Riverine Ecology Volume 1

This book is part of a two-volume set that offers an innovative approach towards developing methods and tools for assigning conservation categories of threatened taxa and their conservation strategies by way of different phases of eco-restoration in the context of freshwater river systems of tropical bio-geographic zones. The set provides a considerable volume of research on the biodiversity component of river ecosystems, seasonal dynamics of physical chemical parameters, geo-hydrological properties, types, sources and modes of action of different types of pollution, river restoration strategies and methodologies for the ongoing ecological changes of river ecosystems.

Volume 1 provides an in-depth analysis of different theories with international relevance pertaining to the functioning of river ecosystems, shaping their structure and contributing ecological services, and includes the principles of riverine ecology such as biogeochemical cycles, physiography, hydrogeology, and physico-chemical parameters. It covers the basic concepts and principles of water within riverine ecosystems, and the underlying ecological principles operating to ensure ecological stability and sustainability of the fluvial ecosystem. The book explains the ecofunctionality of different geo-morphological, geo-hydrological and physico-chemical factors and processes in changing time scales and spaces, with special emphasis on the tropical fresh water rivers in India.

Auteur

Dr. Susanta Kumar Chakraborty is Professor of Zoology at Vidyasagar University and he received his M.Phil. in Environmental Science and Ph.D. in Marine Science from Calcutta University. His research centers on Coastal Ecology, Mangrove and Fresh Water Wetlands, Rivers and Estuaries, emphasising biodiversity and ecosystem dynamics. He has also worked on the integration of rural bio-technologies for environmental management, eco-restoration, and livelihood generation. He has received a number of awards in recognition of his research commitments. Dr. Chakraborty has taught for over three decades, mostly in the postgraduate level, covering different aspects of Zoology in general and Ecology/Environmental Science in particular, and has successfully supervised thirty Ph.D. students, published around 150 research papers, written books, and has completed more than a dozen research projects including consultancy work on environmental impact assessment in several countries. Dr. Chakraborty has also served at other universities as a member of selection committees and academic bodies, as well as an expert member in several government departments like U.G.C. and I.C.A.R., and he is a life member of a number of scientific bodies in India and serves on the editorial board of a number of journals.

Contenu
Preface.- General Introduction.- WaterCharacteristics as a Fluid; Physical Properties; Types and Distribution in the Earth; Water Budgetingsurface, subsurface and ground water; Water-importance, as the source of life; Water and the human body; Water circulation in Plants; Global Water balance-Hydrological cycles.- Riverits definition, origin, forms and categories, Drainage Basin Concept, Rivers and Streams relationships; Stream orders and their influences.- Physical and chemical properties of river water: Oxygen, Salinity, pH, alkalinity, turbidity, B.O.D., C.O.D.- Geohydrology and Environmental flows: Geomorphic structures of river bed and Basin; cross sectional characteristics; water flow patterns-horizontal and vertical; Subsurface , Basal and Ground water; Different Geohydrological AttributesPermeability, Transmiscivicity, Water Holding Capacity, etc.; Pump tests and Applicabilities.- Integrated water resource management: Complementary interactions among forests, River Flood Plain, Wetlands and Rivers.- Riverine Biodiversity: Macrophytes, Phytoplankton, Zooplankton, Benthos, Aquatic insects and fishes(Nekton).- Seasonal variation of Zooplankton, Benthos and Fishes in relation to Physicochemical Parameters; Synergistic effects of Physical environment on biological components, Trophic relationships; Community Interactions.- Biological Productivity, Food Chain Food Web interactions; Detritus, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Organic carbon Cycling and Ecosystem metabolism.- Determination of conservation categories of Fishes as a prerequisite for undertaking conservation strategies.- Identification of major threats on Biodiversity and Riverine Environmental Health Through PRA methods.- Different Mathematical and Statistical tools for Analysis of Biotic Community to devise methods for Biomonitoring and Trend Analysis of biodiversity declines; To understand the mutual relationships between Biodiversity and Physical-Chemical environment of River vis-à-vis Synergistic effects.