Provides information on nearly one hundred of the most common groups of invertebrates found in the inland waters of North America. The first section provides background on the biology and ecology of freshwater environments and explains why and how this group of organisms can be studied, simply and without complex equipment, in the field and the laboratory. Section two describes nearly one hundred of the most common groups of invertebrates, usually at the taxonomic level of order or family. For each group, a whole-body color illustration is provided along with brief text pointing out the most important features to use in identifying members of the group. Section three contains expanded descriptions of the life histories, behavior, and ecology of the various invertebrate groups, and identifies their important ecological contributions and relationships to humans.
Dr J Reese Voshell has taught in the Department of Entomology at Virginia Tech since 1976. He has received numerous research grants to study the effects of pollution and environmental stress on freshwater invertebrates, and has been named to the university's Academy of Teaching Excellence. His 30 years of teaching, outreach, and research have convinced him that people of all ages, educational backgrounds, and personal interests can become fascinated with freshwater invertebrates.