The Lakes Handbook (Volume 1): Limnology and Limnetic Ecology [Hardcover]

Patrick O'Sullivan (Editor), C. S. Reynolds (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0632047976 | ISBN-13: 978-0632047970 | Publication Date: February 2, 2004 | Edition: 1

Continuing concern about water supply and quality, ecosystem sustainability and restoration demands that the modern approach to the management of lakes and reservoirs should be based on a sound understanding of the application of the scientific and ecological principles that underlie freshwater processes.

The Lakes Handbook provides an up-to-date overview of the application of ecologically sound approaches, methods and tools using experience gained around the world for an understanding of lakes and their management. Volume one of the Handbook addresses the physical and biological aspects of lakes pertinent to lake management, emphasising those aspects particularly relevant to large, still bodies of water. Volume two then considers lake management, with particular emphasis on sustainability, restoration and rehabilitation.

This handbook will be invaluable to ecologists, environmental scientists, physical geographers and hydrologists involved in limnological research, as well as advanced undergraduate and graduate students looking for authoritative reviews of the key areas of limnological study.

• Brings together basic science and management issues.
  
• International coverage and international authors.
  
• Reviews management issues at a level suitable for the non-expert.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"However, I suggest that no serious contemporary lake limnologist should be without this volume on the desk or bookshelves. I anticipate regular returns to my inspection copy." (African Journal of Aquatic Science, 2004)

"...the Editors and their contributors have provided a treasure chest of information....researchers...would be well advised to recommend it to their librarians."
SILnews

"...a powerful text of such scope and calibre as to set a benchmark for limnetic ecology in the 21st century. Achieving a range of disparate accomplishments, it could potentially re-catalyse lake limnology."
African Journal of Aquatic Science

Book Description

Continuing concern about water supply and quality, ecosystem sustainability and restoration demands that the modern approach to the management of lakes and reservoirs should be based on a sound understanding of the application of the scientific and ecological principles that underlie freshwater processes.The Lakes Handbook provides an up-to-date overview of the application of ecologically sound approaches, methods and tools using experience gained around the world for an understanding of lakes and their management. Volume one of the Handbook addresses the physical and biological aspects of lakes pertinent to lake management, emphasising those aspects particularly relevant to large, still bodies of water. Volume two then considers lake management, with particular emphasis on sustainability, restoration and rehabilitation.This handbook will be invaluable to ecologists, earth scientists, physical geographers and hydrologists involved in limnological research, as well as advanced undergraduate and graduate students looking for authoritative reviews of the key areas of limnological study..

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 699 pages
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell; 1 edition (February 2, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0632047976
• ISBN-13: 978-0632047970
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 7.6 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,055,676 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars The Lakes Handbook, March 10, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: The Lakes Handbook (Volume 1): Limnology and Limnetic Ecology (Hardcover)

This book is the first of a two part series, edited by P. E. O'Sullivan of the School of Earth, Ocean and Environmental Sciences, University of Plymouth and C. S. Reynolds of the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Windermere. The purpose of the book is "to provide a sort of turn-of-the-century progress report, which brings together the most recent perspectives on the interactions among the properties of water, the distinguishing features of individual basins and the dynamic interactions with their biota". The immediate inspiration for this book came from the Rivers Handbook, and it has attempted to follow the same organisational structure.

The objective of the book was to provide a point of reference for students and professionals alike, to provide a contemporary and accurate reflection of current understanding about lakes and lake ecosystem function. Overall, the book does provide a complete comprehensive account of the different physical and chemical natures of lakes worldwide. With 18 sections to the book, it contains extensive information that is kept concise throughout the content. The sections are sub divided into logical categories, and are not overloaded in each division in most sections. The quantity of helpful and clear conceptual diagrams and tables help to illustrate and explain the text. They are appropriately linked to the topic of the chapter and they assist in breaking up pages into more manageable reading. The extent of the references available at the end of each section makes it easy for the reader to identify further reading quickly and accurately. Because of the assortment of specialist writers contributing to the book, the sections differ in their coverage and complexity of the section subject and in their ease of reading. The book takes a general look at a thorough range of topics, whilst managing to be specialised at the divisions.

The book ranges in its content, and although some chapters would be a nice read for the beginner, I think the book would be ideally suited to professionals and advanced students who already have a background understanding and that are familiar with some aspect of lake ecology, and wish to build upon that knowledge to a more advanced level. The presence of chapters slightly more complex in the explanations, especially those chapters working through complex mathematical equations makes parts of the book quite hard going at times. A novice could be easily distracted by sophisticated and complex descriptive terminology in some chapters.

Conclusion
This is a well-structured and highly informative book, although on the whole slightly advanced for the beginner in lake ecology. For a more sophisticated learner, this is a nice concise book, with manageable chapters in a variety of specialist subject areas. The book, written by highly knowledgeable specialists in the area of lake research stands up to its promise of delivering "the most recent perspectives on the interactions among the properties of water, the distinguishing features of individual basins and the dynamic interactions with their biota". It does also provide contemporary and accurate reflection of current lake understanding, but has not really managed to cater for the less advanced student in the majority of the book. However, as far as a book specifically dedicated to the ecosystem functioning of lakes alone, there are not many other books that cater for this demand, and so this book will most likely become one of the major reference books for this subject.