Aquatic oligochaeta of The Netherlands and Belgium

Oligochaetes are a widely dispersed and varied group of invertebrates. They are segmented worms, comprising over 8,000 terrestrial and aquatic species. Elusive and poorly known, oligochaetes play important roles in almost all ecosystems, ranging from the poles to the tropics. As such, they are commonly used as indicators of water quality and ecosystem health. Many of the oligochaetes of the Netherlands and Belgium are aquatic, inhabiting either freshwater or brackish water habitats. To date, a total of 136 species of aquatic oligochaetes have been reported in these countries. All of these are featured in this book. 'Aquatic oligochaetes of The Netherlands and Belgium' is the first book to focus on this important group in this part of Europe. It presents a comprehensive overview of these animals, focusing on classi fication, morphology, collecting and preservation, identi fication, and ecology. It also discusses the oligochaete fauna of Germany. Moreover, it offers a new, practical key for identi fication to the species level. This key mainly uses characteristics that are easy to observe, and is supported by clear photographs and schematic drawings.