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Ecohydrological interfaces as hot spots of ecosystem processes

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-21, 15:28 authored by Krause, S, Lewandowski, J, Grimm, NB, Hannah, DM, Pinay, G, Karlie McDonaldKarlie McDonald, Marti, E, Argerich, A, Pfister, L, Klaus, J, Battin, T, Lamed, ST, Schelker, J, Fleckenstein, J, Schmidt, C, Rivett, MO, Watts, G, Sabater, F, Sorolla, A, Turk, V
The movement of water, matter, organisms, and energy can be altered substantially at ecohydrological interfaces, the dynamic transition zones that often develop within ecotones or boundaries between adjacent ecosystems. Interdisciplinary research over the last two decades has indicated that ecohydrological interfaces are often ‘‘hot spots’’ of ecological, biogeochemical, and hydrological processes and may provide refuge for biota during extreme events. Ecohydrological interfaces can have significant impact on global hydrological and biogeochemical cycles, biodiversity, pollutant removal, and ecosystem resilience to disturbance. The organizational principles (i.e., the drivers and controls) of spatially and temporally variable processes at ecohydrological interfaces are poorly understood and require the integrated analysis of hydrological, biogeochemical, and ecological processes. Our rudimentary understanding of the interactions between different drivers and controls critically limits our ability to predict complex system responses to change. In this paper, we explore similarities and contrasts in the functioning of diverse freshwater ecohydrological interfaces across spatial and temporal scales. We use this comparison to develop an integrated, interdisciplinary framework, including a roadmap for analyzing ecohydrological processes and their interactions in ecosystems. We argue that, in order to fully account for their nonlinear process dynamics, ecohydrological interfaces need to be conceptualized as unique, spatially and temporally dynamic entities, which represents a step change from their current representation as boundary conditions at investigated ecosystems.

History

Publication title

Water Resources Research

Volume

53

Pagination

6359-6376

ISSN

0043-1397

Department/School

Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies

Publisher

Amer Geophysical Union

Place of publication

2000 Florida Ave Nw, Washington, USA, Dc, 20009

Rights statement

© 2017. American Geophysical Union

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Expanding knowledge in the environmental sciences

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