BIOL468, ECOL198
University of Liverpool
Understanding and using the concept of Ecosystem Health
(with particular reference to Rivers)
(a ‘discussion’ with Dr Rick Leah)
Background
It is expected that you will be familiar with Chapter 4 (Erosive Streams & Rivers) & 5 (Lowland
Rivers, Floodplains & Wetlands) from Moss, 1998 Ecology of Freshwaters
Sessions : This topic will extend for approx one and a half sessions before moving on to discuss
tropical rivers
The first session will take the form of a discussion on the management of river systems (with an
emphasis on temperate systems)
There was a whole issue of Freshwater Biology in 1999 (Vol 41, 197 - 480) which dealt with the issue
of Measuring and Using the concept of River Health. These papers are available on-line through
Campus workstations (or using a password if off campus). - See the listing of the Contents page for a
detailed list of the papers in this copy of the journal).
You can gain access to the journal from the FW Biology listing in the Library Catalog.
I would particularly recommend:
Norris R.H., Thoms M.C. (1999) What is river health? Freshwat. Biol. 41, 197-209
Karr J.R. (1999) Defining and measuring river health Freshwat. Biol. 41, 221
-234
Fairweather P.G. (1999) State of environment indicators of river health: exploring the metaphor.
Freshwat. Biol. 41, 211-220
Boulton, A.J. (1999) An overview of river health assessment: philosophies, practice, problems and
prognosis Freshwat. Biol. 41, 469 - 479
If you have time and/or an interest in fish:
Harris, J. H. & Silveira, R. (1999)
Large-scale assessments of river health using an Index of Biotic Integrity with low-diversity fish
communities. Fresh Water Biology 41 (2), 235-252.
doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2427.1999.00428.x
The rest of this volume of Freshwater Biology addresses other important aspects of River Health
including using the use of invertebrate communities as a tool.
Biological Sciences
University of Liverpool
(Last Updated
)
http://pcwww.liv.ac.uk/aquabiol/BIOL468/river_health/ecosyst_health.htm
30/11/2004