Ecological effects of water-level fluctuations inlakes

Most aquatic ecosystems have variable water levels. These water-level fluctuations (WLF) have multiple effects on the organisms above and below the waterline. Natural WLF patterns in lakes guarantee both productivity and biodiversity, while untimely floods and droughts may have negative effects. Human impacts on WLF have led to a stabilization of the water levels of many lakes by hydraulic regulation, untimely drawdown due to water use, or floods due to water release from hydropower plants in the catchments. This book provides a first review in this field. It presents selected papers on the ecological effects of WLFin lakes, resulting from a workshop at the University of Konstanz in winter 2005. Issues addressed here include the extent of WLF, and analyses of their effects on different groups of biota from microorganisms to vertebrates. Analyzes the current situation of lakes and thereby documents it for future comparisons after the effects of climatic changes Combines a conceptual framework with geographically and taxonomically different case studies, and with applied issues

• ISBN: 978-1-4020-9191-9
• Editorial: Springer
• Encuadernacion: Cartoné
• Páginas: 185
• Fecha Publicación: 01/10/2008
• Nº Volúmenes: 1
• Idioma: Inglés