Structure and Productivity of Aquatic Ecosystems

Lisette de Senerpont Domis, Belinda J. Robson

Research output: Chapter in book/volumeChapterScientificpeer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)
83 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Ecosystems comprise all the life forms (microbes, plants, animals) and the inorganic context (sediment types, water regimes, water quality, etc.) that they live in. Together, the life forms interact with each other. They influence, and are influenced by, their environment, carrying out ecosystem processes such as the transport of nitrogen and carbon. This chapter introduces the terminology used to describe lake and river ecosystems. It describes the function of freshwater ecosystems and the methods scientists use to quantify these functions, including concepts such as ecosystem productivity, metabolism, food webs, populations, and metapopulations. Furthermore, this chapter describes ecological communities, their diversity and assembly, and the concepts of metacommunities and metaecosystems.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationWetzel's Limnology
Subtitle of host publicationLake and River Ecosystems
EditorsIan D. Jones, John P. Smol
PublisherAcademic Press
Chapter9
Pages209-228
Number of pages20
Edition4th
ISBN (Electronic)9780128227107 9
ISBN (Print)9780128227015
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 22 Sept 2023

Publication series

NameWetzel's Limnology

Keywords

  • Community
  • diversity
  • ecosystem function
  • food web
  • lakes
  • metacommunity
  • metapopulation
  • population
  • productivity
  • rivers

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Structure and Productivity of Aquatic Ecosystems'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this