This book contains the Proceedings of the Symposium on Perspectives in Southern Hemisphere Limnology which was held from 3-13 July 1984 in Wilderness, South Africa. It can be asked why this Symposium was necessary at a time when conferences, symposia and other gatherings of learned people abound. Limnologists in the Southern Hemisphere have for some time been pointing out that limnological theory and inland water management practices have been developed almost exclusively in Northern Hemisphere temperate latitudes. Most of the land masses of the Southern Hemisphere fall within lower latitudes, 0 from 20-40 S, where the climate tends to be dry, with low cloud cover and with high levels of incident radiation and high water temperatures. Wide extremes are experienced in both rainfall and runoff, which occur mainly in summer. Sedimentary geological structures give rise to dispersive soils and highly turbid waters. Physiological, behavioural or developmental adaptations in the floral and faunal components are necessary to cope with desiccation and low visibility.

Inhalt

1. Introduction: Perspectives in Southern Hemisphere limnology.- Session A: Thermal Characteristics.- 2. Thermal characteristics of standing waters: An illustration of dynamic processes.- 3. Thermal characteristics of running waters.- 4. Thermal stability and phytoplankton distribution.- 5. Thermal characteristics: Chairman's summary.- Session B: Aridity and Hydrological Characteristics.- 6. Hydrology of low latitude Southern Hemisphere landmasses.- 7. Biotic adaptations in temporary lentic waters, with special reference to those in semi-arid and arid regions.- 8. A review of the ecological effects of river regulation in Australia.- 9. Aridity and hydrological characteristics: Chairman's summary.- Session C: Seasonality-Aseasonality.- 10. Seasonality/aseasonality of aquatic macrophytes in Southern Hemisphere inland waters.- 11. Seasonality of aquatic invertebrates in low-latitude and Southern Hemisphere inland waters.- 12. Seasonality in Southern Hemisphere freshwater phytoplankton assemblages.- 13. Seasonality/aseasonality: Chairman's summary.- Session D: Suspensoids and Turbidity.- 14. Effects of suspensoids (turbidity) on penetration of solar radiation in aquatic ecosystems.- 15. Interactions of detrital particulates and plankton.- 16. The effects of suspensoids on fish.- 17. Suspensoids and turbidity: Chairman's summary.- Index of Organisms.- Systems Index.