This volume provides essential information on the origin and evolution of Greek rivers, as well as their ecological and anthropogenic characteristics. The topics covered include geomythology, biogeography, hydrology, hydrobiology, hydrogeochemistry, geological and biogeochemical processes, anthropogenic pressures and ecological impacts, water management - both in the antiquity and today - and river restoration. The book is divided into four parts, the first of which explores the importance of rivers for ancient Greek civilization and the natural processes affecting their evolution during the Holocene. In the second part, the hydrological, hydrochemical and biological features of Greek rivers and the unique biogeographical characteristics that form the basis for their high biodiversity and endemism are highlighted, while the third part comprehensively discusses the impacts of environmental pollution on the structure and function of Greek river ecosystems. In turn, the final part describes the current socio-economic factors in Greece that are affecting established water management practices, the application of ecohydrological approaches in restoring fragmented rivers, and the lessons learned from restoring aquatic ecosystems in general as a paradigm for understanding and minimizing anthropogenic impacts on water resources, at the Mediterranean scale.

Given the breadth and depth of its coverage, the book offers an invaluable source of information for researchers, students and environmental managers alike.

Inhalt

Ancient Greece and Water: Climatic changes, extreme events, water management and rivers in Ancient Greece.- Natural Processes versus Human Impacts during the Holocene - A case study of Aliakmon River Delta.- The biogeographic characteristics of the river basins of Greece.- The state and origin of river water composition in Greece.- Long-Term Hydrologic Trends in the Main Greek Rivers: A Statistical Approach.- Agro-Industrial Wastewater Pollution in Greek River Ecosystems.- Overview of the pesticide residues in Greek Rivers: Occurrence and Environmental Risk Assessment.- Geochemical processes of trace metals in fresh- saline water interfaces. The cases of Louros and Acheloos Estuaries.- The Evrotas River Basin - 10 years of river monitoring.- Review on macroinvertebrate assemblages and biological status of rivers in Northern and Central Greece.- Socio-Economics and Water Management: Revisiting the Contribution of Economics in the Implementation of The Water Framework Directive in Greece.- Environmental Impacts of Large-scale Hydropower Projects and Applied Ecohydrology Solutions for Watershed Restoration: The case of Nestos River, Northern Greece.- Restoration of rivers and wetlands in Greece: Insights Lessons from biodiversity conservation initiatives.