical equations, and contains an excellent reference listing of over 500 publications. in conclusion, I highly recommend this book for anyone working in the water resource field who esires a better understanding of large river systems. All of us can learn from this book, and it will become a valuable addition to one's library, used frequently, and will not sit gathering dust.' Journal of the American Water Resources Association, 34: 3 (1998)
`Students of environmental science, ecology, geomorphology and civil engineering will all benefit from this textbook.' Water Bulletin `After reading it, I pondered for a long time over what made it good and finally concluded that in this case it was the whole instead of the parts. The text is very well written, easy to read and comprehend, interesting in its presentation, practically void of mathematical equations, and contains an excellent reference listing of over 500 publications. in conclusion, I highly recommend this book for anyone working in the water resource field who esires a better understanding of large river systems. All of us can learn from this book, and it will become a valuable addition to one's library, used frequently, and will not sit gathering dust.' Journal of the American Water Resources Association, 34:3 (1998)
'Students of environmental science, ecology, geomorphology and civil engineering will all benefit from this textbook.' Water Bulletin 'After reading it, I pondered for a long time over what made it good and finally concluded that in this case it was the whole instead of the parts. The text is very well written, easy to read and comprehend, interesting in its presentation, practically void of mathematical equations, and contains an excellent reference listing of over 500 publications. in conclusion, I highly recommend this book for anyone working in the water resource field who esires a better understanding of large river systems. All of us can learn from this book, and it will become a valuable addition to one's library, used frequently, and will not sit gathering dust.' Journal of the American Water Resources Association, 34:3 (1998)
