The Antarctic continent carries the greatest diversity of lake environments on the planet: freshwater and saline lakes, tidal freshwater epishelf lakes, lakes on ice shelves and glacier surfaces, and over three hundred subglacial lakes; extraordinary ecosystems that have been separated from the atmosphere for up to millions of years. This book provides a unique and cutting edge synthesis of Antarctic limnology, drawing together current knowledge on geomorphology, morphometry, chemistry, community structure and function. It emphasises throughout the value of these near-pristine ecosystems as barometers of climate change, showing how responsive and vulnerable they are to the indirect impacts of anthropogenic activity. Antarctic Lakes begins with an introduction to their physical, chemical, and biological characteristics, providing a basis for understanding the subsequent detailed chapters on different lake types, and ends with a chapter considering the application of new technologies to polar limnology as well as identifying future research directions. This accessible text is suitable for both senior undergraduate and graduate students taking courses in Antarctic and polar limnology, and will also be of broad interest to researchers working in the areas of polar science, microbial ecology (and extremophiles), climatology, glaciology, and astrobiology.
This book represents an important benchmark of knowledge. ... [A]s a reference text it will act to introduce a wider community to the scientific study of, and the conditions for, extreme life at the end of the planet. ... [T]his well-written, well-illustrated, and well-structured book will serve future generations well as a point of knowledge at this particular moment. * Martin Siegert, Ecological Restoration * Antarctic Lakes, written by two well-respected Antarctic researchers, describes these interesting lakes, in particular their physical and chemical limnology, biogeochemistry, and biological diversity. The authors do a great job of describing the properties of the different types of lakes... * Michael T. Madigan, Quarterly Review of Biology * This is a very well written book that introduces Antarctic Lakes to the international science community ... [A] valuable compilation and synthesis for those interested in limnology in general and in the polar regions and extreme environments in particular. * Clive Howard-Williams, Journal of Plankton Research * ... good things come to those who wait for a comprehensive compilation of the variety of Antarctic Lakes ... It is a true joy to read this book ... one comprehensive volume of ... two authoring scientists who clearly know how to teach a broad scale of natural scientists. * Birgit Sattler, ASLO Review * The authors' expertise in microbial ecology and biogeochemistry allows a complete, interdisciplinary presentation of lake processes ... The book is well-written and illustrated. * Sarah A. Spaulding, Arctic, Antarctic and Alpine Research * Ultimately, the authors have succeeded in producing a single volume that serves both as a reference for those researching Antarctic lakes as well as an informative volume for those with limited experience in this subject. * Ecology *
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