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Zhang S, Chen Y, Zhou X, Zhu B. Spatial patterns and drivers of ecosystem multifunctionality in China: Arid vs. humid regions. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 920:170868. [PMID: 38367730 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/19/2024]
Abstract
Ecosystem multifunctionality (EMF) refers to an ecosystem's capacity to simultaneously uphold multiple ecological functions or services. In terrestrial ecosystems, the potential patterns and processes of EMF remain largely unexplored, limiting our comprehension of how ecosystems react to various driving factors. We collected environmental, soil and plant nutrient data, investigate the spatial distribution characteristics of EMF in China's terrestrial ecosystems, differentiating between arid and humid regions and examining the underlying drivers. Our findings reveal substantial spatial heterogeneity in the distribution of EMF across China's terrestrial ecosystems, with pronounced variations between arid and humid regions. In arid regions, the EMF index predominantly falls within the range of -1 to 1, including approximately 66.8 % of the total area, while in humid regions, the EMF index primarily falls within the range of 0 to 2, covering around 55.2 % of the total area. Climate, soil, and vegetation factors account for 61.4 % and 51.9 % of the total EMF variation in arid and humid regions, respectively. Notably, climate emerges as the dominant factor governing EMF variation in arid regions, whereas soil physicochemical properties take precedence in humid regions. Specifically, mean annual temperature (MAT) emerges as the primary factor influencing EMF variation in arid regions, while the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and soil biodiversity index (SBI) play pivotal roles in regulating EMF variation in humid regions. Indeed, climate can exert both direct and indirect influences on EMF. In summary, our study not only compared the disparities in the spatial distribution of EMF in arid and humid regions but also unveiled the distinct controlling factors that govern EMF changes in these different regions. Our research has contributed novel insights for evaluating the drivers responsible for mediating EMF in diverse ecosystems, shedding light on the adaptability and response mechanisms of ecosystems under varying environmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shihang Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Mountain Surface Processes and Ecological Regulation, Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 610041 Chengdu, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yusen Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China
| | - Xiaobing Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China
| | - Bo Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Mountain Surface Processes and Ecological Regulation, Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 610041 Chengdu, China.
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2
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Liu M, Nie Z, Liu X, Wang L, Cao L. Change in groundwater table depth caused by natural change and human activities during the past 40 years in the Shiyang River Basin, northwest China. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 906:167722. [PMID: 37827325 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Revised: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
Groundwater is the primary water source for agriculture, social economy, and ecosystem in the Shiyang River Basin (SRB), northwest China. Research on its variation and attribution is of great importance for the sustainable development of local economy, water resources, and the environment. In this study, the changes in the groundwater table depth (GTD) during 1980-2017 in different sub-basins and different periods were analyzed using the linear trend and moving t-test methods. The contribution of natural and human activity to GTD in the before and after periods of the Comprehensive Treatment Program of the SRB (CTSRB) were quantified using a multiple general linear model. The results showed that (1) the GTD in SRB showed a significant increasing trend during 1980-2017, and it could be divided into three stages: slow increase (1980-1987), rapid increase (1987-2008), and spatially different trends (2009-2017). In sub-basins, the increasing rates in the three stages in Wuwei were 1.05 m/10a, 2.86 m/10a, and 4.50 m/10a, respectively, while those in Minqin were 3.89 m/10a, 6.24 m/10a, and 0.85 m/10a, respectively. (2) The contribution of human irrigation activity to GTD in Minqin decreased from 77.3 % during the pre-CTSRB period to 38.0 % during the post-CTSRB period, while that in Wuwei increased from 67.3 % to 83.8 %. This was due to the CTSRB focusing on the groundwater and ecological restoration in the lower reaches of SRB. (3) The dominant attributing factor to the increase in GTD was groundwater exploitation driven by expanded irrigated-farmland during the pre-CTSRB period. However, the implementation of CTSRB has achieved remarkable results, and the groundwater level in Minqin virtually reached a stable state, especially in the Lake irrigation district. This study provides a reference and basis for sustainable utilization and management of groundwater resources in similar arid and semi-arid regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Liu
- Institute of Hydrogeology and Environmental Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, 268 Zhonghua North Street, Shijiazhuang 050061, PR China; Key Laboratory of Groundwater Sciences and Engineering, Ministry of Natural Resources, 268 Zhonghua North Street, Shijiazhuang 050061, PR China
| | - Zhenlong Nie
- Institute of Hydrogeology and Environmental Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, 268 Zhonghua North Street, Shijiazhuang 050061, PR China; Key Laboratory of Groundwater Sciences and Engineering, Ministry of Natural Resources, 268 Zhonghua North Street, Shijiazhuang 050061, PR China
| | - Xuequan Liu
- Institute of Hydrogeology and Environmental Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, 268 Zhonghua North Street, Shijiazhuang 050061, PR China; Key Laboratory of Groundwater Sciences and Engineering, Ministry of Natural Resources, 268 Zhonghua North Street, Shijiazhuang 050061, PR China.
| | - Lifang Wang
- Institute of Hydrogeology and Environmental Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, 268 Zhonghua North Street, Shijiazhuang 050061, PR China; Key Laboratory of Groundwater Sciences and Engineering, Ministry of Natural Resources, 268 Zhonghua North Street, Shijiazhuang 050061, PR China
| | - Le Cao
- Institute of Hydrogeology and Environmental Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, 268 Zhonghua North Street, Shijiazhuang 050061, PR China; Key Laboratory of Groundwater Sciences and Engineering, Ministry of Natural Resources, 268 Zhonghua North Street, Shijiazhuang 050061, PR China
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3
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Cheng W, Feng Q, Xi H, Yin X, Sindikubwabo C, Habiyakare T, Chen Y, Zhao X. Spatiotemporal variability and controlling factors of groundwater depletion in endorheic basins of Northwest China. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 344:118468. [PMID: 37384994 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Revised: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
Recent global groundwater overpumping is threatening ecosystem stability and food security, particularly in arid basins. A solid investigation regarding the drivers of groundwater depletion is vital for groundwater restoration, hitherto, yet it remains largely unquantified. Here, a framework to quantify the contribution of natural forcing (NF) and anthropogenic perturbations (AP) to groundwater storage anomalies (GWSA) variability by separating the GWSA estimated by the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellite into natural- and human-induced GWSA was proposed in the northwest endorheic basin (NWEB) of China. Further, a multiple linear regression model was established for GWSA change prediction. Our results showed that, during the period 2003-2020, the GWSA depleted at a rate of 0.25 cm yr-1 in the entire NWEB. In addition, GWSA was found to decrease significantly (exceeding 1 cm yr-1) in the west of NWEB where there are heavily irrigated areas, and has become one of the regions with the most serious groundwater depletion in China. Whereas a significantly increasing trend (greater than 0.5 cm yr-1) was observed in the Qaidam basin and south part of the Tarim River basin, becoming a groundwater enrichment reservoir in NWEB. The negative contribution of AP to groundwater depletion has increased from 3% to 95% in the last decade, as determined by separating the effects of NF and AP on GWSA. The rapid expansion of the cropland area and the increase in water use due to population growth are investigated to be the main reasons for GWSA depletion, particularly in the North Tianshan Rivers, Turpan-Hami, and Tarim River basins. Therefore, we conclude that AP are dominating and accelerating groundwater depletion in the NWEB. The increase of GWSA in the Qaidam basin has been attributed to the increase in solid water melt and regional precipitation. The western route project of China's south-north water diversion and water-saving irrigation are important ways to solve the problem of groundwater depletion in NWEB. Our results emphasize that a more feasible framework capable of reliably identifying the driving factors of groundwater storage change is a necessary tool for promoting the sustainable management of groundwater resources under both NF and AP in arid endorheic basins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenju Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Ecohydrology of Inland River Basin, Qilian Mountains Eco-environment Research Center in Gansu Province, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Qi Feng
- Key Laboratory of Ecohydrology of Inland River Basin, Qilian Mountains Eco-environment Research Center in Gansu Province, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China.
| | - Haiyang Xi
- Key Laboratory of Ecohydrology of Inland River Basin, Qilian Mountains Eco-environment Research Center in Gansu Province, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Xinwei Yin
- Key Laboratory of Ecohydrology of Inland River Basin, Qilian Mountains Eco-environment Research Center in Gansu Province, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Celestin Sindikubwabo
- College of Geography and Environmental Science, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou, 730070, China
| | | | - Yuqing Chen
- Key Laboratory of Ecohydrology of Inland River Basin, Qilian Mountains Eco-environment Research Center in Gansu Province, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Xinyue Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Ecohydrology of Inland River Basin, Qilian Mountains Eco-environment Research Center in Gansu Province, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
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Glanville K, Sheldon F, Butler D, Capon S. Effects and significance of groundwater for vegetation: A systematic review. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 875:162577. [PMID: 36898536 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Revised: 02/26/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Groundwater represents a critical water source for plants, especially during drought, with continuous groundwater availability widely associated with the presence of ecological refugia and the preservation of biodiversity during periods of adverse conditions. Here, we present a systematic quantitative literature review of global groundwater and ecosystem interactions to synthesise current knowledge and identify key knowledge gaps and research priorities through a management lens. Despite increasing research on groundwater dependent vegetation since the late 1990s, significant geographical and ecological biases are evident with papers focused on arid regions or areas with significant anthropogenic changes. Of the 140 papers reviewed, desert and steepe arid landscapes accounted for 50.7 % and desert and xeric shrublands were represented in 37.9 % of papers. A third of papers (34.4 %) quantified groundwater uptake by ecosystems and groundwater contributions to transpiration, with studies examining the influence of groundwater on vegetation productivity, distribution, and composition also well represented. In contrast, groundwater influences on other ecosystem functions are relatively poorly explored. The research biases introduce uncertainty in the transferability of findings between locations and ecosystems limiting the generality of our current understanding. This synthesis contributes to consolidating a solid knowledge base of the hydrological and ecological interrelationships for managers, planners, and other decision-makers that is relevant to the landscapes and environments they manage, so can more effectively deliver ecological and conservation outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Glanville
- Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith School of Environment, Griffith University, 170 Kessels Road, Nathan, Queensland 4111, Australia; Queensland Herbarium, Mt Coot-tha Road, Toowong, Queensland 4066, Australia.
| | - F Sheldon
- Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith School of Environment, Griffith University, 170 Kessels Road, Nathan, Queensland 4111, Australia
| | - D Butler
- Queensland Herbarium, Mt Coot-tha Road, Toowong, Queensland 4066, Australia
| | - S Capon
- Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith School of Environment, Griffith University, 170 Kessels Road, Nathan, Queensland 4111, Australia
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5
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Wang J, Xue L, Zhou L, Wei L, Hu S, Wu H, Zhang H, Xiang C, Li X. Cumulative ecosystem response to Hydraulic Engineering Infrastructure Projects in an arid basin. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 856:159110. [PMID: 36191713 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Revised: 09/24/2022] [Accepted: 09/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Hydraulic Engineering Infrastructure Projects (HEIPs) typically show profound effects on hydrological systems and ecosystems. However, data restrictions have limited the exploration of the influences of compound HEIPs on ecosystems to a few studies. This study proposes a watershed-wide ecosystem assessment framework to investigate the impact of HEIPs in the Tarim River Headwaters-Hotan River Basin on the ecosystem of the arid zone. The framework includes a deep learning-meta cellular automata algorithm (DLMCAA) based on the spatiotemporal characteristics of HEIPs and hydro-meteorological and human activities. Moreover, the spatiotemporal relationships between compound HEIPs and ecosystem variances were quantified. The framework including DLMCAA showed a good performance in simulating landcover in 2020, with a Kappa coefficient of 0.89. Therefore, the DLMCAA could be used to simulate and predict ecosystem changes under the HEIPs, which suggested that the framework is effective and practical. An analysis of the spatiotemporal distribution of each ecosystem from 1980 to 2020 showed that the low shrub ecosystems changed most significantly (26.38 %) between 1980 and 2020. Also, the use of spatially driven hydrological project data from different ABC scenarios showed that ecosystems driven by HEIPs were more stable compared to those without HEIPs under future climate change. In particular, the DLMCAA indicated that compound HEIPs had a more positive impact on ecosystem oases in arid lands compared with that of single HEIPs. The results of this study can serve as a scientific reference for assessing the impact of HEIPs, as well as for understanding ecosystem changes and facilitating sustainable water resource management in the arid regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Wang
- College of Hydrology and Water Resources, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, PR China
| | - Lianqing Xue
- College of Hydrology and Water Resources, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, PR China; Wanjiang University of Technology, Anhui 243031, PR China.
| | - Liyong Zhou
- Xinjiang Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Urumqi 830009, PR China
| | - Linyong Wei
- College of Hydrology and Water Resources, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, PR China
| | - Siwen Hu
- College of Hydrology and Water Resources, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, PR China
| | - Hongshi Wu
- College of Hydrology and Water Resources, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, PR China
| | - Hao Zhang
- College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, PR China
| | - Chenguang Xiang
- College of Hydrology and Water Resources, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, PR China
| | - Xinghan Li
- Institute of Tropical Bioscience and Biotechnology, Hainan Key Laboratory of Functional Components and Utilization of Marine Biological Resources, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Science, Haikou 571101, PR China
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Spatiotemporal dynamics of soil loss and sediment export in Upper Bilate River Catchment (UBRC), Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia. Heliyon 2022; 8:e11220. [PMID: 36345518 PMCID: PMC9636481 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e11220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2022] [Revised: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Soil loss is one of the major challenges for agricultural production in the Ethiopian highlands. The rate and distribution of soil loss (SL) and sediment export (SE) are essential to map degradation “hotspot” areas for prioritizing soil and water conservation measures. The objective of this study was to estimate the dynamics of SL and SE in the Upper Bilate River Catchment of Central Ethiopia. The Sediment Delivery Ratio (SDR) module of the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Trade-offs (InVEST) model was used to estimate and map SL and SE. The primary input data were rainfall, soil data, land use, and other biophysical parameters of the study area. The model output confirmed that the average total soil loss of the catchment was 36.8 million ton/yr. It is modeled that soil loss doubles within 30 years. The average annual sediment export was about 3.62 ton/ha/yr. The mean annual soil loss of the study area was 23 ton/ha/yr, which exceeded the soil loss tolerance (SLT), estimated to range between (2–18 ton/ha/yr) in Ethiopia. Based on the soil erosion risk level, about 22% of the catchment area was classified as severely degraded, while 62 % was moderately degraded. Severe soil erosion prevails in the sub-watershed (SW)-5, SW-4, and SW-13. Therefore, these sub-watersheds need priority conservation action to restore the ecosystem processes of the study area.
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Study on Index of Groundwater Ecological Function Crisis Classification and Early Warning in Northwest China. WATER 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/w14121911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The natural oases in the plain area of the northwest inland basin strongly depend on the groundwater depth. With the overexploitation and utilization of groundwater, natural oases are faced with the problems of serious degradation and rehabilitation. How to evaluate the degree of the degeneration crisis of groundwater ecological function has become one of the key scientific and technological problems to be solved. In this paper, the Shiyang River basin of Gansu Province was selected as a typical research area. The remote sensing interpretation, groundwater–soil ecology comprehensive investigation, and groundwater in situ monitoring were adopted to carry out the research. Based on the correlation analysis method of natural ecology and groundwater, the interactive relationship between the natural ecological environment and groundwater depth in different ecological types of the region were studied: (1) under the arid climate condition in northwest China, the relationships between the ecological situation and the groundwater depth in different ecological types of the region were obviously different, and as a result, the optimal or limit ecological water level of groundwater in different ecological types was also different; (2) in the natural wetland area, the suitable ecological water level of groundwater was between 0.5 m to 1.5 m, and the limit ecological water level was 8.0 m; in the natural vegetation area, the suitable ecological water level was between 3.0 m to 5.0 m, and the limit ecological water level was 10.0 m; and in the farmland area, the suitable ecological water level was between 2.0 m to 5.0 m, and the limit ecological water level was 2.0 m; (3) in order to effectively protect the natural ecology in different ecological types, a five-level early warning and control index system should be established for the ecological function degeneration crisis of groundwater. It may be beneficial to promote restoration and protection of the groundwater ecological function and natural ecology in the inland area of northwest China.
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Duran-Llacer I, Arumí JL, Arriagada L, Aguayo M, Rojas O, González-Rodríguez L, Rodríguez-López L, Martínez-Retureta R, Oyarzún R, Singh SK. A new method to map groundwater-dependent ecosystem zones in semi-arid environments: A case study in Chile. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 816:151528. [PMID: 34762961 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2021] [Revised: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Groundwater (GW) use has intensified in recent decades, threatening the ecological integrity of groundwater-dependent ecosystems (GDEs). The study of GDEs is limited; therefore, integrated, interdisciplinary environmental approaches that guarantee their monitoring and management amid current climate and anthropogenic changes are needed. A new geospatial method with an integrated and temporal approach was developed through a multicriteria approximation, taking into account expert opinion, remote sensing-GIS, and fieldwork to map groundwater-dependent ecosystem zones (GDEZ). A survey of experts (N = 26) was conducted to assign degrees of importance to the various geospatial parameters, and the mapping was carried out using 14 parameters. The reclassified parameters were normalized on a scale of 1 to 5 according to the degree of probability of the presence of GDE. The validation was carried out through fieldwork and statistical analysis. Then, the spatio-temporal changes amid changing GW levels were assessed using the summer season normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). Two GDEZ maps were obtained, for 2002 and 2017, between which the high- and very-high-probability zones of GDEs decreased by 31,887 ha (~ 38%). The most sensitive temporal parameters that most influenced the spatio-temporal changes on GDEs were precipitation and land use, with rain exerting a slightly the greatest influence. It was also demonstrated that identified ecosystems decreased in area or were affected by aquifer depletion (NDVI-GW, r Pearson ≥0.74). This validated method allows spatio-temporal changes in GDEs to be mapped and analyzed at an annual scale and is transferable to other arid and semi-arid environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iongel Duran-Llacer
- Facultad de Ciencias Ambientales y Centro EULA-Chile, Universidad de Concepción, Víctor Lamas 1290, Concepción 4070386, Chile; Centro de Recursos Hídricos para la Agricultura y la Minería (CRHIAM), Universidad de Concepción, Concepción 4070411, Chile.
| | - José Luis Arumí
- Centro de Recursos Hídricos para la Agricultura y la Minería (CRHIAM), Universidad de Concepción, Concepción 4070411, Chile
| | - Loretto Arriagada
- Centro de Recursos Hídricos para la Agricultura y la Minería (CRHIAM), Universidad de Concepción, Concepción 4070411, Chile; Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad del Desarrollo, Avenida plaza 680, Las Condes, Chile
| | - Mauricio Aguayo
- Facultad de Ciencias Ambientales y Centro EULA-Chile, Universidad de Concepción, Víctor Lamas 1290, Concepción 4070386, Chile
| | - Octavio Rojas
- Facultad de Ciencias Ambientales y Centro EULA-Chile, Universidad de Concepción, Víctor Lamas 1290, Concepción 4070386, Chile
| | - Lisdelys González-Rodríguez
- Facultad de Ciencias Ambientales y Centro EULA-Chile, Universidad de Concepción, Víctor Lamas 1290, Concepción 4070386, Chile
| | - Lien Rodríguez-López
- Facultad de Ingeniería y Tecnología, Universidad San Sebastián, Lientur 1457, Concepción 4030000, Chile
| | - Rebeca Martínez-Retureta
- Facultad de Ciencias Ambientales y Centro EULA-Chile, Universidad de Concepción, Víctor Lamas 1290, Concepción 4070386, Chile; Centro de Recursos Hídricos para la Agricultura y la Minería (CRHIAM), Universidad de Concepción, Concepción 4070411, Chile
| | - Ricardo Oyarzún
- Centro de Recursos Hídricos para la Agricultura y la Minería (CRHIAM), Universidad de Concepción, Concepción 4070411, Chile; Departamento Ingeniería de Minas, Universidad de La Serena, Benavente 980, La Serena, Chile; Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Zonas Áridas (CEAZA), Raúl Bitrán 1305, La Serena, Chile
| | - Sudhir Kumar Singh
- K. Banerjee Centre of Atmospheric and Ocean Studies, University of Allahabad, Prayagraj 211002, India
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Huang P, Ma C, Zhou A. Assessment of groundwater sustainable development considering geo-environment stability and ecological environment: a case study in the Pearl River Delta, China. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:18010-18035. [PMID: 34677774 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-16924-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/03/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Groundwater resources have an important impact on the geo-environment and ecological environment. The exploitation of groundwater resources may induce geo-environmental issues and has a negative impact on the ecological environment. The assessment of groundwater sustainable development can provide reasonable suggestions for the management of groundwater resources in coastal cities. In this study, an assessment method for groundwater sustainable development based on the resource supply function, geo-environment stability function, and ecological environment function was provided. Considering the groundwater quantity and quality; the vulnerability of karst collapse, land subsidence, and seawater intrusion; and the distribution of groundwater-dependent ecosystems (GDEs) and soil erosion, the groundwater in the Pearl River Delta was divided into concentrated groundwater supply area (21.97%) and decentralized groundwater supply area (48.22%), ecological protection area (20.77%), vulnerable geo-environment area (8.94%), and unsuitable to exploit groundwater area (0.10%). ROC curve and single-indicator sensitivity analysis were applied in the assessment of geo-environment vulnerability, and the results showed that the VW-AHP model effectively adjusted the weights of the indicators so that the assessment results were more in line with the actual situation in the Pearl River Delta, and the accuracy of the VW-AHP model was higher than that of the AHP model. This study provides a scientific basis for groundwater management in the Pearl River Delta and an example for the assessment of groundwater sustainable development in coastal cities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Huang
- School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, Hubei, People's Republic of China
| | - Chuanming Ma
- School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, Hubei, People's Republic of China.
| | - Aiguo Zhou
- School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, Hubei, People's Republic of China
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Influence of Multi-Layered Structure of Vadose Zone on Ecological Effect of Groundwater in Arid Area: A Case Study of Shiyang River Basin, Northwest China. WATER 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/w14010059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The natural vegetation in arid areas of northwest China is strongly dependent on the availability of groundwater. Significantly, capillary water plays an essential role in regulating the ecological groundwater level in the multilayered structure of the vadose zone. The soil-column test and field survey in the lower reaches of the Shiyang River Basin were conducted to investigate the influence of the multi-layered structure of the vadose zone on maintaining the ecological effect of groundwater. Based on the field survey, the results show that the depth of groundwater is 3.0 m, and the rising height of capillary water is 140 cm. In the soil-column test, the height of the wetting front of the column was 125 cm. During the water releasing test, the water held by the vadose zone was 182.54 mm, which would have maintained Haloxylon’s survival in a growing season. Therefore, the multi-layered structure of the vadose zone extends the ecological groundwater depth and consequently enhances the ecological function of groundwater. Importantly, with a lower groundwater level, the clay soil layer within the rising height range of the original capillary water would hold more water and maintain a higher water content for a certain period to supply surface vegetation.
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Huang F, Ochoa CG, Chen X. Assessing environmental water requirement for groundwater-dependent vegetation in arid inland basins by combining the copula joint distribution function and the dual objective optimization: An application to the Turpan Basin, China. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 799:149323. [PMID: 34388881 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Revised: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 07/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Preserving groundwater-dependent terrestrial ecosystems through environmental water allocation is critical for sustainable development in arid inland basins. Assessing the environmental water requirement is challenging due to the complex relationship between vegetation growth and groundwater depth. This study proposed a new assessment method by combining the copula joint distribution function and the dual objective optimization. The copula joint distribution function was used to describe the relationship between vegetation and groundwater depth instead of the traditional regression analysis. Given an ecological protection target, the conditional probability of achieving the target was estimated using the copula joint distribution. The groundwater depth interval with relatively high probability was suitable for vegetation growth and correspondingly conducive for ecological protection. In addition to ecological protection, the socio-economic water requirement was incorporated into the environmental water assessment, resulting in a dual optimization problem that could be resolved by the ideal point method. The optimization analysis revealed a groundwater depth with a high probability of successful ecological protection and low groundwater evapotranspiration to balance vegetation and human demands for groundwater. The proposed method of environmental water assessment by combing copula joint distribution function and dual objective optimization was applied in the Turpan Basin, an arid inland basin in Northwest China. The environmental groundwater depth ranged between 6 and 20 m, and the optimized interval was 7-8 m. The optimal environmental groundwater depth resulted in a probability of 0.46 to achieve the ecological protection target and annual evapotranspiration of 983 mm. The proposed method was practical and reliable and could be an effective tool for assessing the environmental water requirement of groundwater-dependent vegetation in arid inland basins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Huang
- College of Hydrology and Water Resources, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China; College of Agricultural Sciences - Ecohydrology Lab, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA.
| | - Carlos G Ochoa
- College of Agricultural Sciences - Ecohydrology Lab, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA.
| | - Xi Chen
- Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China; College of Hydrology and Water Resources, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China.
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Hu S, Ma R, Sun Z, Ge M, Zeng L, Huang F, Bu J, Wang Z. Determination of the optimal ecological water conveyance volume for vegetation restoration in an arid inland river basin, northwestern China. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 788:147775. [PMID: 34029814 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.147775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Revised: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Overexploitation of water resources has led to severe ecological degradation and even desertification in some arid inland river basins, northwestern China. To alleviate or restore the degraded vegetation ecosystem, ecological water conveyance (EWC) has become an important and effective measure. Scientific assessment of the impact of EWC on vegetation restoration and determination of the corresponding optimal EWC volume (EWCV) are important to formulate rational ecological water management. In this study, long time series normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) was used to extract the restored vegetation area in Qingtu Lake area, a terminal lake in inland Shiyang River basin, northwestern China. The relationship between restored vegetation coverage and EWC was explored to determine the optimal EWCV. The restored vegetation area (RVA) increased dramatically in the first five years and became stable from 2016. The time lag of the response of RVA increase to EWC was about 2 years. A bell-shaped function between RVA and groundwater depth was obtained based on the results from Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and micro terrain of the lake area. Based on the fitted function, five groundwater depth thresholds were obtained. The optimal groundwater depth in the hydrometric station was 2.91 ± 0.09 m for the maximal RVA (17.08 ± 3.25 km2). A polynomial function between the yearly EWCV and groundwater depth was developed and the EWCV thresholds corresponding to the groundwater depth thresholds were estimated. The optimal EWCV into Qingtu Lake was 2224.4 × 104 m3 for the maximal RVA. The correspondingly optimal EWCV from Hongyashan Reservoir was 3271.4 × 104 m3. The spatial distribution patterns of remotely sensed water surface and NDVI suggested that expanding the water-receiving area of conveyed water was useful to improve the vegetation growth. This study provides a reference for assessing the impact of EWC on vegetation restoration and determining the correspondingly optimal EWCV in arid inland river basins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shun Hu
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Yangtze River Basin Environmental Aquatic Science, School of Environmental Studies & State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Rui Ma
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Yangtze River Basin Environmental Aquatic Science, School of Environmental Studies & State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China.
| | - Ziyong Sun
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Yangtze River Basin Environmental Aquatic Science, School of Environmental Studies & State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Mengyan Ge
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Yangtze River Basin Environmental Aquatic Science, School of Environmental Studies & State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Linglin Zeng
- College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Feng Huang
- College of Hydrology and Water Resources, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
| | - Jianwei Bu
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Yangtze River Basin Environmental Aquatic Science, School of Environmental Studies & State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Zheng Wang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Yangtze River Basin Environmental Aquatic Science, School of Environmental Studies & State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
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Contributions of Vegetation Greening and Climate Change to Evapotranspiration Trend after Large-Scale Vegetation Restoration on the Loess Plateau, China. WATER 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/w13131755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Since the early 2000s, the vegetation cover of the Loess Plateau (LP) has increased significantly, which has been fully recorded. However, the effects on relevant eco-hydrological processes are still unclear. Here, we made an investigation on the changes of actual evapotranspiration (ETa) during 2000–2018 and connected them with vegetation greening and climate change in the LP, based on the remote sensing data with correlation and attribution analysis. Results identified that the average annual ETa on the LP exhibited an obvious increasing trend with the value of 9.11 mm yr−1, and the annual ETa trend was dominated by the changes of ETa in the third quarter (July, August, and September). The future trend of ETa was predicted by the Hurst exponent. Partial correlation analysis indicated that annual ETa variations in 87.8% regions of the LP were controlled by vegetation greening. Multiple regression analysis suggested that the relative contributions of potential evapotranspiration (ETp), precipitation, and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), to the trend of ETa were 5.7%, −26.3%, and 61.4%, separately. Vegetation greening has a close relationship with the Grain for Green (GFG) project and acts as an essential driver for the long-term development trend of water consumption on the LP. In this research, the potential conflicts of water demanding between the natural ecosystem and social-economic system in the LP were highlighted, which were caused by the fast vegetation expansion.
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The Ecological Relationship of Groundwater–Soil–Vegetation in the Oasis–Desert Transition Zone of the Shiyang River Basin. WATER 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/w13121642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Groundwater is an important ecological water source in arid areas. Groundwater depth (GWD) is an important indicator that affects vegetation growth and soil salinization. Clarifying the coupling relationship between vegetation, groundwater, and soil in arid areas is beneficial to the prevention of environmental problems such as desertification and salinization. Existing studies lack research on the water–soil–vegetation relationship in typical areas, especially in shallow groundwater areas. In this study, the shallow groundwater area in Minqin, northwest China, was taken as study area, and vegetation surveys and soil samples collection were conducted. The relationships between vegetation fractional coverage (VFC) and GWD, soil salinity, soil moisture, and precipitation were comprehensively analyzed. The results showed low soil salinity in the riparian zone and high soil salinity in other shallow-buried areas with salinization problems. Soil salinity was negatively correlated with VFC (R = −0.4). When soil salinity >3 g/kg, VFC was less than 20%. Meanwhile, when GWD >10 m, VFC was usually less than 15%. In the areas with soil salinity <3 g/kg, when GWD was in the range of 4–10 m, VFC was positively correlated with soil moisture content (R = 0.99), and vegetation growth mainly depended on surface soil water, which was significantly affected by precipitation. When GWD was less than 4 m, VFC was negatively correlated with GWD (R = −0.78), and vegetation growth mainly relied on groundwater and soil water. There are obvious ecological differences in the shallow-buried areas in Minqin. Hence, it is reasonable to consider zoning and grading policies for ecological protection.
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The Effect of Water Transfer during Non-growing Season on the Wetland Ecosystem via Surface and Groundwater Interactions in Arid Northwestern China. REMOTE SENSING 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/rs12162516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The use of ecological water transfer to maintain the ecological environment in arid or semiarid regions has become an important means of human intervention to alleviate vegetation ecosystem degradation in arid and semiarid areas. The water transfer to downstream in a catchment is often carried out during the non-growing season, due to the competitive water use between the upper and middle reaches and lower reaches of rivers. However, the impacts and mechanism of artificial water transfer on vegetation and wetland ecosystem restoration have not been thoroughly investigated, especially in northwest China. Taking the Qingtu Lake wetland system in the lower reaches of the Shiyang River Catchment as the study area, this study analyzed the spatial and temporal distribution surface area of Qingtu Lake and the surrounding vegetation coverage before and after water transfer, by interpreting remote sensing data, the variation of water content in the vadose zone, and the groundwater level by obtaining field monitoring data, as well as the correlation between the water body area of Qingtu Lake and the highest vegetation coverage area in the following year. The conclusion is that there is a positive correlation between the water body area of Qingtu Lake in autumn and the vegetation coverage in each fractional vegetation coverage (FVC) interval in the next summer, especially in terms of the FVC of 30–50%. The groundwater level and soil water content increase after water transfer and remain relatively high for the following months, which suggests that transferred water from upstream can be stored as groundwater or soil water in the subsurface through surface water and subsurface water interaction. These water sources can provide water for the vegetation growth the next spring, or support plants in the summer.
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Assessing Vegetation Dynamics and Landscape Ecological Risk on the Mainstream of Tarim River, China. WATER 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/w12082156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The Tarim River (TR), the longest inland river at an arid area in China, plays a critical role in the sustainable development of the regional ecological environment. This study presents the spatial-temporal variations in the vegetation coverage at regional and pixel scales and its driving factors on the TR mainstream. The latest dataset of normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and a vegetation coverage index (fc) over the period from 2000–2015 were analyzed with the unary linear regression and the partial correlation. On the basis of land use data, we further built the landscape ecological risk index and assessed the ecological risk level of the mainstream. Our results suggest that the vegetation coverage index demonstrated fluctuations but denoted a generally upward trend in the TR mainstream, the vegetation improvement areas are far greater than the degraded areas during the study period. Apparently, the overflow days in the TR mainstream and the cumulative amount of water transport are the two main factors that dominate the vegetation coverage. The ecological risk level varies throughout the TR with a high-to-low spatial distribution from upstream to downstream, and the overall landscape ecological risk of the whole basin exhibits an upward tendency. Above all, our study provides a framework with the remote sensing data to assess vegetation coverage and landscape ecological risk which can help design and implement reliable strategies for the ecological management and vegetation restoration in the Tarim River Basin.
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