Ecology of Humic Substances in Freshwaters: Determinants from Geochemistry to Ecological Niches

ISBN-13: 9783540439226 / Angielski / Twarda / 2003 / 440 str.

Christian Steinberg

Opis

Humic substances participate in almost any metabolic pathway. They protect against UV-irradation, enable indirect photolysis and purify hazardous chemicals. They may also form cryptic genes with DNA and dampen metabolic fluctuations. This book tries to relate effects to structural features.

Spis treści

Origin of Humic Substances in Freshwater: Biogeochemical Pathways.- Humic Substances as Geochemical Determinants.- Humic Substances and Global Climate Change.- Source of Inorganic and Organic Nutrients and Interaction with Photons.- Interactions with Nutrients, Metals, Halogens, Biopolymers, Pheromones, and Electrons.- Indirect Effects on Organisms.- Direct Effects on Organisms and Niche Differentiation.- Ecological Significance.- Concluding Remarks.

Blurb

There are already some multi-author books concerned with humic substances on the market which cover the chemical and geochemical aspects. Their main focus is on soil science, but also includes  freshwater ecology and chemistry.  In exisiting publications the interaction of humic material with  acquatic organisms is not dealt with in depth, being regarded as an indirect effect.  In this book, however, the author considers the geochemical as well as the physiological and ecotoxicological effects from a unique angle, thus avoiding breaks between chapters which is frequently the case in multi-author books.