Among the fishes, a remarkably wide range of biological adaptations to diverse habitats has evolved. As well as living in the conventional habitats of lakes, ponds, rivers, rock pools and the open sea, fish have solved the problems of life in deserts, in the deep sea, in the cold Antarctic, and in warm waters of high alkalinity or of low oxygen. Along with these adaptations, we find the most impressive specializations of morphology, physiology and behaviour. For example we can marvel at the high-speed swimming of the marlins, sailfish and warm-blooded tunas, air breathing in catfish and lungfish, parental care in the mouth-brooding cichlids and viviparity in many sharks and toothcarps. Moreover, fish are ofconsiderable importance to the survival ofthe human species in the form of nutritious and delicious food of numerous kinds. Rational exploitation and management of our global stocks of fishes must rely upon a detailed and precise insight of their biology. The Chapman and Hall Fish and Fisheries Series aims to present timely volumes reviewing important aspects of fish biology. Most volumes will be of interest to research workers in biology, zoology, ecology and physiology, but an additional aim is for the books to be accessible to a wide spectrum ofnon specialist readers ranging from undergraduates and postgraduates to those with an interest in industrial and commercial aspects of fish and fisheries.

Many of the processes influencing recruitment to an adult fish population or entry into a fishery occur very early in life. The variations in life histories and behaviours of young fish and the selective processes operating on this variation ultimately determine the identities and abundance of survivors. This important volume brings together contributions from many of the world's leading researchers from the field of fish ecology. The book focuses on three major themes of pressing importance in the analysis of the role that the early life history of fishes plays in the number and quality of recruits: the selective processes at play in their early life history; the contributions of early life history to the understanding of recruitment.

Plans for an International Symposium on the Early Life History of Fish were first discussed in 1967 at the F. A. O. Advisory Committee on Marine Resources Research {A. C. M. R. R. }. It was considered that studies on fish eggs and larvae were of value in estimating the size of fish stocks, in appraising the stock-recruitment relationship, and in helping to answer questions on the systematics and taxonomy of fish. An A. C. M. R. R. Working Party recommended in 1969 that a Symposium should be held and after discussion with the International Associa tion of Biological Oceanography {I. A. B. O. } Dr. J. H. S. Blaxter of the Scottish Marine Biological Association {S. M. B. A. } agreed to con vene the meeting with the help of a steering committee. Various in ternational agencies were interested in the meeting and agreed to sponsor it in various ways. These agencies included F. A. O. , I. A. B. O. , the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea {I. C. E. S. } and the Scientific Committee for Oceanic Research {S. C. O. R. }. In the final event F. A. O. supported the meeting by publishing the abstracts beforehand, providing travel funds for participants and publishing a report after the meeting. I. A. B. O. and S. C. O. R. provided travel funds and the Royal Society of London and S. M. B. A.

Many of the processes influencing recruitment to an adult fish population or entry into a fishery occur very early in life. The variations in life histories and behaviours of young fish and the selective processes operating on this variation ultimately determine the identities and abundance of survivors. This important volume brings together contributions from many of the world's leading researchers from the field of fish ecology. The book focuses on three major themes of pressing importance in the analysis of the role that the early life history of fishes plays in the number and quality of recruits: the selective processes at play in their early life history; the contributions of early life history to the understanding of recruitment.

It is now clear that data based on the studies of fish eggs and larvae make a number of unique contributions to fishery science that are crucial for accurate assessment and management of fish populations, including those of commercially important fisheries. This valuable book demonstrates why fish eggs and larvae are important, how the characteristics of early life stages require a somewhat different research approach and how information on early life stages can be applied and interpreted to yield unique insights into fish populations. The editors of Fishery Science have drawn together an extremely useful and well-written book with contributions from internationally respected researchers from North America, Asia and Europe. Chapters include a discussion of the unique nature of early life stages, age and growth, mortality, recruitment, populations analysis, habitats, human impacts and management. A carefully selected set of case studies demonstrates several specific applications of early life history information to a number of fishery problems. Fishery Science was designed to complement existing textbooks and is an essential purchase for all fisheries students and professionals, and for biologists working on the early life stages of fish. This exciting book is also of great value to ecologists, marine, freshwater and environmental scientists, populations biologists and oceanographers. All libraries in universities and research establishments where biological and fishery science are studied and taught should have copies of this book available on their shelves.

Knowledge of the early life stages of fishes is crucial for the effective monitoring and management of fish populations and habitats, and the evaluation of environmental impacts and recovery of endangered species. Unfortunately, the proper identification of targeted species has stunted the development of the field. Now a series has emerged that stands as the leading resource on the reproduction and development of many North American fishes. Reproductive Biology and Early Life History of Fishes in the Ohio River Drainage fills immense gaps in knowledge of issues related to early life development of fishes in the Ohio Basin. Volume 4 addresses the developmental and morphological issues of Perch, Pikeperch, and Darters. This volume describes the characteristics of the family Percidae, and provides a detailed pictorial guide to the young of all fish families present in the Ohio River drainage. Subtopics within each species description include range, distribution, occurrence, spawning, eggs, development, ecology of early life phases, and more. This book serves as both a handbook to help identify individual larval fish, and as a reference for those concerned with the overall health of the ecosystems or fisheries that they are monitoring.