
Ecology of Salmonids in Estuaries around the World: Adaptations, Habitats, and Conservation
Colin D. Levings
For centuries, biologists have marvelled at how anadromous salmonids – fish that pass from rivers into oceans and back again – survive as they migrate between these two very different environments. Yet, relatively little is understood about what happens to salmonid species (including salmon, steelhead, char, and trout) in the estuaries where they make this transition from fresh to salt water. This book explains the critical role estuaries play in salmonid survival.
Ecology of Salmonids in Estuaries around the World synthesizes information from a vast array of literature, to
- describe the specific adaptation of eighteen anadromous salmonids in four genera (Hucho, Oncorhynchus, Salmo, and Salvelinus)
- explain the ecological relationships between anadromous salmonids, the fish they coexist with, and their estuarine habitat
- discuss key fitness elements salmonids need for survival (including those relating to osmoregulation, growth and feeding mechanisms, and biotic interactions)
- provide guidance on how to conduct estuarine sampling and scientific aspects of management and recovery plans
- offer directions for future research.
The critical reference is further enhanced by extensive supplementary appendices that are available online, including data tables, additional references on estuarine salmonids, and a primer on estuaries and salmonids for citizen scientists.
Product Details
About Colin D. Levings
Reviews for Ecology of Salmonids in Estuaries around the World: Adaptations, Habitats, and Conservation
Kurt L. Fresh, National Marine Fisheries Service
Transactions of the American Fisheries Society, No. 155
[Levings'] travels and consultation with colleagues enabled [him] to write a book that fills an important gap in the knowledge of estuarine ecology and suitability for the support of salmonid populations. Most large estuaries also serve as harbors for ship traffic and have huge human populations. These factors have affected the fishes to the point where many species have undergone drastic population decreases. This conservation problem is skillfully discussed by the author. In addition to its considerable scientific value, this handsome volume is well written and illustrated. It is a credit to the author and the University of British Columbia Press. Summing Up: Recommended
J. C. Briggs, Oregon State University
CHOICE, April 2017
The book seamlessly transitions from descriptions of the different types of estuaries, based on their morphological composition and specific attributes, to the behaviour of several salmonid species including their interactions with other species within estuarian environments … calling on a lifetime of estuarian studies, Levings details adaptations to field study techniques and strategies, and their limitations, employed in British Columbia and around the world.
Bert Ionson
The Ormsby Review
… there is much to be learned about both fish ecology and physical oceanography/limnology from this book, which will interest many readers, even those without any specific affinity for salmonids … It is clear that Levings’s long career dedicated to researching estuarine biology contributes greatly to the detail contained within the book … potentially making it an important reference for early career salmonid researchers or others developing research agendas on the topic.
Robert J. Lennox, Carleton University
Canadian Field-Naturalist
Colin Levings has distilled his vast knowledge from a lifetime of work on estuarine processes and salmonid ecology into a clear, concise and accessible book for a wide audience.
Francis Juanes et. al
Fish and Fisheries
I recommend that those studying estuaries consider purchasing this reasonably priced book. It provides a comprehensive review of what is known about salmonid estuaries, as well as recommendations for future work.
Jim Irvine, Fisheries and Oceans Canada
NPAFC Newsletter No. 41, January 2017