Ecology of Desert Rivers
Ecology of Desert Rivers
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inc GSTAlmost half the world is comprised of desert or dryland regions. Life in these harsh environments depends upon spectacular rivers that are constantly changing between states of flood and drought, but compared to the other rivers of the world, our knowledge of their ecology is limited. Ecology of Desert Rivers provides a comprehensive account of the variable ecology of these areas and how they determine the behaviour and composition of the organisms that survive in this 'boom and bust' environment. It also covers how human interventions such as the creation of dams affect desert rivers and the animals and plants that depend on them for survival. This book provides an up-to-date synthesis of all aspects of desert river ecology and will appeal to researchers and students in ecology, hydrology and geomorphology as well as conservation managers and policy-makers.
- Some of the world's most catastrophic ecological disasters have occurred with water resource development (e.g. building of dams) on desert rivers. Knowledge of the long-term consequences is essential if we are going to avoid such disasters in the future.
- Some of the most spectacular ecosystems of the world are fed by desert rivers (e.g. Lake Eyre, Okavango Swamp, Nile delta), producing a vast array of life that depends on river flow.
- Half the world is made up of dryland regions, yet we know relatively little about these areas and even less about their rivers. This book provides the most up to date understanding about the ecology of desert rivers and its dependence on generally unpredictable river flows.
Product details
June 2006Hardback
9780521818254
368 pages
235 × 159 × 22 mm
0.706kg
88 b/w illus. 20 tables
Available
Table of Contents
- Part I. Natural Disturbance in Desert River Systems:
- 1. Desert or dryland rivers of the world - an introduction R. T. Kingsford and J. Thompson
- 2. Flow variability in large unregulated dryland rivers W. J. Young and R. T. Kingsford
- 3. Variability, complexity and diversity - the geomorphology of river ecosystems in dryland regions M. C. Thoms, P. H. Beyer and K. H. Rogers
- 4. Aquatic productivity and food webs of desert river ecosystems S. E. Bunn, S. R. Balcombe, P. M. Davies, C. S. Fellows and F. J. McKenzie-Smith
- 5. Disturbance of plant communities dependent on desert rivers M. A. Brock, S. J. Capon and J. L. Porter
- 6. Natural disturbance and aquatic invertebrates in desert rivers A. J. Boulton, F. Sheldon and K. M. Jenkins
- 7. Vertebrates of desert rivers - meeting the challenges of temporal and spatial unpredictability R. T. Kingsford, A. Georges and P. J. Unmack
- Part II. Human Disturbance in Desert River Systems:
- 8. Impacts of dams, river management and diversions on desert rivers R. T. Kingsford, A. D. Lemly and J. R. Thompson
- 9. Serial weirs, cumulative effects: the Lower River Murray, Australia K. F. Walker
- 10. Salinisation as an ecological perturbation to rivers, streams and wetlands of arid and semi-arid zones P. C. E. Bailey, P. I. Boon, D. W. Blinn and W. D. Williams
- 11. Water scarcity: politics, populations and the ecology of desert rivers M. Wishart
- 12. Changing desert rivers R. T. Kingsford
- Index.
