Ecohydrology of Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems: A Review

Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems (GDEs) are ecosystems that must have access to groundwater to maintain their ecological structure and function. In other words, the vegetation dynamics moisture dynamics, and water-salt balance in GDEs are significantly affected by and directly related to the groundwater. This work reviews the most recent research advances in the ecohydrology of GDEs from: ①the interactions between groundwater and vegetation, ②the interactions between groundwater and soil moisture dynamics in the vadose zone, the interactions between ground and ③surface-water systems, ④the interactions between groundwater and salt accumulation dynamics, ⑤the responses of GDEs to climate changes and human disturbances, and ⑥the ecohydrological modeling works toward sustainable management of GDEs. It is pointed out that several issues need to be taken into account in the managements of GDEs, i.e., how does the vegetation of GDEs response to fluctuations and decreases in the groundwater level, whether there is a catastrophic loss of the functions of GDEs, and what is the threshold value below which such a catastrophe may occur. The key to solving those issues lies in how to delineate the different ecohydrological processes occurred in the soil medium from the top of the ground surface to the water table. Therefore, observation and modeling efforts are needed and will be important research priorities in the future, especially for GDEs in arid environments. We also argued that four more difficulties should be addressed towards sustainable management of GDEs in future: ①how to identify GDEs in the field, and determine which habitats and species are reliant on groundwater for their persistence in the landscape, ②what groundwater regime is required to sustain the existence of GDEs, ③how to manage GDEs with limited social resources, and ④what measures of ecosystem function can be monitored to determine that management is effective?     

地下水支撑生态系统研究综述

地下水支撑生态系统（GDEs）是指部分或全部依赖于地下水的生态系统,开展GDEs研究,不仅对于了解GDEs的生态水文特征和过程具有重要学术价值,而且对于保护地下水生态环境、促进地下水可持续利用具有重要的现实意义。通过GDEs的自然和人类活动影响因素、GDEs的类型划分与识别方法、GDEs的生态水文过程模拟等方面的综述,探讨了当前存在的问题,并对未来研究趋势进行了展望。综述认为,GDEs主要受气候变化和地下水利用的影响;GDEs的类型划分要方便野外调查和管理;GDEs的识别,要综合利用水文地质调查、"3S"技术和地下水动物取样分析的方法。建议今后GDEs生态水文过程的模拟要侧重于地表水和地下水的相互作用以及地下水对植被、溶质输移和热交换等方面的贡献大小的研究。     

流域生态水文过程模拟研究进展

生态水文学作为生态学和水文学的交叉学科,得到了相关研究者的广泛关注,并成为水文水资源研究领域中的一个热点,生态水文过程主要包括水文过程、生态过程以及二者之间相互作用的过程。从生态水文学内涵的角度,对山地、湿地、干旱区生态水文过程模拟以及流域集成模拟进展做了阐述,并分析建模的策略和统计了部分生态水文模型,考虑了建模过程中的尺度、数据、精度3个关键问题。并对生态水文模拟发展趋势做了展望,指出在未来的研究中应更多的关注以下几个方面:①生态水文过程模拟建模基础研究;②生态水文过程集成模拟研究;③基于数据库和GIS/RS技术的生态水文过程耦合模拟研究;④与原型观测相结合的生态水文过程模拟研究。建立符合我国实情的生态水文模型,是现阶段我国生态水文学研究的重要任务。     

干旱内陆区依赖地下水的生态系统研究：以敦煌盆地为例

在干旱内陆盆地生态水文学研究中,地下水的生态价值日益受到重视。论文以敦煌盆地为研究区,综合潜水埋深和水文地球化学调查、天然植物样方调查以及高空间分辨率遥感技术,从地下水属性变化对天然植物生长的影响以及依赖于地下水的植被生态系统制图等两个方面,开展了依赖地下水的植被生态系统研究。结果表明,以地下水潜水埋深和矿化度为代表的地下水属性与天然植被组成的系统是复杂的非线性系统,由多个相互作用的属性构成;当该系统远离平衡态时,控制系统状态的是多种地下水属性的组合,属性组合的微小涨落可能导致系统状态的较大差异;该系统状态的变化不具有等比例变化特征。植被覆盖度随潜水埋深和矿化度变化具有随机性、确定性和混沌特征。综合考虑研究区植物对地下水的依赖程度、植物对地下水的利用方式、地下水的排泄方式,以及植物群落空间分布格局,结合野外调查数据,完成了研究区依赖地下水的植被生态系统制图。结果表明,研究区除部分河、湖沿岸的植被生态系统外,其余2270.5km2面积都高度依赖地下水,占总面积的88% 。     

The protection of groundwater dependent ecosystems in Otago, New Zealand

Surface waters (streams, rivers, and wetlands) are the most important groundwater dependent ecosystems (GDEs) in Otago, New Zealand. Pumping wells in the vicinity can deplete water in the GDE. In Otago, most of the surface water resources are allocated and a method, which would assist in the implementation of water management policy, is needed to acknowledge the strong hydraulic link between surface and shallow groundwater. A simplified method has been developed which derives a numerical relationship between the bore pumping rate and the distance between the bore and surface water body beyond which depletion is considered insignificant. A range of GDE depletion scenarios are examined at various combinations of hydraulic parameters to find a minimum distance for a given pumping rate, at which 90% of the modelled surface water depletion scenarios become less than a threshold GDE depletion after a specified time. A buffer zone, based on the minimum distance is placed around GDEs, and groundwater abstraction rights within the buffer are subject to stricter rules. Applicants wishing to abstract from bores within the buffer zone will need to address the environmental impact of the proposed activity on the GDE.     

Groundwater–wetlands interaction in coastal lagoon of Almería (SE Spain)

Water resources management in coastal wetlands requires the degree of interdependence between groundwater and terrestrial ecosystems to be known. This is especially so in semiarid areas where surface inflows are restricted, marine influence is marked and the evaporation rate is high. Thus, chemistry of surface waters is very variable in the Cerrillos-Punta Entinas wetlands system. Using classical hydrogeochemical tools, the main processes that favor a diversity of water types were described, related to: presence of salt deposits on the lagoon beds, marine origin of the water, and local influence of groundwater. All these factors make it difficult to establish what reference conditions should be used to define “good” water quality of the surface waters—as required by the Water framework directive—and to understand the influence of groundwater on these coastal wetlands. Knowledge about the influence of the different interaction of these factors on the hydrogeochemical dynamics is required for the sustainable management of this protected natural site.     

生态水文过程对水环境影响研究述评

当前生态水文过程对水环境影响的国内外研究主要包括生态水文过程的形成、基于生态水文格局分析的生态需水研究、流域尺度上生态水文过程对水文、水质和水生态的影响以及理论、方法与模型研究;但这些研究尚未过渡到生态水文过程的揭示上来,我国的生态水文学研究尤为薄弱。未来生态水文过程与水环境安全调控研究中的主要议题包括:①生态水文过程形成、演化及驱动机制分析;②基于生态水文过程的生态需水时空分异;③流域生态水文过程对地表水水质分异的影响;④流域生态水文过程与水的生态空间变化;⑤近海陆域生态水文过程与近海水质调控;⑥基于现代地理信息技术的生态水文模型研究;⑦基于水环境安全的生态水文决策与管理研究。     

额济纳绿洲浅层地下水动态监测研究及其进展

浅层地下水动态是影响与制约我国西北干旱区黑河流域下游额济纳绿洲生态系统维持与修复的根本要素之一。本文通过梳理近年来额济纳绿洲浅层地下水动态变化的研究成果,结合典型观测站点的地下水水位与盐分自动监测（2010~2013年）,回顾了该地区地下水监测站网的发展阶段,归纳了地下水年际动态变化特征及其空间变化类型,综述了其驱动因素。地下水动态长期观测的综合分析结果表明,该地区浅层地下水水位自20世纪50年代起开始下降,一直持续到20世纪90年代末期,2000年生态输水之后,地下水位整体得到回升。根据地下水时空动态变化特征及其驱动因素,可以将研究区划分为4个典型区域：以河道渗漏补给与植被蒸腾作用为主的河岸带;以区域地下水侧向补给与潜水蒸发作用为主的荒漠戈壁带;以地下水依赖型生态系统蒸散发与区域地下水侧向补给作用为主的天然绿洲区;以地下水开采与人工回灌作用为主的人工绿洲区。研究认为,间歇性河流的渗漏补给以及荒漠-绿洲生态系统的蒸散发是该地区浅层地下水系统动态变化的主要驱动因素。此外,人为配置地表水资源与局部开采地下水资源加剧了地表水与地下水之间的相互转化,改变了浅层地下水系统的天然动态。为了定量识别生态输水配置下的地表水-地下水相互转化及其与生态环境之间的关系,下一阶段的研究应以地表水/地下水系统动态联合监测为基础,深入开展关键水文过程野外试验研究,同时强化人类调控下的水文过程多尺度综合模拟。     

First attempts towards an integrative concept for the ecological assessment of groundwater ecosystems

Healthy aquifers deliver important ecosystem services, e.g. the purification of infiltrating water and the storage of high-quality water over decades in significant quantities. The functioning of terrestrial and surface aquatic ecosystems directly depends on groundwater and vice versa. Nowadays, legislation has started to consider groundwater not only as a resource but as a living ecosystem. The assessment of ecosystems requires consideration of ecological criteria, which, so far, are not available for groundwater systems. In the framework of a project supported by the German Federal Environment Agency (UBA), a first concept for the ecological assessment of groundwater ecosystems is developed. Steps to be taken are introduced, with a strong focus on microbes as potential bioindicators. These include (1) the typology of groundwater ecosystems, (2) the derivation of natural background values, (3) the identification of potential bioindicators, and (4) the development of an assessment model. First successes and difficulties associated with these challenges, e.g. the lack of simple correlations between abiotic and biotic variables, are discussed on the basis of a data set from a local and regional aquifer in NE Germany. The need for collaboration between ecologists, hydrogeologists and geochemists, as well as the application of modern approaches such as multivariate statistics, is emphasized.     

Environmental tracers and indicators bringing together groundwater,surface water and groundwater-dependent ecosystems: importance of scale in choosing relevant tools

Groundwater–surface water (GW–SW) interactions cover a broad range of hydrogeological and biological processes and are controlled by natural and anthropogenic factors at various spatio-temporal scales, from watershed to hyporheic/hypolentic zone. Understanding these processes is vital in the protection of groundwater-dependent ecosystems increasingly required in water resources legislation across the world. The use of environmental tracers and indicators that are relevant simultaneously for groundwater, surface water and biocenoses–biotope interactions constitutes a powerful tool to succeed in the management task. However, tracer type must be chosen according to the scale of interest and tracer use thus requires a good conceptual understanding of the processes to be evaluated. This paper reviews various GW–SW interaction processes and their drivers and, based on available knowledge, systemises application of conservative tracers and semi-conservative and reactive environmental indicators at different spatial scales. Biocenoses–biotopes relationships are viewed as a possible transition tool between scales. Relation between principal application of the environmental tracers and indicators, examples and guidelines are further proposed for examining GW–SW interactions from a hydrogeological and biological point of view by demonstrating the usability of the tracers/indicators and providing recommendations for the scientific community and decision makers.     

Ecological function zoning and protection of groundwater in Asia

The natural groundwater recharge in Asia is estimated to be 4 677.74×10⁹ m³/a. However, it features extremely uneven spatial-temporal distribution. Groundwater is distributed in various natural and geological environments, and it is liable to be affected by numerous factors and possesses different properties. Moreover, groundwater faces complex ecological problems. This paper gains a complete understanding of groundwater in Asia in terms of the structure of aquifer systems, the processes of groundwater cycle, and the spatial variation laws of surface ecosystems. Based on this, it proposes the ecological function zoning scheme of groundwater in Asia, aiming to provide guidance for the utilization of regional water resources and the planning for economic and social development, coordinate the relationship between social and economic development and water resource protection, and improve the ecological functions of groundwater. Furthermore, this paper analyzes the problems with regional groundwater management in Asia and puts forward countermeasures and suggestions, thus providing a theoretical basis for the sustainable development and utilization of regional groundwater and environmental protection.     

Remote sensing and GIS based determination of groundwater dependent ecosystems in the Western Cape, South Africa

Finding the location of groundwater dependent ecosystems (GDEs) is important in determining the extent of restrictions that need to be placed upon the abstraction of groundwater. Remote sensing was combined with geographical information system (GIS) modelling to produce a GDE probability rating map for the Sandveld region, South Africa. Landsat TM imagery identified the areas indicating the probable presence of GDEs and GIS assisted in their delineation. Three GIS models were generated: a GIS model predicting landscape wetness potential (LWP model) based on terrain morphological features; the LWP model was modified to highlight groundwater generated landscape wetness potential (the resulting GglWP model); and a groundwater elevation model was interpolated, combining groundwater level measurements in boreholes in the region with digital elevation model data. Biomass indicators generated from Landsat were classified and combined with the GIS models, followed by field verification of riverine and wetland GDEs. The LWP model provided the most accurate results of the three models tested for GDEs in this region.

陆地生态系统碳-氮-水耦合循环的基本科学问题、理论框架与研究方法

陆地生态系统碳循环、氮循环和水循环是生态系统生态学和全球变化科学研究长期被关注的三大物质循环,它们表征着全球、区域及典型生态系统的能量流动、养分循环和水循环。然而,自然界的生态系统碳循环、氮循环和水循环是相互联动、不可分割的耦合体系,在生态学、生理学、生物化学等方面受多个生物、物理、化学和生物学过程的调节和控制。本文在综合论述陆地生态系统碳-氮-水耦合循环研究的理论和实践意义的基础上,探讨了陆地生态系统碳-氮-水耦合循环的关键过程,提出该研究领域的基本科学问题,重点分析了植被-大气、土壤-大气和根系-土壤3个界面上碳、氮、水交换的生物物理过程,典型生态系统碳-氮-水耦合循环的生物学化学过程,制约典型生态系统碳-氮-水循环耦合关系的生态系统生态学机制,以及制约生态系统碳-氮-水循环空间格局耦联关系的生物地理生态学机制。在现有科学研究的基础上,构建了陆地生态系统碳-氮-水耦合循环机制的逻辑框架系统,讨论了开展陆地生态系统碳-氮-水耦合循环研究的主要技术途径与方法。     

西北典型内陆流域地下水与湿地生态系统协同演化机制

以生态输水为代表的湿地修复工程在西北内陆流域得到了广泛应用,生态输水情形下地下水与湿地植被的交互作用决定着湿地生态系统的演化过程。以西北典型内陆流域—石羊河流域青土湖湿地为研究区,基于地下水-湿地生态系统多要素一体化动态监测网络,结合稳定同位素和卫星遥感技术手段,分析生态输水情形下的地下水动态变化与湿地植被恢复情况,从水文地质角度揭示地下水与湿地生态系统的协同演化机制。结果显示:夏季末和秋季生态输水时,湖水补给地下水且土壤含水率增大,最大土壤含水率可达0.45 m³/m³;冬季湿地湖面和表层土壤冻结,湖水对地下水补给量减少,春季冻土和湖面消融导致地下水略有回升,同时增大土壤含水率;夏季在下次生态输水前湖面面积最小(湖面面积最小约为1 km²,地下水水位最大埋深为3.6 m),部分区域地下水补给湖水,此时表层土壤含水率也最低(最小土壤含水率为0.01 m³/m³);夏季末和秋季生态输水通过将生态水储存在地下水和土壤中进而作用于次年的植被恢复与生长,增大生态输水所形成的湖面面积有助...     

Environmental Controls on Groundwater Chemistry in an Offshore Island Aquifer: Fiesta Key, Florida

A field study was undertaken on the Florida Bay side of Fiesta Key, Florida, to identify the chemical characteristics of a previously unexplored offshore groundwater system and to define the critical parameters affecting groundwater movement and interaction with sediment pore fluids and bedrock. Emphasis was placed on the upper 2 meters of bedrock, where groundwater recharge and discharge potentials are maximized, along a 100 meter transect extending from the island margin. Bedrock cores were used to describe Pleistocene depositional textures, and were sampled at discrete depths to determine the extent of water-rock interaction. Piezometers installed into each core hole were used to monitor surface and ground water tide levels, and for the systematic collection of water samples for a large suite of chemical determinations.Aqueous chemical data indicate that these groundwaters are marine in origin, anoxic, and moderately hypersaline (S = 36–40). Exchange of bedrock pore fluids with overlying Bay waters is restricted by a layer of Holocene sediment and a discontinuous soilstone crust formed at the modern bedrock surface. Groundwater chemistry near the sediment/bedrock interface is marked by elevated concentrations of total alkalinity and Ca2+, and by significant Mg2+ depletion. These waters likely acquired their unusual chemistry by mixing between deeper groundwaters and overlying, early diagenetically altered, sediment porewaters. High alkalinity and calcium concentrations presumably result from the combination of the effects of aerobic metabolism, carbonate dissolution, and sulfate reduction. Mg-depletion most likely resulted from the precipitation of Mg-calcite. These unusual chemistries disappear by 2 m depth in the groundwater system, where Ca2+ and Mg2+ concentrations are similar to those expected for seawater under slightly hypersaline conditions.The Pleistocene bedrock contains low Mg, Sr, F, and P concentrations relative to the overlying unconsolidated Holocene carbonate sediments. This is consistent with the diagenetic recrystallization processes that the bedrock has undergone. Hydraulic conditions favor the net recharge of Florida Bay seawater to the groundwater system, but there are insufficient tide data to identify cyclical water exchange rates or groundwater flow patterns.     

论内陆干旱区依赖地下水的植被生态需水量研究关键科学问题

地下水资源在内陆干旱区具有重要的植被生态功能, 依赖地下水的植被生态系统的需水量是目前流域水资源综合管理的重要组成部分.在分析地下水资源生态功能研究进展的同时, 系统阐述了内陆干旱区依赖地下水的植被生态需水量研究的几个关键科学问题: ①依赖地下水的植被生态系统的识别方法; ②地下水对植被生态系统作用机制的分析; ③地下水关键属性安全界限的确定; ④地下水系统结构分析; ⑤生态用水配置方案的确定; ⑥区域尺度地下水-天然植被系统关系的概念模型.并逐一提出了这些问题的解决方案, 能够为干旱区植被生态系统保护和恢复提供思路, 也能够为水资源开发利用与以植被生态系统保护为中心的干旱区生态文明建设提供地学支撑.      

A proposal for an extended typology of groundwater habitats

Many governments now require the ecological condition of groundwater ecosystems to be considered when making policy decisions. However, groundwater habitats and communities occur at different spatial scales to those at which aquifers are managed, making their inclusion in policy decisions difficult. A system of classifying groundwater ecosystems is needed to aid this, yet such a typology is currently not available. Here, a hierarchical model for a typology of groundwater habitats is suggested, which considers three spatial scales: macro, meso, and local. On a macroscale, communities are influenced by biogeographic characteristics; at a mesoscale they are influenced by the hydrogeological type of the aquifer; and on local scale by the hydrological exchange with surface water and hence the oxygen and nutrient supply. Consequently, groundwater habitats are assumed to be defined by biogeographic particularities, the hydrogeological aquifer type and by localized hydrological exchange with surface water. By adopting a ‘groundwater habitat typology’, groundwater biologists may be able to work with hydrogeologists to assist in the sustainable management of groundwater by predicting groundwater biodiversity and the distribution of important or endangered species. The typology proposed here is a first step towards achieving this goal.     

黑河流域河道径流和人类活动对地下水动态的影响

文章概述了西北内陆干旱区黑河流域地下水系统的构成及第四纪含水层分布,在系统收集整理1986~2009年间黑河流域河道径流、地下水位、灌溉引水资料及补充调查成果的基础上,重点分析了径流变化和人类活动对流域地下水动态的影响。根据高程梯度、地貌类型和径流对平原地下水系统的补给作用,流域地下水动态类型可分为3个典型区：1）山前潜水含水层强入渗补给区,河道过水量控制着年地下水位变幅;2）冲积扇边缘细土平原承压含水层区,人类活动干预下的地表-地下水复杂交互过程使地下水位多年变化呈动态平衡状态;3）下游荒漠平原入渗生态补给区,政策性分水计划强烈影响地下水动态变化和空间分布。地表-地下水交互过程强烈影响地下水系统的动态平衡,且在不同区域呈现的时间尺度不同。中游绿洲农业区的人类活动通过政策性的水量再分配及土地利用空间格局变化影响地下水的循环路径及补径排条件。通过建立地表-地下水-生态水文过程耦合模型是量化动态水循环过程、合理管理地表-地下水资源的迫切需求,是未来干旱区水资源可持续利用研究的方向。     

Saline fresh water interface structure in Mahanadi delta region, Orissa, India

 Saline/fresh water interface structure is one of the most important and basic hydrogeological parameter that needs to be estimated for studies related to coastal zone management, well-field design and understanding saline water intrusion mechanism/processes. The success and stability of a groundwater structure in a coastal region depend upon an accurate estimate of interface structure between saline and fresh water zones, aquifer-aquiclude boundaries and their lateral continuities and the interstitial water qualities of aquifers. Self-potential and resistivity logs provide a reasonably good basis for such estimates and for sustainable development of fresh groundwater resources. The interface depth structure for the Mahanadi delta region, as obtained and interpreted through self-potential and resistivity logs, provides a fairly clear picture of the regional extensions and boundaries of aquifers, aquicludes and interstitial water quality patterns. Aquifers in the northern sector of the basin and within the framework of Birupa and Mahanadi are characterized by an interface depth range that varies between 40 and 280 m below ground level (bgl) with brackish water on the top underlain by freshwater aquifers. The aquifers in the southern sector within the framework of Khatjori/Devi and Koyakhai/Daya/Kushbhadra/Bhargavi are characterized by an interface depth range that varies from 10 to 120 m with freshwater aquifers near the surface underlain by saline, brackish water aquifers. The inversion of these major fluid systems appears to have taken place over a narrow zone between Mahanadi and Khatjori tributaries, possibly over a wide subsurface ridge with separate basin characteristics. Received: 29 November 1999 · Accepted: 2 May 2000