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Rivers of South America examines the physical, chemical, and biological environment of South American Rivers, and the people living in their basins. The book explores the main river basins, with information on each river's history, physiography, clime, hydrology, biodiversity, ecological processes, environmental problems, management, and conservation. The book identifies conservation hotspots for riverine environments, and is enriched with a large number of maps, photos, graphs, and tables. This reference is important for aquatic ecologists, environmental authorities, local and national governments, academics, NGOs, and those interested in the preservation and management of flowing waters. - Presents boxed information in each chapter to provide clear and consistent highlights throughout - Provides a single source of information for South America's major rivers - Offers full-color photographs and topographical maps to demonstrate the beauty, major features, and uniqueness of each river system
The fish faunas of continental South and Central America constitute one of the greatest concentrations of aquatic diversity on Earth, consisting of about 10 percent of all living vertebrate species. Historical Biogeography of Neotropical Freshwater Fishes explores the evolutionary origins of this unique ecosystem. The chapters address central themes in the study of tropical biodiversity: why is the Amazon basin home to so many distinct evolutionary lineages? What roles do ecological specialization, speciation, and extinction play in the formation of regional assemblages? How do dispersal barriers contribute to isolation and diversification? Focusing on whole faunas rather than individual taxonomic groups, this volume shows that the area’s high regional diversity is not the result of recent diversification in lowland tropical rainforests. Rather, it is the product of species accumulating over tens of millions of years and across a continental arena.
This is the first comprehensive look at the taxonomy, life history, and conservation status of the world's trout and char. These are fascinating and beautiful fish that rate high for the angler as well as for tourist and recreational economies. Trout and char also play key roles in the ecology of many lake and river systems around the world. Trout and char are abundant in many regions, but most native species are on the decline. Some are classified as vulnerable, threatened, or endangered. Because of their widespread stocking in regions where they are not native, some trout and char also are the cause for threats to other native species. Loss of habitat, an expanding human population, and ra...
“Full of the details we ichthyologists love, this book will clearly be a standard reference on South American fishes for decades to come. The amazingly detailed glossary alone may well be worth the price of the book!” --Peter B. Moyle, author of Inland Fishes of California “A major contribution to our understanding of multiple aspects of the Neotropical freshwater fish fauna. The book will be of interest not only to ichthyologists, but also to a broader audience of researchers working on freshwater organisms and general biogeographic patterns.”--Richard P. Vari, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution “An up-to-date summary of our knowledge of a major continental biodiversity area, that should attract a wide variety of readers."--William Fink, University of Michigan “Successfully brings together disparate information and introduces new data and analyses, giving a vast overview of neotropical freshwater fishes.” --Brian Crother, Southeastern Louisiana University
This report presents the findings of a 2003 biological expedition to a remote, little-explored area of the Venezuelan Amazon at the confluence of the Orinoco and Ventuari Rivers. The survey, conducted by the Center for Applied Biodiversity Science, discovered extremely high levels of biodiversity, with more than 350 species of plants and 245 species of fishes. It also found alarming threats from illegal mining and environmental degradation.