Handbook of Engineering Hydrology
Kitaplar > Diğer · 2014
Yazarlar: Aksoy, Hafzullah, Wittenberg, Hartmut, Eris, Ebru
Diğer, 2014, , , Uluslararası
DOI: 10.1201/b15625
Özet
Preface: This chapter examines the definition of Ecohydrology and its applications in environmental engineering. Ecohydrology, in itself, is a combination of terms eco- and hydrology, and examines the role of water in the ecosystem through its ecology and systems dynamics [43]. Therefore whether it is defined as hydro-ecology or eco-hydrology has been discussed at length, and to some degree consensus has been achieved [7, 15, 64]. While some may argue for a narrower focus for ecohydrology [82, 97] a more inclusive approach that has ecosystem cohesiveness at its core, with links to other guiding and governing disciplines as an outer shell, that contributes to the integrated management and transdisciplinary approach to ecohydrology is preferred [65, 82, 87]. In all cases, a catchment or watershed functionality is an echo of the ecohydrological performance of the system, as a whole. Further discussions on the terminology, will not be entered into, in this chapter, suffice is to say that there is enough evidence to suggest that ecohydrology will be adopted as the most appropriate terminology, whether the science achieves a broad or narrow focus is beyond the scope of this discussion. Ecohydrology is an emerging science that has the capacity to cross disciplinary boundaries, to become truly multi-disciplinary or what can be termed trans-disciplinary, as will be discussed later. Ecohydrology has variously been described as “the link between vegetation function (or ecophysiology) and water in landscapes” [66, 72] and can be broadly described as the “study of how the movement and storage of water is linked reciprocally to the structure and function of vegetation within an ecosystem [66] or for the purposes of this chapter, a catchment. This approach was clarified further by Smettem [112] when he wrote: “Ecohydrology seeks to understand the interaction between the hydrological cycle and ecosystems, the influence of hydrology on ecosystem patterns, diversity, structure and function coupled with ecological feedbacks on elements of the hydrologic cycle and processes are central themes” [112]. From an environmental engineering perspective, understanding the interactive links and relationships between vegetation and landscape functionality is paramount in developing and implementing structures that are required to blend into the landscape with minimal disruption of the system in which they are housed. Traditionally, engineered outcomes have assessed the competencies and function of structures based strictly on engineering terms. Modification of the design and intent of these structures, required to accrue improved environmental and sustainability outcomes, is becoming a focus of the engineer, their prospective clients and the global community. The broader more inclusive approach may require the engineer to move beyond the traditional engineering focus and may entail the engineer engaging with not only the environmental outcomes but also the policy, social and economic considerations as well. This chapter seeks to provide an overview of ecohydrology, and how it can he harnessed to deliver improved environmentally engineered outcomes, and gives an overview of the status of the discipline and its potential for the future.