River Ecosystem Ecology

A Global Perspective

Gene E. Likens

• Publisher: Academic Press
• Year: 2010
• Print ISBN: 9780123819987
• eBook ISBN: 9780123819994
• Topic: Biological Sciences
• Subtopic: Ecology
• Index: Biological Sciences

A derivative of the Encyclopedia of Inland Waters, River Ecosystem Ecology reviews the function of rivers and streams as ecosystems as well as the varied activities and interactions that occur among their abiotic and biotic components. Because the articles are drawn from an encyclopedia, the articles are easily accessible to interested members of the public, such as conservationists and environmental decision makers.- Includes an up-to-date summary of global aquatic ecosystems and issues- Covers current environmental problems and management solutions- Features full-color figures and tables to support the text and aid in understanding

Rivers of the World

Africa

M. Meybeck Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France

General Features of the African Continent

The relief, climate, and lithological features of the continent are summarized (Table 1) for 21 aggregated coastal catchments that link river networks to the coasts of the Mediterranean Sea and of the Indian, South Atlantic and North Atlantic Oceans, and for few African regions presently not connected with oceans (endorheic rivers).

Table 1

General characteristics of African coastal catchments (Meybeck et al. (2006))

Sea basin name	Code (1)	Principal rivers	Sea basin area	Runoff	Population density/sea basin	Sediment yield	Relief			Climate					Geology
			Mkm^2	mm year^−1	people per km^2	t km^−2 year^−1	% Low	% Mid	% High	% Temperate	% Dry < 3 mm (2)	% Dry ≥ 3 mm (2)	% Tropical < 680 mm (3)	% Tropical ≥ 680 mm (3)	% Shield plutonic	% Volcanic	% Carbon	% Others
Algerian Basin	1.0	Moulouya, Cheliff, Medjerda	0.25	86	104	53	1.2	98.8	0.0	78.0	21.0	1.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	1.0	47.5	51.5
South Ionian Sea	2.0	Irharhar, Araye (4)	2.26	0	8	1	53.3	46.7	0.0	1.7	97.7	0.6	0.0	0.0	2.8	4.2	37.6	55.5
East Mediterranean	3.0	Nile, Qattara	4.52	18	28	26	46.9	51.3	1.8	6.9	59.9	8.2	24.8	0.2	28.8	5.4	10.1	55.7
West Red Sea	4.0	No important rivers	0.33	14	37	12	3.5	95.6	0.9	0.0	83.7	12.8	3.5	0.0	61.8	20.2	0.0	18.0
South Aden Gulf	5.0	No important rivers	0.10	0	25	4	4.3	95.7	0.0	0.0	100.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	26.5	5.9	50.0	17.6
Somali Coast	6.0	Jubba, Tana (Kenya)	1.36	14	18	96	49.9	47.6	2.5	7.7	73.8	7.3	8.0	0.0	8.5	11.5	49.4	30.6
Zanzibar Coast	7.0	Rufiji, Rovuma, Galana, Pangani, Lurio, Wami	0.85	187	40	132	22.9	75.3	1.8	13.0	11.8	10.2	64.6	0.4	57.4	9.0	5.0	28.6
North Madagascar	8.0		0.17	676	31	69	26.7	73.3	0.0	44.6	0.0	0.0	39.3	16.1	45.4	7.2	21.9	25.5
Coast		Ikopa, Sofia
Mascarenes-	9.0		0.21	913	31	78	13.4	86.6	0.0	41.7	0.0	0.0	11.5	42.0	71.9	19.7	1.4	7.0
Madagascar Basin		Mananara
South West Madagascar Coast	10.0	Mangoky, Tsiribihina, Onilahy	0.24	291	20	257	28.4	71.6	0.0	45.3	35.0	2.4	17.3	0.0	40.6	2.5	21.7	35.2
Mozambique Coast	11.0	Zambezi, Save, Pungoe, Licungo, Buzi	1.73	251	20	33	13.7	86.3	0.0	59.7	5.6	7.8	26.1	0.7	42.0	1.2	8.3	48.4
Agulhas Basin	12.0	Limpopo, Gourits, Incomati, Gamtoos, Great Fish, Great Kei	0.88	43	39	182	20.8	78.9	0.3	36.1	54.9	3.8	5.1	0.0	26.8	9.9	8.2	55.1
Cape Basin	13.0	Orange, Olifants	1.29	9	14	28	0.4	97.7	1.9	14.8	83.3	1.9	0.0	0.0	24.1	6.9	12.7	56.3
Angola Basin	14.0	Congo Zaire, Cuanza, Cunene, Kouilou	4.38	344	18	13	27.4	72.4	0.1	13.3	1.4	1.0	82.7	1.5	38.9	0.5	11.6	48.9
Sao Tome- Principe Basin	15.0	Ogooue, Sanaga, Cross, Ntem, Nyong	0.53	793	25	34	36.6	63.4	0.0	0.6	0.0	0.0	51.2	48.2	76.8	5.3	6.6	11.3
Niger Delta Cone	16.0	Niger, Oueme	2.46	172	47	17	78.7	21.3	0.0	0.2	45.4	10.5	38.8	5.0	39.4	1.0	8.8	50.8
Guinea Basin	17.0	Volta, Bandama, Comoe, Sassandra, Pra	0.78	177	51	19	94.1	5.9	0.0	1.2	1.6	4.7	91.4	1.2	73.7	0.0	0.0	26.3
Sierra Leone Basin	18.0	Cavai l...

Table of contents

• Cover image
• Title page
• Table of Contents
• Copyright page
• Editor
• Contributors
• Introduction to River Ecosystem Ecology: A Global Perspective
• Physical and Chemical Processes Influencing Rivers
• Ecology of Flowing Waters
• Human Impacts on Streams and Rivers
• Rivers of the World
• Subject Index