Article
Article
Limnology
Article By:
Schindler, James E. Department of Biological Sciences, College of Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina.
Last reviewed:November 2019
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1036/1097-8542.383200
The study of lakes, ponds, rivers, streams, swamps, and reservoirs that make up inland water systems. Each of these inland aquatic environments is physically and chemically connected with its surroundings by meteorologic and hydrogeologic processes (Fig. 1). Precipitation and runoff, combined with the gradient and watershed characteristics of a river or stream, provide the physicochemical environment for the organisms of flowing water (lotic) systems. The frequency and stability of thermal stratification and mixing in standing water (lentic) systems such as lakes, ponds, and reservoirs are determined by the seasonal balance of heating and cooling, the unique temperature-density characteristics of pure water, and the energy of the wind.
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