Ecohydrology of Groundwater-Dependent Ecosystems
Summary
Ecohydrology examines the interactions between groundwater flow and ecological processes in systems that rely on subsurface water. Groundwater-dependent ecosystems include springs, wetlands, riparian woodlands and terrestrial habitats underpinned by aquifer discharge. These ecosystems provide critical services such as maintaining baseflow during drought, supporting unique biodiversity, purifying water through biogeochemical cycles and regulating microclimates. Research in this field combines geochemical tracing, isotope hydrology, hydrodynamic modelling and ecological assessment to quantify recharge, storage and discharge dynamics and to characterise species-habitat relationships. Anthropogenic pressures—from over-extraction and land-use change to pollution and invasive species—threaten the integrity of these systems, while shifting precipitation patterns and rising temperatures under climate change alter recharge regimes and groundwater levels. Integrating ecohydrological insights into water management, conservation planning and restoration practice fosters adaptive frameworks for securing both water resources and ecosystem health on a global scale.
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Ecohydrology of Groundwater-Dependent Ecosystems publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in ecohydrology of groundwater-dependent ecosystems across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Ecohydrology: The interdisciplinary study of interactions between water cycles and ecological processes within ecosystems.
Groundwater-Dependent Ecosystem (GDE): A habitat or community whose persistence and function rely on groundwater inputs.
Aquifer: A subsurface geological formation capable of storing and transmitting significant quantities of groundwater.
Recharge: The process by which surface water infiltrates soil and rock to replenish groundwater reserves.
Seepage: The slow emergence of groundwater at the surface, sustaining springs, wetlands or baseflow in streams.
References
- Quantification of anthropogenic impact on groundwater-dependent terrestrial ecosystem using geochemical and isotope tools combined with 3-D flow and transport modelling. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences (2015).
- Distribution, threats and protection of selected karst groundwater-dependent ecosystems in the Mediterranean region. Hydrogeology Journal (2023).
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