This book presents an experimental approach to aquatic ecology, focusing on organisms, populations, and ecosystems, with energy flow and organic matter transformation as key principles. It comprises five chapters, with the first four following a consistent structure: an introduction, methods of investigation, results, and a concluding section of “Tests and exercises.” Results are quantitatively expressed through equations linking the study process to body mass, temperature, and other environmental factors. Chapter 1 explores experimental ecology concepts, energy balance, its expressions, and measurement units. Chapter 2 examines animal respiration's role in organic matter mineralization, allowing for comparisons of metabolic rates across the animal kingdom, from unicellular organisms to vertebrates. Chapter 3 discusses the growth, development, and production of aquatic animals, focusing on somatic and generative growth in relation to energy metabolism. Chapter 4 addresses quantitative concepts of animal feeding. Finally, Chapter 5 synthesizes findings from the previous chapters to explain the relationship between organism size and productive properties, as well as their roles in water purification and quality formation. This textbook, aimed at bachelor students, serves as a comprehensive review of quantitative approaches in aquatic ecology, featuring 148 pages and 52 figures.
