SP 57. Keys to the Larvae of British Corixidae

by A. A. SAVAGE

School of Life Sciences, Keele University

Illustrated by A. A. SAVAGE and A. JANSSON

FRESHWATER BIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATION NO. 57, 1999

Price £12.00

This welcome addition to the FBA's series of Scientific Publications provides the first taxonomic analysis of the larvae of British corixids. Together with the key to the adults of the British Aquatic Hempitera Heteroptera by the same author (FBA Scientific Publication No. 50), it provides a comprehensive account for all of those who wish to collect, identify and pursue ecological studies on the Corixidae.

Order forms are available upon request from the FBA or via the web.

SP 58. A Key to the Freshwater Triclads of Brtain and Ireland, With Notes on Their Ecology

by T.B. Reynoldson & J.O. Young

FRESHWATER BIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATION No. 58
Published by The Freshwater Biological Association, Ambleside, July 2000

72pp, ISBN 0 900386 63 X

Price £14.00

This is the third edition of the FBA's key to flatworms, following on from the second produced in 1978 (SP 23) and the original written over 30 years ago in 1967.  The 1978 key has been substantially rewritten and includes:

• a key to live specimens, including a recent addition to the British fauna an additional short key to preserved specimens
• notes on identification of cocoons
• recent information on the general biology of triclads, as well as species-specific biology  and distribution
• over 150 references

This new publication is therefore more than just a key: it is a complete key and comprehensive account of the biology and distribution of freshwater triclads in Britain and Ireland.

Order forms are available upon request from the FBA or via the web.

SP 59. Keys to the Freshwater Microturbellarians of Britain and Ireland, With Notes on Their Ecology

by J.O. Young

FRESHWATER BIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATION NO. 59
Published by The Freshwater Biological Association, Ambleside, June 2001

142 pages, ISBN 0 900386 66 5

Price £16.00

This publication provides a series of keys which, for the first time, enable the user to identify 56 species of free-living microturbellarians that currently have been recorded from Britain and Ireland.  Like the larger triclads, which were the subject of the FBA’s previous Scientific Publication (No. 58), they occur in a wide range of freshwater and brackish habitats, but are less widely known, perhaps because of their small size.  With a body length often less than 3 mm and a lanceolate shape, popular methods of collecting benthic macronvertebrates may result in the escape of these small microinvertebrates through relatively coarse meshes of most pond-nets.  Unfortunately, preservation of pond-net samples results in microturbellarians being reduced to insignificant, dull-coloured masses.  Hence this publication includes informative and essential sections on collection, preservation (for histological examination) and methods of identifying live animals.  Dr Young has also produced a comprehensive summary of the literature on the general biology and ecology of the group, much of which is available only in German.

The occurrence of some species in temporary, brackish and polluted waters suggests that the group may be useful as part of a monitoring programme for water quality.  The clearly illustrated keys provide biologists with one of the necessary tools to investigate this as well as providing an incentive to look for previously undescribed species.  It is hoped that publication of this volume will bring Microturbellarians to the attention of more freshwater biologists than hitherto and help promote more research on this particular component of the benthic invertebrate fauna.

Order forms are available upon request from the FBA or via the web.

SP 60. Keys to Larval and Juvenile Stages of Coarse Fishes from Freshwaters in the British Isles

by Adrian C. Pinder

FRESHWATER BIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATION NO. 60

Published by The Freshwater Biological Association, Ambleside, September 2001

136 pages, ISBN 0 900386 67 3

Price £20.00

This publication provides a series of keys to the early stages of “Coarse Fishes” that occur in British fresh waters.  During the first month of free existence, these fishes develop through a number of stages that are difficult for aquatic biologists (and most ichthyologists) to recognise.  This difficulty in distinguishing one species from another has led to considerable neglect of these early stages and their impact on the surrounding biota as predators, competitors and prey.  Until recently, studies on recruitment in these early stages were also few and far between.

This series of keys provides a most necessary tool to assist such studies. It comprises keys to five developmental stages of coarse fish: free embryos, young larvae, intermediate larvae, older larvae and young juveniles. Clearly illustrated with line-drawings and colour photographs, it also includes notes on the collection, preparation and preservation of material.

Order forms are available upon request from the FBA or via the web.

SP 61. Keys to the Case-bearing Caddis Larvae of Britain and Ireland

by I.D. Wallace, B. Wallace & the late G.N. Philipson

Published by The Freshwater Biological Association, Ambleside, 2003

259 pages

ISBN 978-0-900386-70-1

Price £22.00

This is a new, updated edition of the FBA’s original key to case-bearing caddis larvae, by the same authors, published in 1990.  The new key includes additional information on distribution and different instars and the text, illustrations and references reflect the considerable amount of work that has been carried out on the taxonomy and systematics of the families of case-bearing caddis (Trichoptera) since 1990.  This new edition incorporates improvements at several points in the text where some users of the 1990 edition have experienced confusion or difficulties, and also incorporates new couplets and text figures to help improve identification of several species.  Additional notes on the key couplets are provided.  The key comprises:

• checklist of case-bearing caddis
• notes on collection, preservation and examination, and on general features of caddis larvae
• key to families of case-bearing caddis larvae
• keys to species of case-bearing caddis larvae (one key for each family)
• 71 references
  

Order forms are available upon request from the FBA or via the web.

SP 62. Keys to the Freshwater Fish of Britain and Ireland, With Notes on Their Distribution and Ecology

by Peter S. Maitland

Published by The Freshwater Biological Association, Ambleside, 2004

248 pages

ISBN 978-0-900386-71-8

Price £22.00

Based on Peter Maitland's earlier Key to British Freshwater Fishes, published by the FBA in 1972, this new edition has been extensively enlarged and updated. Fifty-seven species are recognised in a checklist for Britain and Ireland, including several new species such as Black Bullhead, False Harlequin and Sunbleak, which have recently become established in Britain. Additionally, Sterlet, Siberian Sturgeon, Grass Carp, Channel Catfish and Brown Bullhead are also included in the keys to species (though not illustrated) because they may be encountered in fresh and estuarine waters within the British Isles. All species in the checklist are illustrated by line-drawings accompanying the relevant key couplets, and most of them are depicted in 48 colour photographs - where possible these are taken from live specimens. Accurate identification is assisted by additional text in a new section summarising important external features of each species, their general body size, habitat, reproduction, food, distribution, and use for angling and commercial fishing. This section of 44 pages is supported by some 700 selected references to the literature.

In addition to the keys for identifying 23 families and 62 species of adult fish, keys to family-level are also provided for identifying the eggs and small (post-larval) stages, and the scales of adult fish; the scales are illustrated with photographs and line-drawings emphasising the most important diagnostic features.

Current knowledge on the distribution of each species is illustrated in a series of maps based on Hydrometric Areas in Britain and Ireland, underlining the relative rarity of some species and urgent need for conservation. This topic is emphasised in the text, reflecting Peter Maitland's extensive knowledge and first-hand experience. All those with an interest in fish will find the maps and text concerning conservation particularly valuable, including a brief section on legislation affecting fish and fisheries, which is introduced in chronological order.

Order forms are available upon request from the FBA or via the web.

SP 63. A New Key to the Freshwater Bryozoans of Britain, Ireland and Continental Europe, with notes on their ecology

by T.S. Wood and B. Okamura

Published by The Freshwater Biological Association, Ambleside, 2005

113 pages

ISBN 978-0-900386-77-5

Price £16.00

Bryozoans are small, filter-feeding animals that live in colonies attached to all kinds of substrata in a variety of habitats. Some 'moss animals' form slender, chitinous, branching tubules; others produce gelatinous sheets and ribbons, or globular colonies. Several species can cause problems by clogging wastewater treatment systems, and the recent discovery that bryozoans act as hosts for a myxozoan parasite responsible for Proliferative Kidney Disease in salmonid fish has focussed attention on their economic importance.

The earlier key by S. P. Mundy (FBA Sci. Pub. 41, 1980) listed 14 species of freshwater bryozoans in the British Isles and Europe. This completely new key by T. S. Wood and B. Okamura recognises 19 species and removes two of the species listed by Mundy. The key for identification to species is based on colony shape and form, and microscopic examination of asexually-produced statoblasts. Key characters are profusely illustrated with line-drawings, supported by micrographs obtained by scanning electron microscopy which show the detailed surface structures of statoblasts. Colony shapes and general features are also illustrated with a series of photographs.

Introductory sections deal with the following aspects of bryozoan biology: general structure, life history, feeding, population biology, predation and parasitism, systematics, evolution, historical studies, and methods for collection, preservation and microscopic examination. A later section of taxonomic and ecological notes provides additional information to aid identification with the key, and briefly describes the distribution and relative rarity of each species. Recent literature is thoroughly reviewed and is supported by nearly 150 references.

Order forms are available upon request from the FBA or via the web.