The loss to national economies resulting from excessive plant biomass has been appreciable and has put pressure on water managers to develop weed control procedures. The results from the most up-to-date research activities and field trials of leading aquatic plant scientists and managers in all five continents, aimed at resolving these weed problems, has been drawn together in this volume.

Over the past 50 years, major changes have taken place in the distribution of aquatic plants in Europe. Many species have declined whilst other species have increased in abundance or spread, including several that were originally introduced from the New World. Despite the relative richness of the aquatic flora of Britain and Ireland, it is a neglected area of study. This book is not an identification manual but provides a summary of the distribution, habitat and reproductive biology of 200 taxa in 72 genera, with individual distribution maps, and also summarizes their distribution overseas. A joint project of I.T.E. (now C.E.H.), the Joint Nature Conservation Committee and the Environment Agency.

The international journal Ecohydrology & Hydrobiology (E&H) has been created to promote the concept of Ecohydrology, which is defined as the study of the functional interrelations between hydrology and biota at the catchment scale. Ecohydrology extends from the molecular level to catchment-scale processes and is based on three principles: • framework (hydrological principle) - quantification and integration of hydrological and ecological processes at a basin scale; • target (ecological principle) - necessity of enhancing ecosystem absorbing capacity and ecosystem services; and • management tool (ecological engineering) – the use of ecosystem properties for regulation the interplay between hydrology and biota. The journal encourages the submission of manuscripts which adopt an integrative approach to aquatic sciences, explaining ecological and hydrological processes at a river-basin scale or propose practical applications of this knowledge. It will also consider papers in other hydrobiological fields. Especially welcome are papers on regulatory mechanism within biocenosis and the resistance and resilience of freshwater and costal zones ecosystems. There is no page charge for published papers. All submitted papers, written exclusively in English, should be original works, unpublished and not under consideration for publication elsewhere. All papers are peer-reviewed. The following types of papers are considered for publication in E&H: • original research papers • invited or submitted review papers, • short communications

As we enter a new millennium, the environmental issues faced by both developing and industrialised nations are as pressing as ever. Environmental biotechnologies are increasingly being viewed as a major weapon against environmental damage. Cleaner production is part of this strategy and yet there is still widespread ignorance about this emerging technology. Environmental Biotechnology and Cleaner Bioprocesses provides this information at various levels, from introductory to advanced. The first section covers the development of cleaner bioprocesses within the framework of sustainable development. Aspects of environmental policy for small and medium businesses are then discussed using case studies to illustrate principles. The second section covers the recycling and treatment of organic waste, including the use of aquatic plants and microalgae for wastewater treatment and recovery of nutrients. Section three covers bioremediation technologies and finally, section four is dedicated to emerging cleaner bioprocesses and environmentally sound products. All chapters have been written and edited by leading authorities in the field. Students and professionals interested in environmental biotechnology and cleaner production will find the background information and detail they require in this one convenient source.