Plankton: A Guide to Their Ecology and Monitoring for Water Quality

Plankton serves as a wonderful tool for measuring water quality. Many local councils and water quality managers collect phytoplankton and zooplankton in response to the increasing incidence of algal (phytoplankton) blooms in rivers and estuaries; however, a lack of consistency and scientific rigor in the methodologies used often results in unresolved outcomes. While some guidelines have been developed for the collection and monitoring of freshwater algae (Algal Watch), there are differences between the methods and protocols used to sample estuaries and freshwater systems as well as those used to sample zooplankton.

This practical book gives an introduction to the biology and ecology of plankton and its use as a tool for monitoring water quality. It explores the ecology of plankton, its associated environmental and water quality issues, and its importance as an environmental indicator. A chapter on best practice in sampling and monitoring details how to design, implement and conduct meaningful phytoplankton and zooplankton monitoring programs in marine and freshwater habitats. It gives overviews of the major freshwater and coastal phytoplankton and zooplankton groups and outlines their associated environmental issues and the management implications. A select number of real-life case studies demonstrate the use of plankton for identifying and monitoring water quality issues.

This useful resource: explains the role of plankton in aquatic ecosystems and its usefulness as a water quality indicator; updates and details best practice in methodology for plankton sampling and monitoring programs; demonstrates how to analyze and interpret the results of sampling programs in terms of management strategies; and brings together widely-scattered information on freshwater and coastal phytoplankton and zooplankton and provides a list of up-to-date references.

Of interest to environment managers; water authority ecologists/managers; scientists and others in government agencies charged with managing water quality in inland and coastal waterways; estuary and catchment management committees; coastal engineers and environmental consulting companies; aquaculturists; marine ecologists; professors and undergraduate students of invertebrate biology, environmental impact assessment and marine biology.

Iain M. Suthers