Outstanding features of the fifth edition include:
тАв A global outlook with examples from every continent
тАв Discussions of the impact of environmental challenges (e.g., climate change, eutrophication, river regulation) with case studies of real-world examples
тАв A chapter devoted to wetlands
тАв A thorough examination of biogeochemistry, including recent anthropogenic alteration and a reconsidered understanding of stoichiometric relationships
тАв Expanded treatment of hydrology, utilizing empirical approaches to
discharge determination and effects of land-use changes
тАв A reorganized presentation of biodiversity, explicitly correlating profiles
of biota with community ecology and ecosystem function
тАв Updated taxonomy with a description of the new metagenomic approach, nomenclature strictly adhering to the intergovernmental Integrated Taxonomic Information System