Limnoecology: The Ecology of Lakes and Streams

Limnoecology: The Ecology of Lakes and Streams is an accessible text which places limnology, the science of investigating the structure and function of inland waters, in the context of modern ecology. It presents several new developments in ecology and emphasizes evolutionary ecology. Unlike most ecology textbooks, which use examples taken almost exclusively from terrestrial systems, this book focuses on the relationship between limnology and ecology by presenting empirical data drawn entirely from limnology in order to advance more general ecological theories. All the experimental and observational examples are drawn from the same set of organisms of inland waters and their ecosystems. This unique text covers all the key issues of limnology, while its structure and underlying concepts conform to ecology, making it equally useful in both fields. The authors begin with chapters on the link between ecology and evolution and on the methodology of ecological research, then continue on with an introduction to the physical and chemical properties of freshwater habitats. Subsequent chapters follow the classical hierarchical sequence of ecology from simpler to more complex levels of organization: individuals - populations - interactions between populations - communities - ecosystems. Featuring recent research results and examples from a variety of international sources, Limnoecology serves as an ideal undergraduate text for courses in limnology, ecology, and aquatic biology.