Freshwater Algae of North America

Ecology and Classification

John D. Wehr, Robert G. Sheath, J. Patrick Kociolek, James H. Thorp

• Publisher: Academic Press
• Year: 2002
• Print ISBN:
  9780127415505
• eBook ISBN:
  9780080521886
• Topic: Biological Sciences
• Subtopic: Ecology
• Index: Biological Sciences

Freshwater algae are among the most diverse and ubiquitous organisms on earth. They occupy an enormous range of ecological conditions from lakes and rivers to acidic peat swamps, inland saline lakes, snow and ice, damp soils, wetlands, desert soils, wastewater treatment plants, and are symbionts in and on many plants, fungi, and animals. In North America, the variety of freshwater habitats colonized by algae is very rich, and offers an enormous and fascinating range of environments for their study. They form the base of most aquatic food webs and are critical to studies of ecosystem health. Algal ecologists and taxonomists play an important role in the understanding of aquatic ecosystems: their biodiversity, productivity, interactions with other organisms, and water quality. This book provides in one volume a practical and comprehensive guide to the genera of freshwater algae known from North America. The format combines the necessary ecological, taxonomic and methodological information for all scientists working in aquatic environments, whether their specialty is in environmental monitoring and water quality assessment, biological composition, ecology, evolution, or molecular biology.Key Features* The first complete accounting of North America's freshwater algal genera in more than 50 years* Includes a guide to the current literature on species identification in each group of algae* High-quality photographs and drawings of more than 770 genera* A clear, easy-to-use introductory key to the diagnostic chapters* Synthetic chapters on freshwater habitats, use of algae in environmental assessment, and control of nuisance algae* Contributions from 27 experts in all areas of freshwater algae* Extensive literature citations* Companion volume of Ecology and Classification of North American Freshwater Invertebrates 2nd edition, edited by Throp and Covich

Table of contents

• Cover image
• Title page
• Table of Contents
• Copyright
• Dedication
• Contributors
• Preface
• Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION TO FRESHWATER ALGAE
• Chapter 2: FRESHWATER HABITATS OF ALGAE
• Chapter 3: COCCOID AND COLONIAL CYANOBACTERIA
• Chapter 4: FILAMENTOUS CYANOBACTERIA
• Chapter 5: RED ALGAE
• Chapter 6: FLAGELLATED GREEN ALGAE
• Chapter 7: NONMOTILE COCCOID AND COLONIAL GREEN ALGAE
• Chapter 8: FILAMENTOUS AND PLANTLIKE GREEN ALGAE
• Chapter 9: CONJUGATING GREEN ALGAE AND DESMIDS
• Chapter 10: PHOTOSYNTHETIC EUGLENOIDS
• Chapter 11: EUSTIGMATOPHYTE, RAPHIDOPHYTE, AND TRIBOPHYTE ALGAE
• Chapter 12: CHRYSOPHYCEAN ALGAE
• Chapter 13: HAPTOPHYTE ALGAE
• Chapter 14: SYNUROPHYTE ALGAE
• Chapter 15: CENTRIC DIATOMS
• Chapter 16: ARAPHID AND MONORAPHID DIATOMS
• Chapter 17: SYMMETRICAL NAVICULOID DIATOMS
• Chapter 18: EUNOTIOID AND ASYMMETRICAL NAVICULOID DIATOMS
• Chapter 19: KEELED AND CANALLED RAPHID DIATOMS
• Chapter 20: DINOFLAGELLATES
• Chapter 21: CRYPTOMONADS
• Chapter 22: BROWN ALGAE
• Chapter 23: USE OF ALGAE IN ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS
• Chapter 24: CONTROL OF NUISANCE ALGAE
• GLOSSARY
• Author Index
• Subject Index
• Taxonomic Index