This book is a field guide to the commonly encountered freshwater macroinvertebrates of southern Africa. It highlights the incredible variation and beauty of freshwater macroinvertebrates, which play a critical role in freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems. The threat to these organisms is great as their habitats are increasingly threatened, either directly by human activities such as mining and agriculture, or by fluctuating water temperatures due to climate change. Christian Fry hopes that this book will create a greater understanding and interest in these tiny creatures and that there will be better care, enthusiasm and conservation of them.
This book is enabled to help with quick identification:
- Over 900 photographs
- Notes on the diversity, distribution, life cycle and taxonomic placement of each family
- Comprehensive maps, info on habitats, size and movement for each species
- Detailed family trees to assist with taxonomic placement and identifying features
- Distinguishing features between families, providing additional insight into the identification of common freshwater macroinvertebrates.
This book will appeal to all fishermen, students, children and nature enthusiasts as well as academics and ecologists, to introduce and expand their appreciation of life in freshwater.
Christian Fry is a registered natural scientist in the field of freshwater ecology. The development of his interest in freshwater systems began in childhood, having grown up on a farm with the Elands River running through it and spending his days fishing. Christian Fry obtained a cum laude in his master’s degree in aquatic health through the University of Johannesburg and Danish Technical University in Aarhus. Over the past six years as a practising freshwater ecologist, Christian has completed freshwater studies across Africa, including Liberia, Mali, Guinea, Tanzania and Mozambique as well as back home across South Africa. Combining his passion for freshwater life and his keen interest in photography, this guide has been compiled over the last four years.