HR: 16:00h
AN: H44C-01 INVITED    [Abstracts]
TI: Hydroecology/ Ecohydrology: Development and Recent Advances
AU: * Hannah, D M
EM: d.m.hannah@bham.ac.uk
AF: University of Birmingham, School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Birmingham, B15 2TT, United Kingdom
AU: Sadler, J P
AF: University of Birmingham, School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Birmingham, B15 2TT, United Kingdom
AU: Wood, P J
AF: Loughborough University, Department of Geography, Loughborough, LE11 3TU, United Kingdom
AB: Ecohydrology and hydroecology are making a mark on the environmental agenda, as evidenced by the proliferation of these terms in the academic literature, a new subject-specific journal/ text book, and wide occurrence of dedicated sessions at major conferences. In a practical context, consideration of hydroecological/ ecohydrological interactions is required to make management decisions about the water needs of riverine and wetland ecosystems versus people. In this presentation, we provide a perspective on the development of this ‘emerging discipline' by reviewing the scientific literature, categorising bibliographic search data and using examples of current research to focus attention on a range of issues that require further evaluation and thought. Examples are drawn from studies of: alpine river systems, river flow variability and ecological response, and hydrological disturbance of exposed riverine sediment beetle communities. We suggest that a potential impediment to the development of ecohydrology/ hydroecology is the lack of a clear subject definition to acts as a focal point to unite the research community. Most importantly, we assert that it not simply the integration of hydrology and ecology that will determine the future prospects for ecohydrology/ hydroecology but the way in which this integrative science is conducted. We advocate a truly interdisciplinary (as opposed to multi-disciplinary) approach in which ecologists and hydrologists benefit from true synergy by embracing advances at the cutting- edge of both sciences. Such an approach should provide more perceptive answers to hydroecological/ ecohydrological problems and management questions.
DE: 1813 Eco-hydrology
SC: Hydrology [H]
MN: 2007 Fall Meeting