Limnology The word limnology is derived from the Greek limne - marsh, pond and Latin limnaea - thing pertaining to a marsh. Stated simply, limnology is the study of the structural and functional interrelationships of organisms of inland waters as their dynamic physical, chemical, and biotic environments affect them. Limnology is an interdisciplinary field of study that has been around since the 16th century, however, as a distinct field of science, has existed less than 60 years. The word Limnology in Greek means lake knowledge and is defined as the study of inland waters with reference to the biological, chemical, physical, geological, and other attributes to inland waters (running and standing waters, both fresh or saline, natural or man made.

History Beginnings of knowledge concerning fresh water life, like those of marine life, arose in the remote past, possibly before the days of Aristole ( B.C) These early beginnings, often strange mixtures of fact and fancy, have no scientific value (Welch, 1952) While Peter Erasmus Muller is sometimes credited with laying the foundation of limnological research with his plankton discoveries in fresh water, and while it appears that Anton Fritsch began lacustrine investigations in the Bohemian Forest as early as 1871, it remained for F. A. Forel ( ), a professor at the University of Lausanne, Switzerland, to recognise the real biological opportunity in lake investigations and, by his work, to become the founder of modern limnology.

Continue.. Limnology first came to be in 1901 through the publication of the first ever text on the subject which led to world-wide recognition. Before this time since 1650, the progression and development of limnology was rather slow and steady, however the work that was done was influential and set a platform for other scientists to build on methodology and application. Such an influential figure emerged as one, Anton van Leeuwenhoek ( ), a Dutch tradesman and scientist from Delft, Netherlands. He is commonly known as the father of microbiology, and considered to be the first microbiologist

Continue.. Limnology slowly progressed further and in 1787, Clark was the first to determine depths of some English lakes which for its time was a huge stepping stone for lake science. In 1865, development of the Secchi disk used for measuring water transparency in oceans and lakes was created by Professor Pietro Angelo Secchi, priest/scientist on the SS Immacolata Concezione, a steam corvet of -the papal navy travelling in the Adriatic Sea (Kalff 2002). A major trend in the studies around this time was found to be more of an ecological nature (studies revolved around ecology), as expressed in the 1867 distribution and ecology of crustacean zooplankton in Danish lakes by E. Muller, however, these studies had not been recognised by the wider community and limnology was still left in the shadows.

Father of Limnology It was the efforts of Francois Alphonse Forel ( ) and his early studies on Lac Leman (Lake of Geneva) which would get world wide recognition and response and saw this form of science accelerate and change throughout the years, surviving two world wars, depressions, revolutions, and many other social, political, and economical occurrences that shaped and defined a period in history.

Physical Limnology Unique properties of water - important role in penetration, distribution of light, heat Unique properties of water - important role in penetration, distribution of light, heat Water movements (waves, currents) Water movements (waves, currents) Geology of basin (origin, morphology, leaching minerals) Geology of basin (origin, morphology, leaching minerals)

Chemical Limnology Inorganic, organic compounds Inorganic, organic compounds Closely allied to geology (leaching) Closely allied to geology (leaching) Distribution often related to water movements Distribution often related to water movements

Biological Limnology Base is photosynthesis - primary productivity Base is photosynthesis - primary productivity Regulated by, and may regulate, physical and chemical factors Regulated by, and may regulate, physical and chemical factors

Importance/Scope From ancient times, civilizations have depended on freshwater bodies Lakes, reservoirs, rivers, and wetlands. From ancient times, civilizations have depended on freshwater bodies Lakes, reservoirs, rivers, and wetlands. Fresh water is essential not only to sustain human life but also to support the activities that form the basis for thriving economies. Fresh water is essential not only to sustain human life but also to support the activities that form the basis for thriving economies. Water resources are essential to human societies, activities of these societies can pollute and degrade water resources, limiting their beneficial uses. Water resources are essential to human societies, activities of these societies can pollute and degrade water resources, limiting their beneficial uses.. Water bodies are essential to humans not only for drinking but also for transportation, agriculture, energy production, industry, and wastedisposal. Water bodies are essential to humans not only for drinking but also for transportation, agriculture, energy production, industry, and wastedisposal.

Since the start of the ''environmental movement" in the 1960s and especially since the passage of the Clean Water Act in the United States in 1972, North Americans have realized that manufacturing, agriculture, mining, urban development, and other activities can pose risks to freshwater bodies, and they have taken steps to reduce these risks. Since the start of the ''environmental movement" in the 1960s and especially since the passage of the Clean Water Act in the United States in 1972, North Americans have realized that manufacturing, agriculture, mining, urban development, and other activities can pose risks to freshwater bodies, and they have taken steps to reduce these risks. Such risk analysis cannot be carried out in the absence of sound science. Such risk analysis cannot be carried out in the absence of sound science. Risk analysis requires knowledge of how human land use affects the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of the aquatic ecosystem. Risk analysis requires knowledge of how human land use affects the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of the aquatic ecosystem.

One of the critical sciences required to understand how human actions and natural processes affect lakes, reservoirs, rivers, and wetlands is limnology. One of the critical sciences required to understand how human actions and natural processes affect lakes, reservoirs, rivers, and wetlands is limnology. Limnology is a multidisciplinary science that integrates the basic sciences (biology, chemistry, physics, and geology) in order to study inland waters as complex ecological systems. Limnology is a multidisciplinary science that integrates the basic sciences (biology, chemistry, physics, and geology) in order to study inland waters as complex ecological systems. Only through such integrated study it will be possible to understand the full range of human impacts on aquatic ecosystems. Only through such integrated study it will be possible to understand the full range of human impacts on aquatic ecosystems.