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This practical book provides a comprehensive introduction to the biology and ecology of plankton and describes its use as a tool for monitoring water quality. All the major freshwater and coastal phytoplankton and zooplankton groups are covered and their associated environmental issues are discussed. A chapter on best practice in sampling and monitoring explains how to design, implement and conduct meaningful phytoplankton and zooplankton monitoring programs in marine and freshwater habitats, as well as how to analyse and interpret the results for effective management decision-making. Real-life case studies demonstrate the use of plankton for identifying and monitoring water quality issues.
1. The importance of plankton
2. Plankton processes and the environment
3. Plankton-related environmental and water quality issues
4. Sampling methods for plankton
5. Freshwater phytoplankton: diversity and biology
6. Coastal and marine phytoplankton: diversity and ecology
7. Freshwater zooplankton: diversity and biology
8. Coastal and marine zooplankton diversity and biology
9. Plankton in the classroom
Professor Iain Suthers explores the basis and sustainability of estuarine and coastal ecosystems. His discoveries in the past 5 years concern the effect of rain and nutrients on zooplankton as a measure of water quality, as well as a supply of fish nutrition. Iain has published over 150 papers and book chapters on a variety of marine subjects that concern fisheries oceanography (including a recent book on plankton). He completed his PhD in Canada and post-doctoral work in Norway as well as back home in Australia before taking up a lectureship at UNSW in 1991. His research on the separation of the EAC from the coast off Port Stephens reveals a key region influencing NSW's climate, fisheries, and red tide production. Iain was leader of the NSW node of Australia's Integrated Marine Observing System www.imos.org.au (from 2007-2010), and with his colleague Dr Moninya Roughan he has been one of the major drivers in the remarkable development of the Sydney Institute of Marine Science; and contributed to the design and build of Australia's new Research Vessel Investigator. He has two ARC Linkage Projects with DPI (Fisheries) and 4 other investigators on the Offshore Artificial Reef (2012-2015); and on baitfish and predatory fish (2015-2018); an ARC Discovery Project on zooplankton size (2015-2018). He and his team were awarded two ARC Large Infrastructure and Equipment Grants in 2010 for a Laser Optical Plankton Counter, and a DIDSON acoustic camera; another with UTS with a flow cytometer and imager. He has just completed two ARC Discovery projects on salps and eddies of the EAC. He teaches a third year fisheries and oceanography course, contributes to the 2nd year Vertebrates and Biology of Invertebrates courses; to the Masters of Marine Science and Management program and has a laboratory of 5 PhD students in collaboration with Dr Jason Everett and Dr James Smith.
Dr David Rissik is an environmental scientist with 20 years experience in water quality, estuarine and marine ecology, and natural resource management. He has a strong interest in the use of science to inform mangement and policy and works hard to ensure that this occurs. David has a PhD in biological sciences from the University of NSW. He has experience in overseeing large research projects that are integrative in nature, and continues to be part of ARC Linkage Project teams. He has works in NSW and Queensland governments and held adjunct positions at UNSW, Sydney University and Griffith University. David Rissik is a President of the Australasian Chapter of the Society of Wetland Scientist. NCCARF provides an opportunity for Dave to use his experience and skills to ensure that work we do with our partners contributes strongly to the capacity of Australians to adapt to climate change and to assist researchers to build skills in the area of synthesis and integration.
Professor Anthony J. Richardson has research interests in impacts of climate change, marine ecology, and analyses of large datasets using modern statistical techniques. He holds an Honours degree in Zoology from the University of Queensland and a PhD degree in Marine Ecology from the University of Cape Town. Since 2005, Anthony has a joint position between the School of Mathematics and Physics at UQ and CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere He has previously held positions at the University of Cape Town.
Reviews of the first edition:
"Many of the components are worthwhile and will be useful to students, or people without much formal training, trying to sample the plankton. The selection of an appropriate device or method to collect samples and how to preserve those samples is well described. Overall this volume is a useful and timely addition to the field. It reviews much of the knowledge accumulated over the last 50 years in terms of practical methods for the study of plankton. It provides a primer for taxonomy that covers many of the common taxa."
– Peter Allen Thompson, Austral Ecology (2012) 37, e7–e8
"This new book, edited by Iain Suthers and David Rissik, provides an excellent introduction to many aspects of plankton ecology, both basic and applied. Overall, this is an excellent book and I recommend purchasing one for your book shelf."
– Dr. Kerrie Swadling, AMSA Bulletin, No 181, Spring 2009
"There are, in fact, generally very few published books on the ecology of plankton and none to my knowledge that deal with the use of plankton for water monitoring. Thus, this concise introductory book edited by Ian M. Suthers and David Rissik represents a useful addition to the existing literature by integrating general aspects of the ecology and taxonomy of key species of marine and freshwater plankton, with technical approaches and methodological guidelines on water quality monitoring."
– Claudia Castellani, Journal of Plankton Research, Vol 00 No 0, 2009
