The Biology of Temporary Waters

Temporary waters are found throughout the world, and include intermittent streams and ponds, episodic rain puddles, seasonal limestone lakes, the water-retaining structures of plants, such as bromeliads and pitcher plants, and a variety of man-made container habitats. They are probably populated by various plant, animal, and microscopic communities, ranging from the very simple to the highly complex. Temporary waters therefore represent fascinating and significant arenas in which to study the properties of species, as the latter, deal with the rigors of living in highly variable environments. Obligate temporary water species display a remarkable array of adaptations to the periodic loss of their primary medium that largely set them apart from the inhabitants of permanent water bodies. Survival of individuals frequently depends upon exceptional physiological tolerance or effective migrational abilities that are timed to appropriate habitat phases. Quite apart from their inherent biological interest, temporary waters are now in the limelight from a conservation perspective as these habitats come more and more into conflict with human activities. Traditionally, many temporary waters (be they ponds, pools, streams, or wetlands) have been considered to be 'wasted' areas of land, potentially convertible to agriculture once drained. In reality, they are natural features of the global landscape that represent distinct and unique habitats for many species, some that are found nowhere else and others that reach their maximum abundance and/or genetic diversity there. Temporary waters are also very important from a human health perspective since they function as breeding places for the vectors of many disease organisms, including those that spread malaria, schistosomiasis, yellow fever, and dengue. Most of these exact a high toll in terms of global human suffering and reduced regional economies. This book collates and synthesizes the highly scattered and diverse global literature on pure and applied aspects of these habitats and their biota. It examines the ecology of temporary waters in both natural and human environments, and seeks to identify common evolutionary themes. It will be of particular interest to aquatic ecologists, invertebrate and vertebrate biologists, environmental biologists, wetland managers and conservationists, those charged with controlling water-associated diseases, entomologists, educators, and natural historians. This well-illustrated book collates and synthesies the diverse global literature on pure and applied aspects of temporary water habitats and their biota. The author definitely has a global focus...The book is surely in its scope and thoroughly referenced. Basic and Applied Ecology ...this work presents an informative overview of ephemeral aquatic ecosystems, and is an excellent text for advanced undergraduate courses or graduate seminars. Choice, July 2007 In this well-produced and carefully illustrated work, Williams consistently outlines the many gaps in our knowledge that will likely provide starting points for many theses richly detailed thoroughly referenced encyclopaedic in its scope suitable for practicing biologists, postgraduate students, and upper-level undergraduates. J.S. Richardson, The Quarterly Review of Biology A pioneering authority in the field, he has collated and synthesized a growing body of literature on the biology of temporary waters that represent a fascinating habitat for ecological and limnological research, incorporating a strong conservation component. Dudley Williams brilliantly compresses a huge, complex, perhaps unwieldy and occasionally unclear body of data into a surprisingly accessible account. The book is outstandingly successful and will soon be hailed as a most accessible text for graduate students and researchers. Current Engineering Practice. Appropriately priced and will be suitable for practising biologists The Quarterly Review of Biology, Vol.822, pp168 ...thorough and extremely well referenced... Biologist This well illustrated and fascinating book documents the life found in every possible sort of temporary water the authors enthusiasm for these is infectious and he will surely re-kindle interest in these habitats, for they illustrate many ecological principles this book draws together what is generally a very dispersed literature and provides a coherent account of this fascinating topic. M. Young, Bulletin of the British Ecological SocietyPreface ; 1. Introduction ; 2. The physical environment ; 3. Influential environmental factors ; 4. The biota ; 5. Population dynamics ; 6. Community dynamics ; 7. Other temporary water habitats ; 8. Applied aspects of temporary waters ; 9. Habitats for vectors of disease ; 10. Importance and stewardship of temporary waters ; References ; Index