Rivers of Europe

2nd Edition - November 10, 2021

Editors: Klement Tockner, Christiane Zarfl, Christopher T. Robinson

Paperback ISBN:

9 7 8 - 0 - 0 8 - 1 0 2 6 1 2 - 0

eBook ISBN:

9 7 8 - 0 - 0 8 - 1 0 2 6 1 3 - 7

Rivers of Europe, Second Edition, presents the latest update on the only primary source of complete and comparative baseline data on the biological and hydrological… Read more

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Rivers of Europe, Second Edition, presents the latest update on the only primary source of complete and comparative baseline data on the biological and hydrological characteristics of more than 180 of the highest profile rivers in Europe. With even more full-color photographs and maps, the book includes conservation information on current patterns of river use and the extent to which human society has exploited and impacted them. Each chapter includes up to 10 featured rivers, with detailed information on their physiography, hydrology, ecology/biodiversity and human impacts. Rivers selected for specific coverage include the largest, the most natural, and those most affected by humans.

This book provides the most comprehensive information ecologists and conservation managers need to better assess their management and meet the EU legislative good governance targets.

Cover image
Title page
Table of Contents
Copyright
Contributors
Editor's biography
Foreword
Chapter 1. Introduction to European rivers
1.1. Introduction
1.2. Biogeographic setting
1.3. Cultural and socioeconomic setting
1.4. Hydrologic and human legacies
1.5. Early and recent human impacts on European rivers
1.6. Temperature and precipitation
1.7. Water availability and runoff
1.8. Riverine floodplains
1.9. River deltas
1.10. Water quality
1.11. Freshwater biodiversity
1.12. Environmental pressures on biodiversity
1.13. Fragmentation
1.14. Water stress
1.15. Land-use change
1.16. Alien (nonnative and exotic) fish species
1.17. The European Water Framework Directive
1.18. Knowledge gaps
Chapter 2. The Volga River
2.1. Introduction
2.2. Biogeographical setting
2.3. Physiography and climate
2.4. Geomorphology, hydrology, and biogeochemistry
2.5. Aquatic and riparian biodiversity
2.6. Management and conservation
2.7. Major tributeries of the Volga River
Chapter 3. The Danube River Basin
3.1. Introduction
3.2. Historical aspects
3.3. Paleogeography and geology
3.4. Geomorphology
3.5. Climate and hydrology
3.6. Biogeochemistry, water quality, and nutrients
3.7. Biodiversity
3.8. Human impacts, conservation, and management
3.9. Major tributaries and the Danube Delta
3.10. Conclusions and lessons learnt
Chapter 4. The Iberian rivers
4.1. Introduction
4.2. The Guadiana River
4.3. The Guadalquivir
4.4. The Duero River
4.5. The Ebro River
4.6. The Tagus River
4.7. The Júcar River
4.8. The Segura River
4.9. The Miño River
4.10. Other Iberian basins
4.11. Conclusions and perspectives
Chapter 5. Continental Atlantic Rivers: The Meuse, Loire and Adour-Garonne Basins
5.1. Introduction
Chapter 6. The Meuse River basin
6.1. Introduction
6.2. Historical perspective
6.3. Geography and geology
6.4. Geomorphology
6.5. Climate and hydrology
6.6. Biogeochemistry, water quality, and ecosystem processes
6.7. Biodiversity
6.8. Human impact, conservation and management
6.9. Conclusions and lessons learnt
Chapter 7. The Loire River basin
7.1. Introduction
7.2. Historical background
7.3. Geology and paleogeography
7.4. Fluvial geomorphology and sedimentology
7.5. Climate and hydrology
7.6. Biogeochemistry, water quality, and ecosystem processes: status and trends
7.7. Aquatic and riparian biodiversity
7.8. Management and conservation
7.9. Conclusions and lessons learnt
Chapter 8. The Adour-Garonne basin
8.1. Introduction
8.2. Historical perspective
8.3. Biogeographic setting
8.4. Physiography, climate and land use
8.5. Geomorphology, hydrology and biochemistry
8.6. Aquatic and riparian biodiversity
8.7. Management and conservation
8.8. Conclusions and lessons learnt
Chapter 9. Continental Atlantic Rivers: the Seine Basin
9.1. Introduction
9.2. Historical perspective
9.3. Geological and hydrological context
9.4. Modeling tools for the Seine River basin
9.5. Water chemistry and chemical contamination
9.6. Biodiversity, biological compartments
9.7. Biogeochemistry: nutrients and eutrophication
9.8. Human impact, conservation, and management
9.9. Conclusions and lessons learnt
Chapter 10. The Rhine River basin
10.1. Introduction
10.2. Historical aspects
10.3. Paleogeography and geology
10.4. Climate and hydrology
10.5. Biogeochemistry, water quality, temperature, and ecosystem processes
10.6. Biodiversity
10.7. Human impacts, conservation, and management
10.8. The major Rhine tributaries
10.9. Conclusions and lessons learnt
Chapter 11. The Rhône River Basin
11.1. Introduction
11.2. Biogeographic setting
11.3. Climate and land use
11.4. Geomorphology, hydrology, and biogeochemistry
11.5. Aquatic and riparian biodiversity
11.6. Management and conservation
11.7. The Ain River
11.8. The Saône River
11.9. The Durance river
11.10. Conclusions and lessons learnt
Chapter 12. The Fennoscandian Shield
12.1. Introduction
12.2. The rivers
12.3. Conclusions and outlook
Chapter 13. Arctic rivers
13.1. Introduction
13.2. The Altaelva River
13.3. The Tana River
13.4. The Komagelva River
13.5. The Varzuga River
13.6. The Onega River
13.7. The Northern Dvina River
13.8. The Mezen River
13.9. The Pechora River
13.10. The Kara River
13.11. The Geithellnaá River
13.12. The Laxá River
13.13. The Vestari-Jökulsá River
13.14. The Bayelva River
Chapter 14. British and Irish rivers
14.1. Introduction
14.2. Biogeographic setting
14.3. Physiography, climate, and land use
14.4. Geomorphology, hydrology, and biogeochemistry
14.5. Aquatic and riparian biodiversity
14.6. Management and conservation
14.7. Conclusions and perspectives
Chapter 15. Rivers of the Balkans
15.1. Introduction
15.2. Historical perspective
15.3. Major rivers and tributaries
15.4. Biogeographic setting
15.5. Physiography, climate, and land use
15.6. Hydrology and biogeochemistry
15.7. Riparian and aquatic biodiversity
15.8. Management and conservation
15.9. Conclusion and perspective
Chapter 16. The Italian rivers
16.1. Introduction
16.2. Biogeographic setting
16.3. Physiography, climate, and land use
16.4. Geomorphology, hydrology, and biochemistry
16.5. Aquatic and riparian biodiversity
16.6. Management and conservation
16.7. Conclusion and perspective
Chapter 17. The Western Steppic Rivers
17.1. Introduction
17.2. Biogeographic setting
17.3. Physiography, climate, and land use
17.4. Geomorphology, hydrology, and biogeochemistry
17.5. Aquatic and riparian biodiversity
17.6. Management and conservation
17.7. Conclusions and perspectives
Chapter 18. Rivers of the Central European Highlands and Plains
18.1. Introduction
18.2. Weser River
18.3. Elbe
18.4. Oder
18.5. Em
18.6. Skjern
18.7. Spree
18.8. Drawa
18.9. Synopsis
Chapter 19. Rivers of the Boreal Uplands
19.1. Introduction
19.2. Physiography, land use, and hydrology
19.3. Aquatic and riparian biodiversity
19.4. Glomma River
19.5. Numedalslågen river
19.6. Mandalselva River
19.7. Suldalslågen River
19.8. Lærdalselva River
19.9. Jostedøla River
19.10. Stryneelva River
19.11. Orkla River
19.12. Namsen river
19.13. Vefsna river
19.14. Conclusions and perspectives
Chapter 20. Baltic and Eastern Continental Rivers
20.1. Introduction
20.2. Vistula River
20.3. Biodiversity
20.4. Nemunas River
20.5. Western Dvina River
20.6. Narva River
Chapter 21. Rivers of Turkey
21.1. Introduction
21.2. Historical Perspective
21.3. Geology of Turkey
21.4. General characterization of Turkish rivers
21.5. Climate
21.6. Land-use patterns
21.7. Geomorphology of river basins
21.8. Hydrology and temperature
21.9. Water quality
21.10. Biodiversity
21.11. Water Framework Directive (WFD)
21.12. Constructed dams
21.13. Management and conservation
Chapter 22. Ural River Basin
22.1. Introduction
22.2. Historical aspects
22.3. Paleogeography and geology
22.4. Geomorphology
22.5. Climate and hydrology: status and trends
22.6. Biogeochemistry, water quality, and ecosystem processes: status and trends
22.7. Biodiversity
22.8. Human impacts, conservation, and management
22.9. Major tributaries
22.10. Conclusions and lessons learnt
Chapter 23. European rivers: a personal perspective
23.1. Introduction
23.2. Pressures on European rivers
23.3. Some key impacts of pressures on European rivers
23.4. What to do—management responses
23.5. Closing remarks—science, policy, and management
Index

Klement Tockner

Professor Tockner received a PhD from the University of Vienna. He has special expertise on freshwater biodiversity, ecosystem functioning, and river and wetland restoration and management. He has published about 250 scientific papers including more than 180 ISI papers. Klement Tockner has successfully managed large inter- and transdisciplinary projects such as the EC-funded project BioFresh on freshwater biodiversity. He is member of several scientific committees and advisory boards, and elected member of the Austrian Academy of Sciences and the Germany Academy of Sciences, Leopoldina.

Affiliations and expertise

Director General of the Senckenberg Society for Nature Research and professor for Ecosystem Sciences at Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany

Christiane Zarfl

Professor Zarfl is an Assistant Professor for Environmental Systems Analysis at the Universität Tübingen, a guest Scientist at the Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries Berlin and a Co-speaker of the Platform "Environmental System Analytics". Her main research interests are in environmental pollution and infrastructure development especially in freshwater ecosystems. Her research employs mathematical modelling in combination with empirical and experimental data to understand underlying processes and interdependencies.

Affiliations and expertise

Department of Geosciences, Centre for Applied Geoscience, Environmental Systems Analysis, Eberhard Karls Universitat Tubingen, Germany

Christopher T. Robinson

Dr. Robinson is a senior scientist at the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag) and a lecturer at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Dübendorf/Zürich in Switzerland. His main interests are in freshwater biodiversity, disturbance ecology, and ecosystem functioning of alpine rivers and streams.

Affiliations and expertise

Department of Limnology, EAWAG (Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology) and ETH (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology), Dubendorf/Zurich, Switzerland