This book introduces updated information on conservation issues, providing an overview of what is needed to advance the global conservation of freshwater decapods such as freshwater crabs, crayfish, and shrimps. Biodiversity loss in general is highest in organisms that depend on intact freshwater habitats, because freshwater ecosystems worldwide are suffering intense threats from multiple sources. Our understanding of the number and location of threatened species of decapods, and of the nature of their extinction threats has improved greatly in recent years, and has enabled the development of species conservation strategies. This volume focuses on saving threatened species from extinction, and emphasizes the importance of the successful implementation of conservation action plans through cooperation between scientists, conservationists, educators, funding agencies, policy makers, and conservation agencies.

Decapods are the largest, most prominent, and, unfortunately, most threatened freshwater crustaceans. Advances in Freshwater Decapod Systematics and Biology presents a selection of papers by geographical and domain experts, in taxonomy, phylogenetics, biogeography, life history, and conservation. The major groups of freshwater decapods—crabs, crayfish, prawns, and anomurans—are all represented. This volume includes a chapter commemorating Richard Bott’s influence on freshwater crab/decapod biology; descriptions of seven new species (Atyidae, Aeglidae, Pseudothelphusidae, Potamidae, and Sesarmidae); chapters on larval-based phylogenetics and molecular clock calibration; and reviews of longevity and mortality, and of the global conservation status of freshwater decapods. This volume both reflects the current state of research and serves as a primer for future work and more integrative decapod research. Contributors include: Shane T. Ahyong, Klaus Anger, Georgina Bond-Buckup, Ludwig Buckup, Yixiong Cai, Christian Clavijo, Neil Cumberlidge, James M. Furse, Alberto S. Gonçalves, Guillermo Guerao, Alireza Keikhosravi, Sebastian Klaus, Tainã G. Loureiro, Célio Magalhães, Fernando L. Mantelatto, Jose C. E. Mendoza, , Jérôme Prieto, Silke Reuschel, Vitor Q. A. Sanches, Tobias Santl, Sandro Santos, Fabrizio Scarabino, Christoph D. Schubart, Michael Türkay, Ana Verdi, Günter Vogt, and Darren C. J. Yeo

This is the eighth volume of a ten-volume series on The Natural History of the Crustacea. The volume examines Evolution and Biogeography, and the first part of this volume is entirely dedicated to the explanation of the origins and successful establishment of the Crustacea in the oceans. In the second part of the book, the biogeography of the Crustacea is explored in order to infer how they conquered different biomes globally while adapting to a wide range of aquatic and terrestrial conditions. The final section examines more general patterns and processes, and the chapters offer useful insight into the future of crustaceans.

Recent Advances in Freshwater Crustacean Biodiversity and Conservation focuses on minor crustacean groups and regionally endemic groups, all from freshwaters. Chapters in this book cover crustaceans such as Maxillopods, Mysids, Cumaceans, Isopods, Amphipods, Branchiopods, Copepods, and Decapods. Each looks at global or regional fauna and discusses conservation issues for that group. The majority of the chapters are based on papers presented at symposia organized by the editors at two international scientific meetings held in Barcelona and Washington DC. The contributors are world-renowned experts on their groups, as well as on freshwater crustacean conservation and biodiversity at global levels. It has previously been difficult for conservation managers, NGOs, and university professors and students who may not have access to comprehensive journal subscriptions to find relevant information on diversity and conservation of freshwater crustaceans. This book meets that need, addressing crustacean groups not previously treated and providing additional information beyond any presented in existing books. As the editors write in their introduction: we cannot conserve and we cannot protect what we do not know exists. This is a reliable, cutting-edge reference for anybody involved in crustacean research: students, researchers, agencies, and NGOs, as well as science educators, conservationists, and government conservation policymakers. The book will also be useful for those working in aquaculture and fisheries, given that many of the taxa discussed are economically important.

Aeglidae focuses on these unique crustaceans who are endemic to South America. The book is the first to summarize the diverse aspects of the Aeglidae, whose taxonomic features and phylogenetic relationships, evolutionary history and biogeographical background, biological characteristics, and current conservation awareness make them stand out among all other decapods. Addresses the morphology, taxonomy, and phylogenetics that characterize the Aegla and their relationship to other decapod taxa Provides in-depth treatment of the evolutionary history, biogeography, reproduction, developmental biology, and the life cycle of the Aeglidae Discusses their physiology, ecology and behavior, including physiological mechanisms associated with freshwater adaptation, population dynamics, trophic ecology, agonistic and non-agonistic behavior Covers the current conservation status of all known species of aeglids, major threats to them, the use of aeglids as flagships or umbrella species, and conservation action planning Edited by internationally distinguished leaders in this field. This will be an important reference not only for carcinologists working with this family of decapods, but also readers interested in the evolution, biogeography, taxonomy, phylogenetics, physiology, and reproductive ecology.

Identification and Ecology of Freshwater Arthropods in the Mediterranean Basin covers the entire Mediterranean basin, including parts of Europe, Asia, Africa and the Mediterranean islands, but excluding other biogeographic locations with Mediterranean climates located outside the region. The book provides an extensive description of the taxonomy and ecology of aquatic arthropods encountered in lentic and lotic habitats, as well as in less studied underground and estuarine habitats. It offers expanded taxonomic identification keys to major groups of arthropods with a description of their ecology and distribution. Keys for insects include aquatic larval stages and water-dwelling adults of Coleoptera and Heteroptera. Additional sections focus on taxa that can be encountered in adjacent brackish and estuary ecosystems as long as the taxon primarily occurs in freshwaters. This is a much-needed, comprehensive resource on the taxonomy and ecology of freshwater arthropods with an introduction to recent molecular tools for identifications. It will be particularly useful for freshwater ecologists, limnologists, environmentalists and students in the ecological sciences. - Presents taxonomic keys to genera and species to the majority of aquatic arthropod families - Provides coverage of all freshwater ecosystems of the Mediterranean basin, with case studies and examples - Includes numerous photographs of the aquatic arthropods described in the chapters - Covers the ecology and taxonomy of organisms living in more traditionally studied lakes and streams as well as in less studied underground and estuarine habitats

Thorp and Covich's Freshwater Invertebrates, Volume 5: Keys to Neotropical and Antarctic Fauna, Fourth Edition, covers inland water invertebrates of the world. It began with Ecology and General Biology, Volume One (Thorp and Rogers, editors, 2015) and was followed by three volumes emphasizing taxonomic keys to general invertebrates of the Nearctic (2016), neotropical hexapods (2018), and general invertebrates of the Palearctic (2019). All volumes are designed for multiple uses and levels of expertise by professionals in universities, government agencies, private companies, and graduate and undergraduate students. - Includes zoogeographic coverage of the entire Neotropics, from central Mexico and the Caribbean Islands, to the tip of South America - Provides identification keys for aquatic invertebrates to genus or species level for many groups, with keys progressing from higher to lower taxonomic levels - Contains terminology and morphology, materials preparation and preservation, and references