Systematics Historical Ecology And North American Freshwater Fishes

"This book addresses the current need for a holistic approach in comparative and evolutionary biology and offers numerous applications of the modern methods of phylogenetic systematics and historical ecology, using the North American fish fauna as its case study. This major synthesis, the first published work of its kind, provides a theoretical and methodological foundation for future studies in ichthyology, evolutionary biology, and other fields of comparative biology." "Several introductory pieces present major statements of general principles, detailed examinations of the diversity and distributions of North American freshwater fishes, and what is known of their systematic relationships. The rest of the volume's 30 papers then contribute new phylogenetic hypotheses for a significant number of taxa. Along the way, the reader is introduced to the principles, first, of phylogenetic systematics - the reconstruction of evolutionary or ancestor-descendant relationships of groups of organisms on the basis of heritable traits - and, second, of historical ecology - a comprehensive research program that links systematics with many areas of comparative biology. Together, the two allow for the formulation of direct and testable hypotheses regarding the evolution of species and their attributes, interspecies interactions, and the formation and persistence of biotic communities. Without these methods that incorporate "historical controls," our estimates of history for all areas of biology are inefficient, indirect, and worst of all, untestable." "This book focuses on North American freshwater fishes not only because the 42 contributors know them so well but also because this highly diverse fauna is well known in so many important aspects (diversity, species distributions, life histories) relevant to evaluating general applications of the new paradigms of systematics and historical ecology. Many other faunas present interesting biotas appropriate for the preparation of a similar piece of work, but no other fauna can claim as complete a knowledge base." "The theme articulated throughout the book underscores the Darwinian proposition of descent with modification. The biological information particular to the North American freshwater fish fauna establishes an invaluable foundation for understanding diversification and advancing education and research. Moreover, the methods, theories, and empirical data presented serve as essential resources for comparative and evolutionary research programs applicable to any biota or taxonomic grouping." "The book includes some 200 illustrations, 60 tables, 10 appendixes, and comprehensive taxonomic and subject indexes."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved

The Zoogeography of North American Freshwater Fishes is a timely, authoritative monograph which serves a twofold purpose. First, it discusses the distribution of North American freshwater fish throughout the continent. It then attempts to explain these observed distribution patterns and develops a theory for the dispersal and evolution of these fishes through historical drainage alterations, plate tectonics, and Pleistoscene glaciation. The Zoogeography of North American Freshwater Fishes is a comprehensive treatment of the freshwater biogeography of North America, with implications for other disciplines. It stresses the intimate relationship between geological changes in the landscape on fish dispersal and evolution. For biologists, geologists, and geographers actively involved in biogeography, this book serves as a valuable-and practical-reference.

The North American freshwater fish fauna is the most diverse and thoroughly researched temperate fish fauna in the world. Ecology of North American Freshwater Fishes is the only textbook to provide advanced undergraduate and graduate students and researchers with an up-to-date and integrated view of the ecological and evolutionary concepts, principles, and processes involved in the formation and maintenance of this fauna. Ecology of North American Freshwater Fishes provides readers with a broad understanding of why specific species and assemblages occur in particular places. Additionally, the text explores how individuals and species interact with each other and with their environments, how such interactions have been altered by anthropogenic impacts, and the relative success of efforts to restore damaged ecosystems. This book is designed for use in courses related to aquatic and fish ecology, fish biology, ichthyology, and related advanced ecology and conservation courses, and is divided into five sections for ease of use. Chapter summaries, supplemental reading lists, online sources, extensive figures, and color photography are included to guide readers through the material and facilitate student learning. Part 1: Faunal origins, evolution, and diversity Presents a broad pictureÑboth spatially and temporallyÑof the derivation of the fauna, including global and regional geological and climatological processes and their effects on North American fishes. Part 2: Formation, maintenance, and persistence of local populations and assemblages Focuses on how local fish populations and assemblages are formed and how they persist, or not, through time. Part 3: Form and function Deals with the relationship of body form and life history patterns as they are related to ecological functions. Part 4: Interactions among individuals and species Discusses the numerous interactions among individuals and species through communication, competition, predation, mutualism, and facilitation. Part 5: Issues in conservation Focuses on several primary conservation issues such as flow alterations and the increasing biotic homogenization of faunas.

Nearly a decade ago I began planning this book with the goal of summarizing the existing body of knowledge on ecology of freshwater fishes in a way similar to that of H. B. N. Hynes' comprehensive treatise Ecology of Running Waters for streams. The time seemed appropriate, as there had been several recent volumes that synthesized much information on a range of topics important in fish ecology, from biogeographic to local scales. For example, the "Fish Atlas" (Lee et aI. , 1980) had provided range maps and basic entry to the original literature for all freshwater fishes in North America, and in 1986 Hocutt and Wiley's Zoogeography of North American Fishes provided a detailed synthesis of virtually everything known about distributional ecology of fishes on that continent. Tim Berra (1981) had summarized in convenient map form the worldwide distribution of all freshwater fish families, and Joe Nelson's 1976 and 1984 editions of Fishes of the World had appeared. To complement these "big picture" views of fish distributions, the volume on Community and Evolutionary Ecology of North American Freshwater Fishes, edited by David Heins and myself (Matthews and Heins, 1987), had provided an opportunity for more than 30 individuals or groups to summarize their work on stream fishes (albeit mostly for warmwater systems).

Sequenced biological macromolecules have revitalized systematic studies of evolutionary history. Molecular Systematics of Fishes is the first authoritative overview of the theory and application of these sequencing data to fishes. This volume explores the phylogeny of fishes at multiple taxonomic levels, uses methods of analysis of molecular data that apply both within and between fish populations, and employs molecule-based phylogenies to address broader questions of evolution. Targeted readers include ichthyologists, marine scientists, and all students, faculty, and researchers interested in fish evolution and ecology and vertebrate systematics. Focuses on the phylogeny and evolutionary biology of fishes Contains phylogenies of fishes at multiple taxonomic levels Applies molecule-based phylogenies to broader questions of evolution Includes methods for critique of analysis of molecular data

Warren, Jr.

The percid fishes (or perch family) comprise many species including the perch, pikeperch, yellow perch, walleye and the darters. These species are of great ecological and economic importance, being important components of the freshwater ecosystem and recreational and commercial fisheries. Percid Fishes covers aspects such as systematics, morphology, biology, ecology, diseases and parasites and the economic importance of percid fisheries. Special emphasis is placed within the book on the complex relationship between this family of fishes and their environment and how they respond to perturbations, especially those induced by humans. The author, John Craig who has a great deal of experience working on these fishes in many of the countries in which they occur, has drawn together an extremely important book which provides a unique, comprehensive and indispensable review of this most significant group of fish.

With more than 29,000 species, fishes are the most diverse group of vertebrates on the planet. Of that number, more than 12,000 species are found in freshwater ecosystems, which occupy less than 1 percent of the Earth’s surface and contain only 2.4 percent of plant and animal species. But, on a hectare-for-hectare basis, freshwater ecosystems are richer in species than more extensive terrestrial and marine habitats. Examination of the distribution patterns of fishes in these fresh waters reveals much about continental movements and climate changes and has long been critical to biogeographical studies and research in ecology and evolution. Tim Berra’s seminal resource, Freshwater Fish Distribution,maps the 169 fish families that swim in fresh water around the world. Each family account includes the class, subclass, and order; a pronunciation guide to the family name; life cycle information; and interesting natural history facts. Each account is illustrated, many with historical nineteenth-century woodcuts. Now available in paperback, this heavily cited work in ichthyology and biogeography will serve as a reference for students, a research support for professors, and a helpful guide to tropical fish hobbyists and anglers.