limnology

1. (ecology) The science concerning the biological, physical and geological properties of fresh water bodies, especially lakes and ponds.Examples: "Although limnology is a young discipline, it has, over the past century, experienced marked growth. Its early descriptive period was a long one, given the enormous diversity of biota and environments in freshwater ecosystems."; "The exercises in this book were set forth initially because of our frustrations in teaching such a complex, multifaceted discipline as limnology."; "Reservoir limnology and water quality management are associated with functions such as flood control, hydropower generation, irrigation, and fishery."Synonyms: freshwater sciencecountableuncountable