Aquatic Plants of the Upper Midwest: a photographic field guide to our underwater forests
Never before has such a comprehensive photographic field guide to aquatic plants been available: covering 131 species and containing over 350 high-quality pictures taken by the author, this book is the definitive photographic guide to the often daunting world of aquatic plants. Paul Skawinski's self-publishedAquatic Plants of the Upper Midwestis an excellent resource for botanists, water resource managers, citizen scientists, and anyone with an interest in submerged and floating aquatic plants. Although covering Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan, it will be applicable to a much wider audience including neighboring states and Canadian provinces. Notable is the inclusion of every species found in the region including very rare and recently discovered invasive species often left out of non-technical manuals.Designed to be useful for experienced professionals and beginners alike, species are organized by leaf shape to facilitate identification of unknowns, then broken down by genus. Each species is covered by a clearly written description accompanied by a large full-color photograph with smaller insets of diagnostic characters, including close-ups of fruit, flowers, and leaves. Invasive species and listing status for rare species in each of the three states are also noted. Though distribution maps are not included, the range of each species is noted by broad geographic region.Professionals will appreciate the technical dichotomous keys included in the appendices for four major genera includingMyriophyllum, Sparganium, Utricularia, andPotamogeton(with close relativesStuckeniaandZosterella [Heteranthera]). Also included are the Coefficient of Conservatism (C) values for each species by state, which indicate a species' affinity for high-quality undisturbed habitat.Designed as a field manual with the user in mind, the book is spiral bound with water-resistant (though not water-proof) paper for functionality and durability. It should be a staple for anyone working with aquatic plants in the Upper Midwest, professional and casual user alike.--Ryan P. O'Connor, Botanist, Wisconsin Natural Heritage Inventory, Department of Natural ResourcesThis book is designed for fieldwork. It measures 9 inches long x 6 inches wide and is one-half inch thick - just right for fitting into a field satchel or backpack. Inside the front cover is a printed metric ruler. And the front and back covers with their color photographs are pleasing to the eye.Although not mentioned in the introductory pages, there are in fact a total of 131 species treated inAquatic Plants of the Upper Midwest. The vast majority of these are flowering macrophytes , but also included are quillworts (Isoetes echinospora, I. lacustris), mosquito ferns (Azollaspp.), aquatic mosses (Drepanocladusbeing the most common according to the field guide), liverworts (Riccia fluitans, Ricciocarpus natans), and green algae represented byCharaandNitellaspp., andNitellopsis obtusa.Plant nomenclature follows that of the USDA Plants Database, with a complete listing of species names and authorities under Appendix I, page 156.Aquatic Plantsdoes not treat hybrids, but subspecific taxa are distinguished. Employment of this useful guide permits scientists and non-scientists to identify aquatic plants and thus better understand stream, pond, and lake communities. Professional and amateur botanists, land and water managers/specialists, naturalists, teachers and students will findAquatic Plantsan invaluable addition to their collection of field guides and manuals.Aquatic Plantsbegins with a brief overview of book layout, followed by a page explaining the concern for aquatic invasive species (AIS) and how to report AIS that are encountered in the field. Appendix A includes a discussion and illustrations of possible future aquatic invasive species. The reader is reminded of the ecological services offered by aquatic plants (perceived by some as weeds): they function as breeding and nursery habitats, provide food and shelter for other aquatic organisms, soil stabilization, water purification, and oxygenation of water, to name a few. Basic water chemistry and the results of nutrient loading, eutrophication, is emphasized as well. Combined, these facts about aquatic plants not only underscore their value as natural capital, but also serving as bio-indicators in aquatic communities. For every species description, scientific photographs illustrate the macrophyte in its natural habitat. A close-up view of the same plant (with contrasting background) reveals important diagnostic characters while using a nickel coin for scale. That's smart. A species description includes the scientific and common names, scientific family name, most similar species, plant appearance, habitat, status, water type (hard vs. soft), regional distribution (1-6) and form (monocot or dicot; annual or perennial). One could imagine an aquatic field guide that taxes the composure of a prairie boy, like me. ButAquatic Plants of the Upper Midwestby Paul M. Skawinski is easy to adapt to. I enthusiastically recommend this book as an affordable and highly-useable field guide that will improve your aquatic plant literacy while enhancing your botanical library.--Thomas L. Eddy, President, Botanical Club of Wisconsin - January 2012 NewsletterThis book is an essential botanical reference for anyone interested in Midwestern plants; it is absolutely essential for anyone interested in the identification of aquatic macrophytes, far exceeding in clarity of presentation and photography any published North American aquatic plant guide. The full-color, high-resolution photos by Paul are superb and show all of the diagnostic characters needed to name these difficult-to-identify plants, for example the pondweeds (pages 20-22, 56-77) and bladderworts (pages 42-49, 100). --Dr. Emmet Judziewicz, Author ofWildflowers of Wisconsin and the Great Lakes Region& Professor of Plant Taxonomy, University of Wisconsin