ABSTRACT
The freshwaters of the continents are a collection of standing or flowing waters that vary in origin, shape, volume, and areas. Limnology is the science that studies these inland water ecosystems, their characteristics and mechanisms of function, and the interaction between their physical, chemical, and biological components. Saline lakes are important aquatic ecosystems from the limnological and ecological points of view because they have specialized flora and fauna and specific biodiversity. Their mechanisms of functioning are important as models for aquatic ecosystem studies. These aquatic ecosystems are characterized by three interfaces: the air– water interface, the sediment–water interface, and the organism–water interface. The construction and operation of large reservoirs in Brazil are illustrative examples of the impacts of large artificial ecosystems on watersheds and rivers. The maintenance of ecosystem services of the inland aquatic ecosystems is of prime importance and their management should consider this sustainable approach as the basis for their conservation and recovery.
