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This book is devoted to the alkaline-saline lakes of East Africa, which include the world-famous "flamingo lakes". It covers the full range of issues, from the lakes' origin and history, life in and around these unique water bodies, to utilization, threats and management considerations. The authors, all of whom are leading international experts, summarize research done so far, highlight new and important findings, and provide future outlooks. The book is divided into three main sections: "Genesis, physics and chemistry" tackles lake development and the astounding physico-chemistry of the lakes. "Organisms and ecology" presents information about the many lake inhabitants, their interactions and adaptations to the extreme living conditions. "Utilization, management and perspectives" addresses threats such as lake exploitation and pollution, but also considers potential uses. This book will be particularly relevant to researchers and lecturers in the field of limnology and aquatic ecology, but is also designed to attract all those interested in nature and life on our planet.
List of contents
Preface.- Part I GENESIS, PHYSICS & CHEMISTRY.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Genesis of the East African Rift System: an overview of the tectonic, geological, hydrological, and paleoenvironmental features.- 3 Morphometry and physical processes of East African Soda lakes.- 4 Biogeochemistry of African soda lakes.- Part II ORGANISMS & ECOLOGY.- 5 Bacteria, Archaea and Viruses of soda lakes.- 6 Tiny and tough: microphytes of East African soda lakes.- 7 The Protozoa of soda lakes in East Africa.- 8 Invertebrates of East African soda lakes.- 9 Fish populations in East African saline lakes: status, uses, conservation, management and current research with a particular focus on the Lake Magadi tilapia.- 10 Phoenix rising from the ashes: the Lesser Flamingo as a central element of the East African avifauna.- 11 Vascular plants in Eastern Africa Rift valley saline wetlands.- 12 Ecology.- Part III UTILIZATION, MANAGEMENT & PERSPECTIVES.- 13 An underexplored resource for biotechnology: Cyanobacteria and green algae of East African soda lakes.- 14 Conservation and Management of East Africa's soda lakes.- 15 Soda lakes of the East African Rift System: the past, the present and the future.- APPENDIX.- 16 Supplemental material.- 17 Species, lake and subject Indizes.
About the author
Michael Schagerl is Professor at the University of Vienna. His research fields are phycology and aquatic ecology. Special interests include the ecophysiology, autecology and taxonomy of algae in diverse habitats from freshwater springs to the sea and their role in food webs. More recently, his research group has focused on saline-alkaline lakes and their biota.
Summary
This book is devoted to the alkaline-saline lakes of East Africa, which include the world-famous “flamingo lakes”. It covers the full range of issues, from the lakes’ origin and history, life in and around these unique water bodies, to utilization, threats and management considerations. The authors, all of whom are leading international experts, summarize research done so far, highlight new and important findings, and provide future outlooks. The book is divided into three main sections: “Genesis, physics and chemistry” tackles lake development and the astounding physico-chemistry of the lakes. “Organisms and ecology” presents information about the many lake inhabitants, their interactions and adaptations to the extreme living conditions. “Utilization, management and perspectives” addresses threats such as lake exploitation and pollution, but also considers potential uses. This book will be particularly relevant to researchers and lecturers in the field of limnology and aquatic ecology, but is also designed to attract all those interested in nature and life on our planet.
Additional text
“This book ... is certainly a milestone in characterization and understanding. ... I would therefore recommend this book to any geoscientist. It allows the reader to see how our science interplays with other natural sciences, and the close interconnection between geosphere and biosphere. The book is extremely well edited and the chapters well written: a lasting testimony to the considerable effort the editor and authors have applied. Strongly recommended for anyone who thinks about our natural world.” (Rob Bowell, Geoscientist Online, geolsoc.org.uk, November, 2017)
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"This book ... is certainly a milestone in characterization and understanding. ... I would therefore recommend this book to any geoscientist. It allows the reader to see how our science interplays with other natural sciences, and the close interconnection between geosphere and biosphere. The book is extremely well edited and the chapters well written: a lasting testimony to the considerable effort the editor and authors have applied. Strongly recommended for anyone who thinks about our natural world." (Rob Bowell, Geoscientist Online, geolsoc.org.uk, November, 2017)
