Introduction -- Ecological features, coefficients and equations -- Basic taxonomy -- Methods -- References -- Morphological Abbreviations -- Introduction to Cladocera -- Cladocera morphology -- Classification -- Characteristics of orders and families with a list of European genera and species Alphabetical list of species with notes on synonyms, taxonomy, distribution and ecology.-References -- Key to Cladocera -- Morphological Abbreviations -- Introduction to Copepoda -- Copepoda morphology -- Classification -- Characteristics of orders and families with a list of European genera and species -- Alphabetical list of species -- References -- Key to Calanoida -- Index.

This work provides a user-friendly, species level taxonomic key based on morphology, current nomenclature, and modern taxonomy using molecular tools which fulfill the most pressing needs of both researchers and environmental managers. This key arms the reader with the tools necessary to improve their species identification abilities. This book resolves another issue as well: the mix of female and male characters used in keys to the calanoid copepods. Often, during the identification process, both calanoid copepod sexes are not available, and the user of such a key is stuck with an uncertain identification. Here, separate male and female keys to the calanoid copepods are provided for both the genera and species levels.