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

Hardcover  429 pp, 232 illus  ISBN 3540439226      £100.00

Humic Substances color all waters more or less brown. Their concentrations exceed all carbon of living organisms by at least one order of magnitude. Opposite to former paradigms, they participate in almost any metabolic pathway. They protect against UV-irradation, enable indirect photolysis and, thus, purify hazardous chemicals, they provide inorganic and organic nutrients, may form cryptic genes with DNA and dampen metabolic fluctuations. More recently they can increase adverse effects of hazardous chemicals and they can directly interfere with organisms. The book tries to relate effects to structural features.

Contents

Origin of Humic Substances in Freshwater.- Humic Substances as geochemical Determinates.- Global Climate Change in Fresh Water.- Interactions between DHM and Light - Direct and Indirect Effects.- Interaction of DHM with Metals and Biopolymers.