Lakes and WetlandsLakes and wetlands are significant ecosystems that nourish, sustain, and house many of the planet s plant and animal species. Though both of these regions are defined by water both fresh and saline each lake and particular type of wetland also has characteristics all its own. This detailed volume considers the formation, composition, and maintenance of these intricate ecological units and the various life forms they support. Dramatic full-color photographs and in-depth profiles of Earth s major lakes highlight the beauty and complexity of these regions. |
Contents
| 1 | |
CHAPTER 2 LAKE HYDRAULICS | 42 |
CHAPTER 3 INLAND WATER ECOSYSTEMS | 64 |
CHAPTER 4 MAJOR LAKES OF THE WORLD | 80 |
CHAPTER 5 WETLANDS | 132 |
CHAPTER 6 WETLAND FLORA AND FAUNA | 153 |
APPENDIX A NOTABLE SMALLER LAKES OF THE WORLD | 179 |
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Common terms and phrases
algae animals aquatic Baikal biological body of water bogs boundary ecosystems carbon Caspian Sea century chemical climate coastal damming Dead Sea density deposits depth develop drainage drainage basin drained Earth’s east eastern Ecology ecosystems epilimnion eutrophic evaporation feet first fish fishing flood flow fluctuations forest formed fresh water freshwater lakes glaciers gradient groundwater habitat heat hydrologic hypolimnion important inches inflow influence inland waters Lake Baikal lake basins Lake Chad Lake Eyre Lake Ontario Lake Superior lake surface lake water lake’s land layers Limnology mangrove metres mudflats North America northern numbers nutrients occur oceans oligotrophic organic outflow oxygen peat plants precipitation production reflected region result River saline Salt Lake salt marshes scientific sea level seasonal sediments seiche shallow shoreline significant southern species square km square miles stratified streams surface area swamps temperature thermal thermocline tion water level waves western shore wetlands wind zone