Limnology

Limnology is the study of inland waters as ecological systems interacting with their drainage basins and the atmosphere. . For example: lakes (both freshwater and saline), reservoirs, rivers, streams, wetlands, and groundwater. Limnological discipline integrates the functional relationships of growth, adaptation, nutrient cycles, and biological productivity with species composition, and describes and evaluates how physical, chemical, and biological environments regulate these relationships. In simple words 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. 

This encompasses integration of physical, chemical, and biological components of inland aquatic ecosystems with the drainage basin, movements of water through the drainage basin, and biogeochemical changes that occur en route along within standing, lentic, waters and exchanges with the atmosphere. The lake ecosystem is intimately coupled with the drainage area and atmosphere, and with its running, lotic, waters and ground waters that flow, and metabolize en route, components of the land being transported to the lake. 

While understanding causal mechanisms operating in and controlling our natural world is a primary objective of limnology because of the premier importance of fresh water for the well-being of humankind. The greater our understanding, the higher the probability to predict accurately pattern of events within aquatic ecosystems in response to human manipulations and disturbances. A combination of analytical techniques i9s used to acquire that understanding. 

Firstly, the descriptive observation of patterns of these processes and communities in relation to dynamic patterns of environmental properties. The descriptive empirical analysis allows the generation of hypotheses, that is, conceptual predictive “models” of relationships among observed patterns. Secondly, the experimental examination and evaluation of quantitative responses to selected disturbances imposed on the system. With the imposing quantitatively known disturbances on specific parts of the community or ecosystem. A lot of insight can be gained on controlling factors governing their operation. In some cases, entire lakes or streams are experimentally manipulated. Finally, application of quantitative predictive models based on experimentally established, not random, governing variables. Models allow for the expansion of experimentally understood quantitative relationships, that is, hypothetical data can be inserted allowing a theoretical estimate of system responses to these variables. 

With all of this it is seen how this is a very important study to better help understand our environment and learn what is better for it.