Freshwater Ecology Principles and Applications: Principles and Applications

Rating:
Summary: Freshwater Ecology
Review: I have had the opportunity to become involved in several aquatic biology courses at a local college in the past year. This book was used for both non-major and major classes and is, at least I consider it to be, a valuable tool in learning and understanding water communities. Water is an important molecule in our world, not just because there is so much of it, but because life could not survive without it's role in our delicate ecosystem. The book by Jeffries starts out at a basic level in order to introduce you to the characteristics of water and to get you thinking more deeply about its interactions on the environment on a chemical and physical level. He slowly leads you into technical terms and defines hard to understand concepts such as the nitrogen and phosphorus cycles and their link towards pollution. This happens on such a microscopic scale that many people do not take the time to think about how their dish water, sewage, and trash effects the environment. Another book I would also recommend for the avid reader, Pond and Brook by Michael Caduto, gives you the biological view of water through stories that are humorous and easy to follow. Jeffries' book, however, introduces you to the terminology, principles, and interactions that occur in aquatic ecosystems. It is a great book to read if you are interested in learning more about the water you drink, swim in, and use everyday.