BioImages: The Virtual Field-Guide (UK)

John, D.M., Whitton, B.A. and Brook, A.J., 2002

The Freshwater Algal Flora of the British Isles

This large and heavy book of 700+ pages is indispensible to anybody seriously interested in British Algae. Keys are given to species, most of which are illustrated.

The accompanying CD includes a large number of photographs, but unfortunately most are of poor quality.

Publisher Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Pages 702
ISBN 0-521-77051-3
Comments and Corrigenda P517 (Closterium key) 2nd alternative of couplet 6 should lead to 14.

A set of corrections has been published in The Phycologist, No 64, 2003, p16-18, downloadable from the British Phycological Society website.
Coverage All major groups of terrestrial, fresh- and slightly brackish water algae are included, except: diatoms, colourless forms (except Dinoflagellates) and symbiotic algae (eg in lichens). Marine cyanobacteria ARE included. Of the groups included, only half the desmids are mentioned (a separate Desmid flora is in progress) and for other groups a list of omitted species is appended to each genus. Page 2 lists the no of spp described in each Phylum followed by the no not in the flora. In total the flora describes 1,719 of the commonest and more well-defined species.
Illustrations 154 plates of line drawings and a few half-tone photomicrographs, plus a CD of photographs.
Identify Under a Compound Microscope (also useful to examine under a Stereo Microscope).
Specimen Prep. Live material on a microscope slide. Special illumination (preferably Nomarski, although Phase Contrast and Dark Field are also informative) is necessary in some cases.
Difficulty Varied. Generally, the more complex the morphology, the easier it is to identify.

Malcolm Storey

Taxonomic Scope

CHROMISTA (algae) Identification Current
CHLOROPHYTA (green algae) Identification Current
RHODOPHYTA (red algae) Identification Current
CYANOPHYTA (cyanobacteria, blue-green "algae") Identification Current

Related Publications

for corrections British Phycological Society: http://www.brphysoc.org

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