xii
Notwithstanding the above, this book stems from the conviction that as
scientifi c knowledge accumulates and becomes compartmentalised into many
specialist disciplines, it becomes increasingly diffi cult for the students and
specialists alike to appreciate the form of the whole. This is as true in limnology
as it is in other fi elds. Students may be taught separate courses in ‘marine
biology’, ‘freshwater biology’, ‘ecological theory’, etc. yet, although convenient, this fragmentation obscures the essential unity of many of the processes
taking place. Although somewhat unfashionable, synthesis is as valid an
academic activity as analysis, nowhere more so than in the operation of the
key processes of natural ecosystems.
Wetlands and Lakes of the World is, therefore, a humble attempt to provide
the undergraduate with a text concentrating on the common fundamental
features of all aquatic systems and details of processes and applications with
examples for the postgraduates, researchers, policymakers, administrators, etc.
It need hardly be emphasised that, on a world scale, some of these systems
are more widespread, more important and better known than are others, and
hence, equality of mention has not been attempted. As Bronowski (1956: 27)
eloquently said, ‘science is nothing else than the search to discover unity in
the wild variety of nature–or more exactly, in the variety of our experience’.
In fi ne, I would not like to deviate from my understanding of the fundamental importance of dissolved and particulate detritus as the overall stabiliser in the metabolism of ecosystems. I may be in a minority in maintaining
this opinion. But, evidences are, perhaps, rapidly accumulating from FW as
well as other ecosystems.
First and foremost, I believe strongly in an order and unity in complex
biological system. Limnologists, like most ecologists, are not alone in being
plagued with the common diffi culty of becoming so engrossed with
the detailed differences among the biological systems that unifying relationships do not emerge easily. One of the most satisfying aspects of science is
the aim of discerning that unity.
Second, I possibly remain steadfast in my opinion that limnology is not an
easy subject. The beauty and fascination of the subject should not be diluted
to the point where early students are given only superfi cial exposure. Details
be provided to represent adequately the state of our understanding, the foundation upon which general statements are based, and to provide interested
students with inroads into the plethora of literature on any given subject.
Fishes are signifi cant living components of both lotic and lentic systems.
They constitute almost half the total number of vertebrates in the world. Of
the c 39,900 vertebrate species known to exist so far in the world, 21,723 are
living species of fi shes, of which c 841 are of freshwater and the rest, 11,650,
are marine species. In the Indian region alone, of the c 2,500 species, 930 are
freshwater inhabitants and 1,570 are marine. In view of the importance of
fi shes in the wetland environment, they have been dwelt upon with due
signifi cance.
Preface
Notwithstanding the above, this book stems from the conviction that as
scientifi c knowledge accumulates and becomes compartmentalised into many
specialist disciplines, it becomes increasingly diffi cult for the students and
specialists alike to appreciate the form of the whole. This is as true in limnology
as it is in other fi elds. Students may be taught separate courses in ‘marine
biology’, ‘freshwater biology’, ‘ecological theory’, etc. yet, although convenient, this fragmentation obscures the essential unity of many of the processes
taking place. Although somewhat unfashionable, synthesis is as valid an
academic activity as analysis, nowhere more so than in the operation of the
key processes of natural ecosystems.
Wetlands and Lakes of the World is, therefore, a humble attempt to provide
the undergraduate with a text concentrating on the common fundamental
features of all aquatic systems and details of processes and applications with
examples for the postgraduates, researchers, policymakers, administrators, etc.
It need hardly be emphasised that, on a world scale, some of these systems
are more widespread, more important and better known than are others, and
hence, equality of mention has not been attempted. As Bronowski (1956: 27)
eloquently said, ‘science is nothing else than the search to discover unity in
the wild variety of nature–or more exactly, in the variety of our experience’.
In fi ne, I would not like to deviate from my understanding of the fundamental importance of dissolved and particulate detritus as the overall stabiliser in the metabolism of ecosystems. I may be in a minority in maintaining
this opinion. But, evidences are, perhaps, rapidly accumulating from FW as
well as other ecosystems.
First and foremost, I believe strongly in an order and unity in complex
biological system. Limnologists, like most ecologists, are not alone in being
plagued with the common diffi culty of becoming so engrossed with
the detailed differences among the biological systems that unifying relationships do not emerge easily. One of the most satisfying aspects of science is
the aim of discerning that unity.
Second, I possibly remain steadfast in my opinion that limnology is not an
easy subject. The beauty and fascination of the subject should not be diluted
to the point where early students are given only superfi cial exposure. Details
be provided to represent adequately the state of our understanding, the foundation upon which general statements are based, and to provide interested
students with inroads into the plethora of literature on any given subject.
Fishes are signifi cant living components of both lotic and lentic systems.
They constitute almost half the total number of vertebrates in the world. Of
the c 39,900 vertebrate species known to exist so far in the world, 21,723 are
living species of fi shes, of which c 841 are of freshwater and the rest, 11,650,
are marine species. In the Indian region alone, of the c 2,500 species, 930 are
freshwater inhabitants and 1,570 are marine. In view of the importance of
fi shes in the wetland environment, they have been dwelt upon with due
signifi cance.
Preface