Limnology is a part of the science of ecology and the word limnology comes from the greek words limni = "lake" and logos = "the knowledge of". Limnology would then mean "the teaching of lakes" and that is a good picture to remember it by. The modern definition of limnology is "the teaching of the structure and function of inland water ecosystems". Limnology is however usually called "freshwater ecology".
Limnology is a multi-science within which you find zoology, botany, ecology, microbiology, physics, chemistry etc.
Limnology is also a fairly new science and is sofar only taught at a few universities around the world. Most universities with intrests in freshwater ecology teach only some of the different aspects of limnology - eg hydrobotany or hydrozoology.

Within the different parts of limnology you will for example find:

The content of dissolved gases (eg oxygen and carbon dioxide), the acidity of the water (pH), the buffering capacity of the water, the content of different nutrients, minerals, etc.

The temperature, the speed of the water, the light climate (ie. how light is it and what colour has the light), etc.

What plants are in the water and how are they affected by, and how are they affecting their environment. The plants are fytoplancton (= plant plancton), benthic algae (= algae stuck to bottom, rocks, other plants, etc), mosses, and macrophytes (= big "ordinary" plants).

What animals are in the water and how are they affected by, and how are they affecting, their environment. The animals are zooplankton (= animal plankton), benthic fauna (= animals living in and on the bottom material, and fish.

What microorganisms (bacteria, microfungi and protozoa) are in the water and how are they affected by, and how are they affecting their environment.

	The Institute of Limnology at the University of Uppsala. http://www.ebc.uu.se/limno
	The Institute of Limnology at the University of Lund. http://www.biol.lu.se/limnologi/limnology/limnologi.html
	The American Fisheries Society - especially for you who want hints on fisheries management. http://www.fisheries.org/
	The Freshwater Biological Association - a wealth of hints on freshwater ecology and entomology. http://www.fba.org.uk/
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