Beyond the Sea

David Strayer               
Johns Hopkins, £23.00

Beyond the Sea has nothing to with the song of the same name, although one could say that the sea has an overpowering effect on how we view water on Earth. Known as the blue planet due to the seas that cover approximately 71% of the surface, author David Strayer, a freshwater ecologist, asserts that while the oceans contain a wealth of life, just about everyone ignores the waters of the land

Known as inland waters these bodies of enclosed or running waters possess a significant ecological effect on life and provide a variety of habitats for organisms. This variety is likely explained by the waters’ differing size, geology, age, shape, chemistry, temperature, altitude and location. No one inland water example is the same as another, and therefore unique opportunities are offered for life to evolve and ecosystems to thrive.

Over 15 chapters, he covers the making of inland waters, their lifespan, biodiversity and the chemical diversity of freshwaters. He also emphasises the importance of wetlands and berates their destruction. Some fascinating information on inland water species numbers and diversity follows – freshwater sponges and jellyfish are present, although very small compared to marine species, while the anaconda shows that freshwater does allow for gigantic animals to thrive. 

The author’s writing style makes for easy reading, as shown particularly in the final chapter of closing remarks, underlining that constant monitoring and care for inland waters is vital. 

Pat Sang MRSB C.Biol

Dr David L Strayer is a freshwater ecologist at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies with expertise in the Hudson River, invasive species and streams. He is a coeditor of Fundamentals of Ecosystem Science and the author of The Hudson Primer: Ecology of an Iconic River.