The Freshwater Ecosystems of Suriname

Since the limnological research on the man-made Brokopondo Reservoir in the 1960s, numerous data have been collected on the ecology of Surinam rivers and swamps. This book is a compilation of these data: it is a comprehensive survey of the aquatic ecology of one of the peripheral areas of Amazonia. The geomorphology of the country, situated on the Guyana Shield, is the main factor determining the limnological properties of rivers and creeks. This results in an overall picture that is quite different from Amazonia. The emphasis of “The Ecosystems of Suriname” is on the living aquatic resources, including aquatic and swamp vegetation, phyto and zooplankton, macroinvertebrates, fish, amphibians, reptiles and mammals. Although most of Suriname is still in a pristine state, the human impact of fresh waters is considerable in those areas of rapid economic development, emphasizing the necessity of conservation measures, specially tailored for aquatic ecosystems. “The Ecosystems of Suriname” should be useful for scientists, environmental managers and others interested in tropical aquatic ecology.