What is the study of freshwater animals and plants called?

Limnology is the scientific study of freshwater ecosystems, including the analysis of the organisms that inhabit these environments, their interactions, and the physical and chemical properties of freshwater systems such as lakes, rivers, ponds, and wetlands. This branch of science encompasses both the biological aspects, including the flora and fauna found in these habitats, and the physical and chemical environments that support them.

As part of limnology, researchers explore biodiversity, nutrient cycling, and the effects of pollution and human activities on freshwater ecosystems. This makes it distinct from fields like marine biology, which focuses on saltwater environments, and ecology, which is a broader study of interactions between organisms and their environment, applicable to both terrestrial and aquatic systems. Hydrobiology is often used interchangeably with limnology but traditionally may lean more toward studies involving water processes rather than a dedicated focus on freshwater ecosystems. Thus, the most accurate term for the study of freshwater organisms and ecosystems is limnology.