The Biology of Freshwater Wetlands

Dr. Arnold van der Valk is a professor in the Department of Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology at Iowa State University. He has done research on a variety of wetlands in North America, Europe, Asia and South America. His primary research interests are the dynamics of wetland vegetation, wetlands as nutrients sinks, and landscape differentiation within wetlands. He has been teaching courses wetland ecology for over 30 years.

• Preface ; 1. Introduction ; 2. Water and soil ; 3. Microorganisms and invertebrates ; 4. Wetland plants and animals ; 5. Spatial and temporal patterns ; 6. Wetland functions ; 7. Invasive species ; 8. Restoration and creation ; 9. Global climate change ; 10. The value and future of wetlands ; Glossary ; Bibliography ; Index

This book is timely and a fundamental reference of wetland processes, functions and management approaches. ... the author presents a compelling text book that covers the fundamentals of ecological processes and functions in wetlands. ... Van der Valk provides a unique and detailed look at wetland functions and services. This book is an excellent starting point for developing such understanding and is accessible to undergraduate and beginning graduate students, land managers and any person interested in furthering their knowledge of these complex but compelling ecosystems.