Limnology ( ; from Greek λίμνη,
limne, "lake" and λόγος,
logos, "knowledge"), is the study of inland waters. It is often regarded as a division of
ecology or
environmental science. It covers the
biological,
chemical,
physical,
geological, and other attributes of all inland waters (running and standing waters, both fresh and saline, natural or man-made). This includes the study of
lakes and
ponds,
rivers,
springs,
streams and
wetlands. A more recent sub-discipline of limnology, termed
landscape limnology, studies, manages, and conserves these aquatic ecosystems using a landscape perspective.