7
drifting microscopic organisms which inhabit
both fresh and salt waters) was done much later
by Liljeborg and Sars (Needham and Lloyd
1930 ). Researches on plankton can subsequently
be tracked to Johannes Müller in the North Sea
using very fi ne net followed by Peter Erasmus
Müller who discovered the micro- crustaceans in
certain Swiss lakes dispelling the previously held
idea that the clear lakes were devoid of microscopic life. Hensen ( 1887 ) proposed the defi nite
term ‘plankton’ to this mass of drifting microscopic life in order to include all the minute
plants, animals and debris which are suspended
in natural waters; and the study of plankton had
been a signifi cant component of limnological
research during the last part of the nineteenth and
fi rst part of the twentieth centuries.
The relationship between environment and
organisms is well known. Temperature and oxygen profi les determine mainly the rate of biochemical reactions in the living body. Arrhenius’s
law is applicable equally to both living and nonliving beings. However, studies on experimental
physiology revealed that aquatic fl atworms move
faster at higher temperatures, the required energy
being derived from higher oxygen consumption,
thereby establishing a direct correlation between
oxygen consumption and temperature. Similar
relationships also exist between phytoplankton
and optimum temperature as well as between
zooplankton and pH and DO.
Notwithstanding the above, interesting assemblage like biocoenosis as well as phyto- and zoosociology is often evident in the lentic systems as
lentic life is always established in communities
which are interdependent or infl uence each other
mutually.
Meanwhile, there has been profound impact
of marine biology on the study of limnological
science. The attention of biologists, at large, is
being attracted to the rich diversity of marine
life. Although overshadowed by the overwhelming progress of marine biology during
most part of the nineteenth century, study of
freshwater biology and limnology did not suffer a setback because the development of the
methods of study and an increase in biological
knowledge, in general, indirectly but materially,
helped the future advances of limnology.
Similarly, oceanography began to take on more
defi nite form, and its gain also contributed later
to the progress of limnology indirectly because
there are many features common to both freshwater and marine biota.
1.9
Unexplored Fields
Of the vast array of freshwater lentic systems
throughout the globe, very few have received
adequate attention from the limnologists. Also,
those which have been studied are, for the most
part, confi ned to restricted geographical regions.
The inland lentic systems, distributed along the
length and breadth of Asia, Africa, America,
Canada, Europe and Australia, present wideopen opportunity for doing in-depth limnological
research. The diversity of these lentic systems,
physically, chemically and biologically, is infi -
nitely greater than previously supposed.
Space may not permit a detailed discussion of
the very interesting growth during the last century and a quarter. Phenomenal progress of the
general subject of ecology inevitably had a constructive infl uence on limnology; and because of
its many ramifi cations, limnology has profi ted
from simultaneous advance in other sciences.
1.10 Limnology in a Typical
Developing Country
Limnological research and training in Malaysia
have progressed steadily in the last 25 years
(approx.) from the efforts of an increasing number of trained limnologist and scientists of related
fi elds in the local universities, government
departments (e.g. Department of Environment,
Government Chemistry Department, Drainage and
Irrigation Department, State Water Authorities)
and research centre (e.g. Freshwater Fish
Research Centre). Non-governmental organisations
1.10 Limnology in a Typical Developing Country
drifting microscopic organisms which inhabit
both fresh and salt waters) was done much later
by Liljeborg and Sars (Needham and Lloyd
1930 ). Researches on plankton can subsequently
be tracked to Johannes Müller in the North Sea
using very fi ne net followed by Peter Erasmus
Müller who discovered the micro- crustaceans in
certain Swiss lakes dispelling the previously held
idea that the clear lakes were devoid of microscopic life. Hensen ( 1887 ) proposed the defi nite
term ‘plankton’ to this mass of drifting microscopic life in order to include all the minute
plants, animals and debris which are suspended
in natural waters; and the study of plankton had
been a signifi cant component of limnological
research during the last part of the nineteenth and
fi rst part of the twentieth centuries.
The relationship between environment and
organisms is well known. Temperature and oxygen profi les determine mainly the rate of biochemical reactions in the living body. Arrhenius’s
law is applicable equally to both living and nonliving beings. However, studies on experimental
physiology revealed that aquatic fl atworms move
faster at higher temperatures, the required energy
being derived from higher oxygen consumption,
thereby establishing a direct correlation between
oxygen consumption and temperature. Similar
relationships also exist between phytoplankton
and optimum temperature as well as between
zooplankton and pH and DO.
Notwithstanding the above, interesting assemblage like biocoenosis as well as phyto- and zoosociology is often evident in the lentic systems as
lentic life is always established in communities
which are interdependent or infl uence each other
mutually.
Meanwhile, there has been profound impact
of marine biology on the study of limnological
science. The attention of biologists, at large, is
being attracted to the rich diversity of marine
life. Although overshadowed by the overwhelming progress of marine biology during
most part of the nineteenth century, study of
freshwater biology and limnology did not suffer a setback because the development of the
methods of study and an increase in biological
knowledge, in general, indirectly but materially,
helped the future advances of limnology.
Similarly, oceanography began to take on more
defi nite form, and its gain also contributed later
to the progress of limnology indirectly because
there are many features common to both freshwater and marine biota.
1.9
Unexplored Fields
Of the vast array of freshwater lentic systems
throughout the globe, very few have received
adequate attention from the limnologists. Also,
those which have been studied are, for the most
part, confi ned to restricted geographical regions.
The inland lentic systems, distributed along the
length and breadth of Asia, Africa, America,
Canada, Europe and Australia, present wideopen opportunity for doing in-depth limnological
research. The diversity of these lentic systems,
physically, chemically and biologically, is infi -
nitely greater than previously supposed.
Space may not permit a detailed discussion of
the very interesting growth during the last century and a quarter. Phenomenal progress of the
general subject of ecology inevitably had a constructive infl uence on limnology; and because of
its many ramifi cations, limnology has profi ted
from simultaneous advance in other sciences.
1.10 Limnology in a Typical
Developing Country
Limnological research and training in Malaysia
have progressed steadily in the last 25 years
(approx.) from the efforts of an increasing number of trained limnologist and scientists of related
fi elds in the local universities, government
departments (e.g. Department of Environment,
Government Chemistry Department, Drainage and
Irrigation Department, State Water Authorities)
and research centre (e.g. Freshwater Fish
Research Centre). Non-governmental organisations
1.10 Limnology in a Typical Developing Country