Soda Lakes of East Africa

About this book

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.

Soda Lakes of East Africa 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.

Soda Lakes of East Africa 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.

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

Customer Reviews