RECOMMENDED READING LIST
Aquatic invertebrate life encompasses many thousand species and there
are very many books dealing with specific groups, such as mayflies, leeches,
beetles etc. For almost every group there are dedicated books dealing with
their identification, far too many to list here.
It is for that reason that the books listed below are broader in scope
and hence most relevant to the beginner
-
PS Croft: A Key to the Major Groups of British Freshwater Invertebrates,
Field Studies Council
- Helen Mellanby: Animal Life in Fresh Water, Chapman & Hall
- M Greenhalgh & D Ovenden: Collins Pocket Guide – Freshwater Life, Harper Collins
Croft is probably the most modern general work enabling you to identify
to group level, or taxon, made more useful by being relatively cheap and
also available for purchase at the Flatford centre. It is also often available
via the public libraries.
Mellanby is older and out of print but may be available through the public
library system or second hand. It still contains a wealth of relevant information
coupled with good illustrations and copies will be provided for use during
the course.
Greenhalgh & Ovenden is a good general book which will help your pre course knowledge but it does contain some mistakes, several out of date species names
and, covering only 900 species, is no substitute for specialised keys to the individual taxa.
Having improved in general identification of aquatic invertebrates you will then move on during the course to look at the identification of certain taxa (groups) to species level. Each taxon has specific keys of which there are too many to list here, though these will be available during the course. Even within a particular taxon there are sub-groups specialising in certain parts of the aquatic habitat. It is for that reason that the following is worth a look:
- Marjorie Guthrie: Animals of the Surface Film: Naturalists’ Handbooks 12, Richmond Publishing Co.
This gives a good overview of the air / water interface, a part of the aquatic environment surprisingly often overlooked. This is despite the fact that much can be seen and many invertebrates identified at least to group level with only a pair of binoculars without getting wet at all. The book also contains some keys to species level and is also reasonable in price. Again available from the Flatford centre and good natural history bookshops.
Let me also stress that it is not essential that you read or have your own copy of any of the above. They are merely included for those that wish to do some preparatory work. The course is designed to let each improve his or her own existing knowledge and to learn from each other in a stimulating and friendly environment.
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