Biodiversity Dynamics and Conservation
The Freshwater Fish of Tropical Africa

This is a comprehensive book on the biodiversity of one of the most diverse ecosystems known - tropical freshwater.

Christian Lévêque (Author)

9780521031974, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 23 November 2006

456 pages, 106 b/w illus. 53 tables
24.6 x 18.7 x 2.4 cm, 0.819 kg

In order for biodiversity to be conserved, it is important to know how and where diverse assemblages of plants and animals exist, to understand the effects of human impacts on them, and to find the means by which these impacts can be lessened and even reversed. While tropical systems are known to be amongst the most diverse and most threatened globally, tropical freshwater systems have been neglected, and the tremendous variety of fish, amphibians, invertebrates and plants which live in them are poorly known yet seriously threatened. This comprehensive book brings together a wealth of information on the fish of tropical African systems, and discusses how these systems evolved, what holds them together, and what is tearing them apart. This is an important reference work not only for those interested in fish, but for all concerned with biodiversity conservation anywhere.

Introduction
Acknowledgements
Part I. The Diversity of African Freshwater Fish: 1. The diversity and variability of freshwater ecosystems in tropical Africa
2. The fish fauna of Africa
3. Genetic diversity and mechanisms of speciation
Part II. The Past as a Key to Understanding the Present: 4. Species diversity: evolution at work
5. Classification of diversity
6. Chance and challenge in a changing environment
Part III. The Diverse Lifestyles of African Freshwater Fish: 7. Diversity of growth and feeding behaviours
8. Diversity of reproductive strategies and life histories
9. Diversity of responses to environmental constraints
Part IV. Dynamics of Fish Assemblages: 10. Fish assemblages in tropical Africa
11. Equilibrium processes of species richness and diversity
12. Diversity of habitats, temporal change and assemblage dynamics
13. Fish diversity and ecosystem functioning
Part V. Conservation of Biodiversity: 14. The threats to fish biodiversity
15. The economic role of fish biodiversity
16. Conservation options
Bibliography
Species index
Subject index.

Subject Areas: Applied ecology [RNC], Fishes [ichthyology PSVW1], Freshwater biology [PSPF]