The Ecology of Tropical Lakes and Rivers.

Abstract

This account of the biology and management of tropical inland water draws together the diverse threads of freshwater ecology over one of the Earth's major climatic belts - from the cold and frozen lakes of the Andes, to the deep lakes of the East African Rift Valley; from the shallow, highly productive soda lakes more concentrated than seawater to the almost demineralized waters of streams and rivers of the lowland equatorial rain-forest. In addition to such distinctive environments, the tropics also present some rather singular biological problems which are fully discussed here, particularly those associated with seasonality, diversity and evolution of species. Man's immediate requirements are also taken into account through a consideration of fisheries, aquaculture, pollution, sanitation and other health aspects of tropical inland waters.