This book brings together the highly scattered and diverse global literature on pure and applied aspects of temporary waters and their biotas. It examines their roles in both natural and human environments, and seeks common evolutionary themes. It wil be of particular interest to aquatic ecologists, invertebrate and vertebrate biologists, environmental biologists, wetland conservationists, those charged with controlling water-associated diseases, educators, and natural historians.
It is only natural for people to be fascinated by the sea. Life originated in the oceans, and more than one-half of the people on Earth reside within 50 miles of the sea. However, even though we have sent explorers to the moon and other regions of space, we still know little about the frontier that surrounds us.
