1. Limnology, definition and objective -- 2. Water as a medium -- 3. The origin of lakes -- 4. Physical processes and circulation in lakes -- 5. The chemical composition of water -- 6. Organisms and communities in inland aquatic ecosystems and estuaries -- 7. The dynamic ecology of aquatic plant populations and communities -- 8. The dynamic ecology of aquatic animal populations and communities -- 9. The flow of energy in aquatic ecosystems -- 10. Biogeochemical cycles -- 11. Lakes as ecosystems -- 12. Man-made reservoirs -- 13. Rivers -- 14. Estuaries and coastal lagoons -- 15. Wetlands, temporary waters and saline lakes -- 16. Regional limnology in Central and South America -- 17. Regional limnology in Africa and in temperate regions -- 18. Impacts on aquatic ecosystems -- 19. Planning and managing of water resources -- 20. Study approaches and methods : the present and future of limnology.