A beautifully illustrated guide to the wide variety of species found in rivers, streams, lakes and ponds in Britain and Europe. Covering northern Europe, including the mainly freshwater environment of the Baltic Sea, 'Pocket Guide Freshwater Life' describes and illustrates over 900 species of plant and animal visible with the naked eye, from damsels and dragonflies to beetles and molluscs. This is the ideal freshwater companion, the most comprehensive pocket guide to the subject. It also makes a superb companion volume to 'Pocket Guide Sea Shore'. An easy-to-use key guides the user quickly to the correct species without using complex terminology. Each species is illustrated in colour with the relevant text on the facing page for quick and accurate identification. Artists include: / Denys Ovenden / Carol Roberts / Jonathan Latimer / Tony Disley / Felicity Cole
About the Author:
Malcolm Greenhalgh studied freshwater ecology and received his PhD in estuary ecology. As a freelance researcher and writer, he has appeared on television and the radio and has taught groups of naturalists and fly-fishers throughout northern Europe how to identify aquatic plants and animals. He has also carried out investigations into the plant and animal life of rivers and lakes for wildlife organisations and riparian owners and has published various papers, articles and books on the subject.
Registered: March 2007 Location: Romford, Essex Posts: 5700
Review Date: Fri 24, December, 2010
Would you recommend it? Yes |
Total Spent: None indicated| Rating: 9
Strengths:
Covers most things you are likely to find in a pond dip
Weaknesses:
Could use a few more beetle larvae and fly larvae species
Great all round book covering plants, microscopic life, invertebrates and vertebrates found in all fresh and slightly brackish water. Obviously it cant cover every species of every genus but it seems to cover a good select from most. A must for any pond dipper.
Registered: July 2011 Location: Taunus, Germany Posts: 1317
Review Date: Wed 10, August, 2011
Would you recommend it? Yes |
Total Spent: None indicated| Rating: 9
Strengths:
Comprehensive, compact, good price
Weaknesses:
I have found this to be an excellent, compact reference book. The illustrations are accurate and beautifully drawn, and I think it is an advantage that Collins have not used photographs. This was the first general reference guide I found which identified different leech species, for instance. Would certainly recommend it to any pond-dipping enthusiast.
