1. December 2012
Freshwater Matters
Freshwater Matters is a monthly electronic bulletin of the most recent
freshwater news from around the world, compiled by the Freshwater Biological
Association (FBA). It includes updates of what is happening at the FBA and ways
to get involved.
Contents
Editorial
What’s happening at the FBA?
This month’s articles
Streams show signs of degradation at earliest stages of urban development
Saving salmon from deadly sea lice
Thriving beaver population threatens Dutch flood banks
Crocodile jaws more sensitive than human fingertips
Mixed fortunes for fens wildlife
River Welland project aims to lure back wildlife
Infrared vision in a cichlid fish
River Nith crayfish reports probed
Archer fish spitting mystery solved
Climate change may alter amphibian evolution
Editorial
This month’s editorial has been written by Dr Karen Rouen, who manages the
publications programme at the Freshwater Biological Association,
As you will see below, the second in our general guides to freshwater invertebrates
(Scientific Publication No. 68) has now been published. Produced as a tribute to T.T.
Macan, it complements the FBA’s keys to species and we hope it will inspire a new
generation of freshwater biologists. With this in mind, it’s an opportune moment
to ask readers of Freshwater Matters what you would like to see in future from
the FBA in terms of new guides for identifying and studying freshwater organisms.
What are you missing at the moment, and yet desperately need? Do you have any
comments about existing FBA keys (we have a number of updates on the go, but
feedback on any existing key is always welcome)? Are there particular methods
that you would like to see covered in a practical guide? Are you in a position to
‘road-test’ draft keys with groups of students or those new to the field? If you have
any comments or feedback, we would be delighted to hear from you - just drop us
a line at publications@fba.org.uk. We would also be interested to hear suggestions
on funding sources for the development of identification keys. The production of
new guides is often dependent on obtaining sponsorship or other types of financial
support, and indeed the latest guide has only been possible thanks to a grant from
the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation. So if you have any suggestions, please do get in
touch. In the meantime, we hope you enjoy the new guide!
What’s happening at the FBA?
New book just published
At the time of writing, we have just today received delivery of the latest in
the FBA’s series of Scientific Publications (No. 68), “Guide to Freshwater
Invertebrates”, which covers all the common freshwater invertebrates occurring
in Britain and Ireland. Published in hardback, it is available at a price of £33 (or
£24.75 for FBA Members) plus postage. For further details, visit http://www.fba.
org.uk/sp68-guide-freshwater-invertebrates, (this web-page also summarising
the differences between this guide and Scientific Publication No. 67) or look at our
online shop (https://www.fba.org.uk/shop/).
Calling authors - Freshwater Reviews
The FBA’s house-journal Freshwater Reviews is an international, peer-reviewed

2. journal dedicated to providing modern reviews of topics in the freshwater
sciences. Manuscript submission is open to both FBA members and non-
members, and authors include researchers and those involved with the
management of fresh waters. Published twice a year, online and in print, topics
range from biology and limnology to policy and socio-economic aspects. As
well as ‘traditional’ reviews, summarising current knowledge, shorter articles
- comprising reasoned and well-argued opinion/comment - are also welcome.
Manuscript submission is quick and easy via the journal website, and you can
also track the progress of your manuscript at every stage from acceptance to
publication. We aim to provide authors with a prompt turnaround of manuscripts.
For further information, visit our journal website: https://www.fba.org.uk/
journals/index.php/FRJ.
Birthday celebrations – John W.G. Lund, CBE, FRS
We were delighted to be able to celebrate the 100th birthday of John Lund on 27
November - a true milestone for a true legend in freshwater biology. Formerly a
staff member of the FBA, Honorary Curator of the Fritsch Collection, and Honorary
Research Fellow, and a current Vice President of the FBA, his contribution to
freshwater science and to the FBA has been enormous, and we send him and his
family our very best wishes. (More about this in the spring issue of our members’
newsletter, FBA News)
This month’s articles
Streams show signs of degradation at earliest stages of urban
development
A new study by the USGS has found that streams are more sensitive to urban
development than previously thought. Based on an assessment of nine streams
across the continental USA the team of researchers found that a 20 per cent
change in land use can lead to significant changes in species composition.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121115133704.htm
Saving salmon from deadly sea lice
A change in the time that captive salmon are treated for sea lice infections can
have significant benefits for wild species according to work published in this
month’s Ecological Applications. By shifting treatments to autumn and winter
researchers were able to demonstrate that mortality of wild salmon fell from an
estimate 90 per cent in the early 2000s to less than four per cent today.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121115133531.htm
Thriving beaver population threatens Dutch flood banks
A booming beaver population in the Netherlands is threatening the dykes that
protect much of the country from flooding. Currently the 700 beavers found in the
country perform an important ecological role. However, with predictions that the
population could reach 7000 in the next 30 years experts are looking at ways to
reduce the damage they could cause.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-20315417
Crocodile jaws more sensitive than human fingertips
Researchers at Vanderbilt University in the US have found that special bumps
around the mouths of crocodiles could make them more sensitive to stimuli than
human fingers. The bumps are believed to be the reason why the animals can
react so quickly when hunting.
http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/science/121108/crocodile-jaws-more-
sensitive-human-fingertips-video
Mixed fortunes for fens wildlife
The first complete biodiversity assessment of the Fens has reported a mixed
picture for wildlife. Although the study found the area is home to around 25 per
cent of Britain’s rarest wildlife, it also found that 504 rare species have not been

3. seen in the last 25 years and that 100 species may have been lost altogether.
http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/news/environment/study-reveals-mixed-
fortunes-for-fens-wildlife-1-4447560
River Welland project aims to lure back wildlife
A half a million pounds in funding has been provided by DEFRA’s catchment
restoration fund to restore wildlife to the River Welland in Leicestershire. The poor
state of the river can be traced back to the 1960s when flood defence schemes
widened the river and removed many of the deep pools that fish and wildlife rely
upon.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-20165065
Infrared vision in a cichlid fish
Biologists from the University of Bonn using a classical prey choice experiment
have found that the cichlid fish Pelvicachromis taeniatus can see in the near
infrared range. The researchers think that the ability to see these wavelengths
may be important for hunting and mate choice.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-10/uob-ivi102912.php
River Nith crayfish reports probed
Scottish Natural Heritage is carrying out surveys on the River Nith to see if the
North American signal crayfish has become established following reports of its
discovery this month. The crayfish were first found in Scottish waters in 1995 and
can have a potentially devastating effect on other wildlife.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-20136865
Archer fish spitting mystery solved
Research published in PLoS ONE this month has solved the mystery of how archer
fish can spit powerful jets of water that can hit prey up to two metres away.
Rather than using specialised internal organs the fish use water dynamics to
modulate the velocity of the water jet.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/20068607
Climate change may alter amphibian evolution
Many amphibians that live in tropical countries lay their eggs out of water in
order to protect them from predators. However, as rainfall patterns alter under
climate change this could lead to the loss of young. Now researchers from the
Smithsonian have found that one species of frog may be altering its breeding
behaviour in order to adapt to this threat.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/10/121025095539.htm
Please forward this bulletin to any of your colleagues who may be
interested!