Aquatic Plants of Northern and Central Europe including Britain and Ireland

About this book

Beneath the surface of bodies of freshwater-springs, streams, rivers, ponds and lakes-there is a world of plants of great variety and beauty, a realm that is often poorly known and understood. Correctly identified, these plants can tell us much about the character and condition of the habitats in which they live. A collaboration of Danish, German, and British field botanists specializing in freshwater plants, this guide presents all of the known aquatic plants of Northern and Central Europe, including Britain and Ireland, as well as many marginal and wetland species.

This is the first comprehensive guide to the identification of the region's 410 species and hybrids of both native and non-native ferns and flowering plants that are dependent upon freshwater wetlands. Following the latest taxonomy, the book features 358 plates in pen and ink, more than 1,400 colour photographs, illustrated keys, distribution maps and detailed descriptions. The introduction gives an overview of evolution, anatomy and morphology, ecology, eco-physiology, research traditions and more, and the book also includes guidelines for working with aquatic plants.

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Biography

Jens Christian Schou is a botanist, illustrator and photographer who specializes in Nordic plants. Bjarne Moeslund is an environmental consultant who led the creation of the first guide to Denmark's aquatic plants and was later coauthor of a more comprehensive book on the subject. Klaus van de Weyer is a freshwater ecologist and botanist, an expert on macrophytes and an underwater photographer who teaches classes on macrophyte ecology and identification. Gerhard Wiegleb is professor emeritus of general ecology at Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus and a widely published expert on macrophyte ecology. Richard Lansdown works in wetland conservation, has surveyed macrophytes in rivers throughout Britain and Ireland and teaches courses on aquatic plant identification. Peter Holm is an expert on the identification of macro invertebrates and aquatic plants in rivers, streams and lakes. Lars Bastrup-Spohr is assistant professor in freshwater ecology at the University of Copenhagen. Kaj Sand-Jensen is professor of freshwater ecology at the University of Copenhagen and the author of books and popular science articles on Danish nature.