Identification and Ecology of Freshwater Arthropods in the Mediterranean Basin

1st Edition - October 27, 2023
Editors: Alain Maasri, James H. Thorp
Language: English
Hardback ISBN:
9 7 8 - 0 - 1 2 - 8 2 1 8 4 4 - 0
eBook ISBN:
9 7 8 - 0 - 1 2 - 8 2 1 8 5 6 - 3

Identification and Ecology of Freshwater Arthropods in the Mediterranean Basin covers the entire Mediterranean basin, including parts of Europe, Asia, Africa and the Mediterra… Read more

Purchase options

Limited Offer

Save 50% on book bundles

Immediately download your ebook while waiting for your print delivery. No promo code needed.

Institutional subscription on ScienceDirect

Request a sales quote

Identification and Ecology of Freshwater Arthropods in the Mediterranean Basin covers the entire Mediterranean basin, including parts of Europe, Asia, Africa and the Mediterranean islands, but excluding other biogeographic locations with Mediterranean climates located outside the region. The book provides an extensive description of the taxonomy and ecology of aquatic arthropods encountered in lentic and lotic habitats, as well as in less studied underground and estuarine habitats. It offers expanded taxonomic identification keys to major groups of arthropods with a description of their ecology and distribution. Keys for insects include aquatic larval stages and water-dwelling adults of Coleoptera and Heteroptera.

Additional sections focus on taxa that can be encountered in adjacent brackish and estuary ecosystems as long as the taxon primarily occurs in freshwaters. This is a much-needed, comprehensive resource on the taxonomy and ecology of freshwater arthropods with an introduction to recent molecular tools for identifications. It will be particularly useful for freshwater ecologists, limnologists, environmentalists and students in the ecological sciences.

Cover image
Title page
Table of Contents
Copyright
Dedication
List of contributors
Chapter 1. Introduction
Abstract
Introduction
Components of taxonomic chapters
How to use this volume and the limits to identification
References
Chapter 2. Ecology of Mediterranean freshwater ecosystems
Abstract
Mediterranean climate
Anthropogenic activities in the Mediterranean Basin
Streams and rivers
Lakes and wetlands
The role of disturbances in Mediterranean freshwater ecosystems
Freshwater biodiversity and endemism
References
Chapter 3. Arthropoda
Abstract
Subchapter 3.1. Introduction to the Phylum Arthropoda
Overview
General ecology and distribution of Arthropods
Morphological characters needed in identification
Keys to freshwater Arthropoda
Introduction to the subphylum Chelicerata, class Arachnida
Introduction to the subphylum Crustacea
Acknowledgments
Subchapter 3.2. Molecular tools for species identification
Introduction
DNA barcoding
Massive parallel sequencing: metabarcoding and the analysis of environmental DNA
Other approaches and technologies
Chapter 4. Class Branchiopoda
Abstract
Introduction
Limitations
Terminology and morphology
Sampling, preparation, and preservation
Keys to Branchiopoda
Acknowledgments
References
Chapter 5. Class Ostracoda
Abstract
Introduction
General ecology and distribution
Morphological characters used in identification
Material preparation and preservation
Keys to Ostracoda
Acknowledgments
References
Chapter 6. Classes Copepoda and Ichthyostraca
Abstract
Introduction
General ecology and distribution
Morphological characteristics used in identification
Material preparation and preservation
Keys to Copepoda and Ichthyostraca
References
Chapter 7. Class Malacostraca (subclass Eumalacostraca)
Abstract
Subchapter 7.1. Introduction to Malacostraca
Introduction
General ecology and distribution
Key to Eumalacostraca
Subchapter 7.2. Order Amphipoda
Introduction
General ecology and distribution
Terminology and morphology
Collection, preparation, and identification
Limitations
Keys to Amphipoda
Subchapter 7.3. Order Bathynellacea
Introduction
General ecology and distribution
Terminology and morphology
Collection, preparation, and identification
Keys to Bathynellacea
Subchapter 7.4. Order Decapoda
Introduction
General ecology and distribution
Terminology and mmorphology
Collection, preparation, and identification
Limitations
Key to Decapoda
Subchapter 7.5. Order Ingolfiellida
Introduction
General ecology and distribution
Terminology and mmorphology
Collection, preparation, and identification
Limitations
Key to Ingolfiellida
Subchapter 7.6. Order Isopoda
Introduction
General ecology and distribution
Terminology and morphology
Collection, preparation, and preservation
Limitations
Keys to Isopoda
Subchapter 7.7. Orders Mysida and Stygiomysida
Introduction
General ecology and distribution
Terminology and morphology
Collection, preparation, and preservation
Limitations
Key to Mysida and Stygiomysida
Acknowledgements
Subchapter 7.8. Order Thermosbaenacea
Introduction
General ecology and distribution
Terminology and morphology
Collection, preparation, and identification
Limitations
Keys to Thermosbaenacea
Chapter 8. Class Hexapoda: general introduction
Abstract
Introduction to aquatic Hexapoda
Subclass Collembola—aquatic taxa
Subclass Insecta
Taxonomic keys to the Subphylum Crustacea, Class Hexapoda
References
Chapter 9. Order Ephemeroptera
Abstract
Introduction
General ecology and distribution
Morphological characters needed in identification
Material preparation and preservation
Keys to Ephemeroptera
Keys to Genera
Acknowledgments
References
Chapter 10. Order Plecoptera
Abstract
Introduction
General ecology and distribution
Morphological characteristics needed for identification
Material preparation and preservation
Keys
Acknowledgments
References
Chapter 11. Order Odonata
Abstract
Introduction
Morphological characters
Overview of physiology
Overview of biology
Ecology of larvae
Collection
Fixation, conservation, preparation
Rearing in captivity
Taxonomic and distributional notes
Keys
Acknowledgments
References
Chapter 12. Order Hemiptera
Abstract
Introduction
General ecology and distribution
Morphological characteristics needed in identification
Material preparation and preservation
Keys to Hemiptera
Acknowledgments
References
Chapter 13. Order Coleoptera
Abstract
Introduction
Diversity and distribution
General biology and ecology
Systematic and phylogenetic relationships
Conservation and global change
Morphological characters needed for identification
Sampling, preparation, and preservation
Keys to Adults and Larvae
Acknowledgments
Appendix
References
Chapter 14. Order Trichoptera
Abstract
Introduction
General ecology and distribution
Trichoptera adaptations to the Mediterranean Basin
Material preparation and preservation
Morphological characters needed in identification
Key to families
Keys to genera
Acknowledgments
References
Chapter 15. Order Diptera
Abstract
Diversity, distribution, and ecology of Diptera
Aquatic Diptera
Larval morphology of aquatic Diptera
Sampling, identification, and preservation of larvae
Aquatic and semiaquatic Diptera families in the Mediterranean Basin
Lower Diptera
Brachycera
Key to larvae of aquatic and semiaquatic families of Diptera
Acknowledgments
Subchapter 15.1. Superfamily Tipuloidea
Introduction
General ecology
Acknowledgments
Subchapter 15.2. Family Chironomidae
Introduction
Ecology and distribution
Biology, morphology, and phenology
Morphological characters needed for pupal exuviae identification
Material preparation and preservation
Key to subfamilies
Acknowledgments
Subchapter 15.3. Family Simuliidae
Introduction
Ecology and distribution
Morphological characters needed in identification
Keys to larvae and pupae of Simuliidae
Index

Alain Maasri

Dr. Alain Maasri is a freshwater ecologist at the Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (Berlin, Germany) and a research associate at The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University (Philadelphia, United States). He obtained his Bachelor’s degree from the Université Saint Joseph in Lebanon and his Masters and PhD degrees from Aix-Marseille Université in France where he examined the ecology and functioning of Mediterranean streams. His research interests include freshwater biodiversity, community ecology, and functional ecology of stream macroinvertebrates. Dr. Maasri has been researching freshwater ecosystems and communities for over 15 years across the Mediterranean basin, Mongolia, and the United States of America.

Affiliations and expertise

Freshwater Ecologist, Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Berlin, Germany and Research Associate, The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, Philadelphia, USA

James H. Thorp

Dr. James H. Thorp is a professor and senior scientist at the University of Kansas (Lawrence, KS, United States). Prior to 2001, he was a distinguished professor and dean at Clarkson University, department chair and professor at the University of Louisville, associate professor and director of the Calder Ecology Center at Fordham University, and research ecologist at Georgia’s Savannah River Ecology Laboratory. He received his Baccalaureate from the University of Kansas and Masters and PhD degrees from North Carolina State. Prof. Thorp has been on the editorial board of three freshwater journals and is a former president of the International Society for River Science. His research interests run the gamut from organismal biology to community, ecosystem, and macrosystem ecology. While his research emphasizes aquatic invertebrates, he also studies fish ecology, especially food webs related. He has published more than 150 research articles and 10 books, including five volumes so far in the fourth edition of Thorp and Covich’s Freshwater Invertebrates.

Affiliations and expertise

Professor and Senior Scientist, Kansas Biological Survey, University of Kansas, KS, USA