Krienitz, Lothar

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ARTICLE IN PRESSdoi:10.1016/j.limLimnologica 38 (2008) 172
www.elsevier.de/limnoBOOK REVIEWPeter F.M. Coesel, Koos J. Meesters. Desmids of
the Lowlands—Mesotaeniaceae and Desmidiaceae of the
European Lowlands. KNNV Publishing, Zeist, The
Netherlands (2007). 351 pp., 123 plates, 20 ﬁgures
in the text and one CD-ROM with extra information,
89.95 h, ISBN: 978-90-5011-265-9
Algae as primary producers play a pivotal role in
freshwater ecosystems. Qualiﬁcation (species composi-
tion) and quantiﬁcation (biomass, primary production)
of algal communities are widely accepted indicators of
water quality. Desmids are often used as indicators of
environmental conditions such as pH, conductivity and
to assess the trophic state of water bodies. They
preferentially live in vulnerable habitats thus they often
appear in conservation studies.
Generally, the determination of desmids is not simple
and few handbooks describing the entire spectrum of this
algal group. Until recently only a few small volumes of
the series ‘‘De Desmidiaceee¨n van Nederland’’ ﬁlled this
void in the European Lowlands (Coesel, 1982–1997).
The present edition represents a comprehensive
version of the Dutch volumes describing desmids ﬂora
in English inclusive of new and additional taxa recorded
in the Netherlands as well as taxa described from
adjacent lowlands in Belgium and Germany.
The book contains determination keys and descrip-
tions of more than 500 species and 150 varieties of
desmids. The keys are exclusively based on vegetative
cell characteristics with additional characterization of
zygospores. The predominant occurence of each taxon isno.2008.02.001given. Furthermore, the taxa are well characterized
through original drawings primarily drawn by the ﬁrst
author located in 123 plates at the end of the book.
Illustrations of species within speciﬁc genus’s are pre-
dominantly drawn to scale 300 and 600 of magniﬁca-
tion which enhances their usefullness for practical work. A
list of references helps provide additional information on
different taxa. A detailed species index gives names of all
the presented taxa in addition to, the most common
synonyms, obscure records and associated species.
A bonus CD-ROM is including with description of the
general biology of desmids including reproduction and
function in the food web. Details are illustrated through
coloured drawings and micrographs. Description of
desmids communities are providing including sampling
and analysis techniques for euplanktic, tychoplanktic,
benthic and atmophytic desmids. Finally, software that
can be applied to data for assessing species ecology,
distribution and their conservation value for a given
sample site is available for downloading on the CD. This
program is very useful in lake evaluation for the
European Water Framework Directive.
This book/CD combination is highly recommended
for all hydrobiologists, phycologists and ecologists.
Lothar Krienitz
Department of Limnology of Stratified Lakes,
Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and
Inland Fisheries, Alte Fischerhu¨tte 2,
D-16775 Stechlin-Neuglobsow, Germany
E-mail address: krie@igb-berlin.de


Peter F.M. Coesel, Koos J. Meesters. Desmids of the Lowlands—Mesotaeniaceae and Desmidiaceae of the European Lowlands. KNNV Publishing, Zeist, The Netherlands (2007). 351 pp., 123 plates, 20 figures in the text and one CD-ROM with extra information, 89.95 €, ISBN: 978-90-5011-265-9

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Peter F.M. Coesel, Koos J. Meesters. Desmids of the Lowlands—Mesotaeniaceae and Desmidiaceae of the European Lowlands. KNNV Publishing, Zeist, The Netherlands (2007). 351 pp., 123 plates, 20 figures in the text and one CD-ROM with extra information, 89.95 €, ISBN: 978-90-5011-265-9

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