Limnology,although showing progress overall,still has many handicaps:there is a lack of understanding of process and functions,of animal and plant diversity,of taxonomy in some climatic regions like the tropics-subtropics,and the teaching of the discipline is lagging so far behind that in many countries that span several climatic zones,the temperate zone is still used as a standard.On the other hand,water problems all over the world are becoming more and more acute,both as regards quantity as quality.China is no exception to this rule.Stretching from a cool continental climate in the north to a tropical climate in the south,it faces severe problems of pollution and eutrophication,including almost perennial blooms of toxic blue-green algae.