1. Origin and history of the Nile.- 1a. The geological evolution of the Nile in Egypt.- Miocene.- Pliocene.- Pleistocene.- Prenile.- Neonile.- 1b. Pleistocene history of the Nile in Nubia.- Archaeological evidence.- Sediments.- References.- 2. The Nile in the Sudan, geomorphological history.- The Blue Nile.- The White Nile.- Main Nile.- References.- Editor's addition.- 3. The Nile - Palaeolimnology of headwaters.- L. Victoria.- Lakes of the Albert Nile.- Lake Rudolf.- Other lakes.- Outlook for future research.- Conclusion.- Acknowledgements.- References.- II. The Nile, a life artery.- 4a. Palaeo-ecology.- Egypt.- Sudan.- Uganda.- References.- 4b. Prehistoric civilisations in lower Egypt.- References.- 4c. Ancient Egypt, landscape, flora and agriculture.- Trees, Fruit trees, Palms.- Early Egyptian agriculture, Cereals, Weeds, Pulses.- Oil and Textile plants, Vegetables.- Garden flowers.- Vegetable drugs.- References.- 4c. Appendix: Domesticated animals of Ancient Egypt by J. Rzoska.- References.- 4d. River and Nile valley before Mans' interference.- References.- 5. Vegetation of the Nile basin.- References.- 5a. The riverain flora in Nubia.- Landforms.- Plant habitats before the inundation in 1965.- Status after inundation.- Acknowledgements.- References.- 6. Zoogeography of the Nile environment.- 6a. Mammals.- General remarks on the mammalian fauna of the Nile environment.- References.- 6b. Birds.- Sudan.- Uganda and Kenya.- References.- 6c. Amphibia and Reptiles.- Egypt.- Amphibia.- Sudan.- Ethiopia (Abyssinia).- Reptiles.- Egypt.- Sudan.- Uganda and Kenya.- The Nile crocodile.- References.- 6d. Invertebrates.- Desert Zoology.- The alluvial soil.- Aquatic Invertebrates.- References.- 6e. The faunal relations of Oligochaeta in the Nile Basin.- References.- 7. Fish fauna of the Nile.- 7a. Zoogeography and history.- 7b. Nile Fishes, General.- References.- III. Hydrology and Sediments.- 8. Nile waters - Hydrology, past and present.- Water budget of the Nile system.- Evaporation.- References.- 9. Nile sediments.- References.- IV. Hydrobiology and Limnology of the main parts of the Nile system.- The White Nile.- 10. Lake Victoria, physical features; general remarks on chemistry and biology.- Climatic factors and hydrology.- Chemical consequences of stratification.- References.- 11. Swamp development in the head waters of the White Nile.- Seasonal swamps.- Permanent swamps.- Papyrus swamps.- Other swamp types.- Nutrient relations of swamps.- Fauna of the Uganda swamps.- Utilization and reclamation.- Growth characteristics of swamps.- Conservation.- Acknowledgement.- References.- 12. Descent to the Sudan plains.- The upper Nile swamps.- References.- 13. The White Nile from Malakal to Khartoum.- The Blue Nile.- 14. Lake Tana, Headwaters of the Blue Nile.- Limnology.- Thermics.- Hydrobiology.- Phytoplankton.- Zooplankton.- Fishes.- Descent to the plains, the Blue Nile Gorge.- References.- 15. Notes on the Biogeography of the Blue Nile (Great Abbai) Gorge in Ethiopia.- Nile Gorge Physical Factors.- The Fauna of the Blue Nile (Great Abbai) Gorge in Ethiopia.- References.- 16. The Blue Nile in the plains.- Limnology of the Blue Nile before the Roseires Dam.- Impact of the Roseires Dam on hydrology and limnology of the river.- Thermal stratification in Roseires Reservoir.- Light penetration.- Phytoplankton.- Zooplankton.- Fishes of the Blue Nile system.- References.- The Joint Nile.- 17. The Atbara - An example of temporary rivers.- References.- 18. The joint Nile in the Sudan.- References.- 19a. Lake Nasser and Lake Nubia.- Morphology and hydrology.- The Nile flood.- Future aspects.- Temperature.- Dissolved oxygen.- Optical conditions.- The wind.- Conductivity.- Water chemistry.- Biological Phenomena.- Plankton.- Littoral areas.- Benthos.- Macrovegetation.- Lake shore vegetation.- References.- 19b. Fishes and fisheries of Lake Nasser.- Fish species.- Development of fisheries.- Future of fisheries.- Fish processing.- Fishing gears.- Fishing boats.- Fishermen.- References.- 20. Delta Lakes of Egypt.- Geological and hydrological investigations.- References.- V. Hydrobiology and Limnology of the whole river system.- 21. The invasion of Eichhornia crassipes in the Sudanese White Nile; compiled by the Editor from material.- History of discovery and spread in the Nile.- Centres of infestation.- Propagation of the water hyacinth.- Control measures in the Sudan.- Origin of invasion in the Nile system.- References.- 22. Schistosomiasis in the Nile basin.- Editors note.- References quoted in Editors note.- 23. Insects as factor in general and human ecology in the Sudan.- Tabanidae.- Simuliidae.- Chironomidae.- Other waterborne insect vectors.- References.- 24. Zooplankton of the Nile system.- Specific remarks on main sites.- Lake Victoria.- Lake Kioga.- Lake Albert.- Bahr el Gebel.- General remarks.- Distribution of Zooplankton in the Nile system.- References.- 25. Notes on the Benthos of the Nile system.- References.- 25a. Freshwater crabs of the Nile system.- The river-crabs (Pataniidae) of the Sudan.- Freshwater crabs of the Nile system outside the Sudan and Egypt.- Ethiopia.- References.- 26. Water Characteristics.- Temperature.- Transparency and light penetration.- Salinity and conductivity.- Major ions.- Dissolved gases and pH.- Plant nutrients.- References.- 27. Phytoplankton: composition, development and productivity.- Regional Development.- The headwater lakes.- a. Lake Victoria.- b. Lake Kioga.- c. Lake Albert.- d. Lake Tana.- The Sudan plain.- The Main Nile in Nubia and Egypt.- Limiting factors.- Rates of photosynthetic production.- References.- VI. Epilogue by J. Rzoska.- Authors Index.