Australian Saltmarsh Ecology

by Neil Saintilan (Editor)

Overview

Australian Saltmarsh Ecology presents the first comprehensive review of the ecology and management of Australian saltmarshes. The past 10 years in particular have seen a sustained research effort into this previously poorly understood and neglected resource.

Leading experts in the field outline what is known of the biogeography and geomorphology of Australian saltmarshes, their fish and invertebrate ecology, the use of Australian saltmarshes by birds and insectivorous bats, and the particular challenges of management, including the control of mosquito pests, and the issue of sea-level rise. They provide a powerful argument that coastal saltmarsh is a unique and critical habitat vulnerable to the combined impacts of coastal development and sea-level rise.

The book will be an important reference for saltmarsh researchers, marine and aquatic biologists, natural resource managers, environmentalists and ecologists, as well as undergraduate students and the interested layperson.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780643098596
Publisher:	CSIRO PUBLISHING
Publication date:	02/11/2009
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	248
File size:	3 MB

About the Author

Neil Saintilan is Principal Research Scientist in the NSW Department of Environment and
Climate Change where he heads the Rivers and Wetlands Unit. He has spent more than 20 years exploring the ecology of coastal wetlands, including mangroves and saltmarshes. He and his students have discovered the importance of coastal saltmarsh a range of organisms including crustaceans, birds, fish and bats, and have documented the vulnerability of coastal saltmarsh to sea level rise.
Professor Saintilan lives in Sydney.

Table of Contents

List of contributors
Preface
Chapter 1 - Australian saltmarshes in global context
Chapter 2 - Distribution of Australian saltmarsh plants
Chapter 3 - Geomorphology and habitat dynamics
Chapter 4 - The ecology of molluscs in Australian saltmarshes
Chapter 5 - Ecology of burrowing crabs in temperate saltmarsh of south-east Australia
Chapter 6 - Fish on Australian saltmarshes
Chapter 7 - Saltmarsh as habitat for birds and other vertebrates
Chapter 8 - Ecology and management of mosquitoes
Chapter 9 - Protection and management of coastal saltmarsh
Chapter 10 - Mapping, assessment and monitoring of saltmarshes
Index

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

Contents
List of contributors
Preface
Chapter 1 - Australian saltmarshes in global context
Chapter 2 - Distribution of Australian saltmarsh plants
Chapter 3 - Geomorphology and habitat dynamics
Chapter 4 - The ecology of molluscs in Australian saltmarshes
Chapter 5 - Ecology of burrowing crabs in temperate saltmarsh of south-east Australia
Chapter 6 - Fish on Australian saltmarshes
Chapter 7 - Saltmarsh as habitat for birds and other vertebrates
Chapter 8 - Ecology and management of mosquitoes
Chapter 9 - Protection and management of coastal saltmarsh
Chapter 10 - Mapping, assessment and monitoring of saltmarshes
Index

Editorial Reviews

"The outstanding contribution to the volume is that of Paul Adam on the global context, which contains an excellent review of invasive species and their impacts…any reader, whether a professional saltmarsh ecologist or not, will learn a lot from reading this volume, even which State to live in to minimise the chances of contracting Ross River fever."

Professor Jamie Kirkpatrick

"A fair percentage of the references are recent, having been published within the last decade, reinforcing both the currency of this book and how much it is needed. I think that the valuable work done by scientific researchers, as demonstrated in this book, needs to be shared with the stakeholders and a wider public."

Linda Dalgliesh

"In a concise ten chapters, this book presents a comprehensive review of the current state of knowledge on the flora, fauna, ecosystem functions, and management issues of the coastal marshes in Australia, and calls attention to significant gaps in relevant information. In summary, a highly recommendable, stimulating book, valuable from both the scientific and management points of view, and interesting not only for researchers and students dealing with Australian saltmarshes, but for everyone interested in these sensitive and endangered ecosystems."

Ruben Jose Lara

"In a concise ten chapters, this book presents a comprehensive review of the current state of knowledge on the flora, fauna, ecosystem functions, and management issues of the coastal marshes in Australia, and calls attention to significant gaps in relevant information. In summary, a highly recommendable, stimulating book, valuable from both the scientific and management points of view, and interesting not only for researchers and students dealing with Australian saltmarshes, but for everyone interested in these sensitive and endangered ecosystems."

"A fair percentage of the references are recent, having been published within the last decade, reinforcing both the currency of this book and how much it is needed. I think that the valuable work done by scientific researchers, as demonstrated in this book, needs to be shared with the stakeholders and a wider public."

"The outstanding contribution to the volume is that of Paul Adam on the global context, which contains an excellent review of invasive species and their impacts…any reader, whether a professional saltmarsh ecologist or not, will learn a lot from reading this volume, even which State to live in to minimise the chances of contracting Ross River fever."

From the Publisher