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Advances in Ecohydrology in Arid Inland River Basins
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Advances in Ecohydrology in Arid Inland River Basins

A special issue of Water (ISSN 2073-4441). This special issue belongs to the section "Ecohydrology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 February 2025 | Viewed by 14589

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Lianqing Xue

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Hydrology and Water Resources, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
Interests: ecohydrological processes; climate change; ecohydrological modeling; water resource management; water cycle; drought
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Guang Yang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. College of Water and Architectural Engineering, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832000, China
2. Key Laboratory of Cold and Arid Regions Eco-Hydraulic Engineering of Xinjiang Production & Construction Corps, Shihezi 832000, China
Interests: ecological hydrology in arid areas; efficient utilization of water resources in arid areas; ecological hydrological models; unconventional water resource utilization in arid areas; hydrological cycle in inland river basins in arid areas
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Under the dual driving forces of climate change and human activities, the hydrological processes and ecological patterns in arid inland river basins have undergone significant changes. The resilience of ecosystems to external disturbances has degraded. Intense human activities not only impact vegetation patterns and water cycles but also alter the interaction between vegetation growth processes and hydrological processes, which is closely tied to the stability and development of arid ecosystem systems. Recognizing the evolving patterns of hydrological and ecological processes in a changing environment, is of great significance for advancing the scientific understanding of desertification control and improving the quality and stability of ecosystems. The aim of this Special Issue of Water is to present the latest advances in ecohydrology in arid inland river basins. The potential topics include but not limited to: climate change and ecohydrological responses, ecohydrological models and prediction, evolution of ecosystem hydrological processes, ecological water conveyance, water resources assessment and management.

Prof. Dr. Lianqing Xue
Prof. Dr. Guang Yang
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • climate change and water cycle
  • ecohydrological processes
  • efficient utilization of water resources
  • ecohydrological modelling
  • ecological and hydrological coupling
  • ecological pattern
  • ecological water requirement
  • arid inland river basin

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Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 4526 KiB  
Article
Human Activities Impacts on Runoff and Ecological Flow in the Huangshui River of the Yellow River Basin, China
by Lanxin Liu, Lijuan Fan, Jing Hu and Chunhui Li
Water 2024, 16(16), 2331; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16162331 - 19 Aug 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 737
Abstract
This study analyzed 61 years of hydrological data from the Minhe and Xiangtang Hydrological Stations (1956–2016) to examine hydrological changes and ecological flow assurance rates in the Huangshui River Basin, China. Using the Mann–Kendall trend test, IHA/RVA method, and ecological flow calculation methods, [...] Read more.
This study analyzed 61 years of hydrological data from the Minhe and Xiangtang Hydrological Stations (1956–2016) to examine hydrological changes and ecological flow assurance rates in the Huangshui River Basin, China. Using the Mann–Kendall trend test, IHA/RVA method, and ecological flow calculation methods, the study revealed the following results: (1) After 1994, increased human activity in the Datong River led to a measured runoff decrease compared to natural runoff. Although human activities in the Huangshui River’s main stream were present before 1972, after 1972, these activities intensified, resulting in a more pronounced decrease in the measured runoff. (2) Ecological flow analysis indicated that the main stream of the Huangshui River and the Datong River have ecological flow assurance rates of 100% for all but a few months, where the rates are 98%. The water volume is sufficiently abundant to meet ecological water demands. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Ecohydrology in Arid Inland River Basins)
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18 pages, 7059 KiB  
Article
Simulation and Optimal Scheduling of Water Quality in Urban and Rural Water Supply Systems: A Case Study in the Northwest Arid Region of China
by Youjia Zhang, Tao Hu, Hongqin Xue and Xiaodong Liu
Water 2024, 16(15), 2181; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16152181 - 1 Aug 2024
Viewed by 990
Abstract
The Northwest Arid Region faces the most serious resource-based water shortage in China, with challenges from engineering-, structural- and management-based water shortages. This water scarcity critically limits the socio-economic development of the region. Rational allocation of scarce water resources to achieve sustainable development [...] Read more.
The Northwest Arid Region faces the most serious resource-based water shortage in China, with challenges from engineering-, structural- and management-based water shortages. This water scarcity critically limits the socio-economic development of the region. Rational allocation of scarce water resources to achieve sustainable development of the ecological environment and economy has become a key issue in water resources research in the Northwest Arid Region. South-Central Ningxia, part of the Northwest Arid Region, exemplifies these challenges. This paper examines the urban and rural water supply projects in South-Central Ningxia. The current scheduling scheme focuses primarily on the distribution of water demand, with inadequate attention paid to water-quality requirements. Localized exceedances of water-quality standards indicate the existing scheduling scheme has failed to effectively control water-quality issues while ensuring water quantity. This study is the first to systematically evaluate the impact of the South-Central Ningxia Water Supply Project on water quality alongside field surveys and data analysis and propose an optimized scheduling scheme that addresses both water quantity and quality needs. The main findings are as follows: 1. Overall water quality is good, except for consistently high total nitrogen levels. 2. The optimized scheme significantly reduced total nitrogen levels, achieving a maximum reduction rate of 78.81%, and met all Class III standards. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Ecohydrology in Arid Inland River Basins)
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17 pages, 7270 KiB  
Article
Dynamic Spatiotemporal Evolution and Driving Mechanisms of Vegetation in the Lower Reaches of the Tarim River, China
by Qiang Han, Lianqing Xue, Tiansong Qi, Yuanhong Liu, Mingjie Yang, Xinyi Chu and Saihua Liu
Water 2024, 16(15), 2157; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16152157 - 30 Jul 2024
Viewed by 903
Abstract
Analyzing the changes in vegetation under different factors is crucial for ecological protection in arid areas. The spatial-temporal variations of vegetation in the lower reaches of the Tarim River (LRTR) from 2000 to 2020, were analyzed using the Theil-Sen estimator and the Mann-Kendall [...] Read more.
Analyzing the changes in vegetation under different factors is crucial for ecological protection in arid areas. The spatial-temporal variations of vegetation in the lower reaches of the Tarim River (LRTR) from 2000 to 2020, were analyzed using the Theil-Sen estimator and the Mann-Kendall test. The future trends of NDVI are projected to use the Hurst exponent method. The driving mechanisms of vegetation changes were analyzed using the GeoDetector method and multivariate residual analysis. The NDVI values in the LRTR significantly increased during the study period, indicating good vegetation recovery. The overall vegetation level remains poor and was primarily concentrated around the riverine areas. There is still a risk of vegetation degradation in most areas of the future LRTR. Compared to climate change, vegetation was more affected by human activities. Human activities have helped restore the riparian vegetation and prevented the degradation of vegetation far from the river. Therefore, distance from river channels is the strongest explanatory factor (q = 0.078) for vegetation changes, followed by precipitation, and temperature, while changes in slope have minimal impact on vegetation. Statistics have found that when two factors are combined, their impact on vegetation change is stronger. These findings are beneficial for identifying vegetation evolution patterns in LRTR and providing theoretical support for the government to carry out ecological restoration. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Ecohydrology in Arid Inland River Basins)
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21 pages, 6840 KiB  
Article
Evolution Characteristics of Meteorological and Hydrological Drought in an Arid Oasis of Northwest China
by Yier Dan, Hao Tian, Muhammad Arsalan Farid, Guang Yang, Xiaolong Li, Pengfei Li, Yongli Gao, Xinlin He, Fadong Li, Bing Liu and Yi Li
Water 2024, 16(15), 2088; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16152088 - 24 Jul 2024
Viewed by 771
Abstract
In the context of global warming, the acceleration of the water cycle increases the risk of meteorological drought (MD) and hydrological drought (HD) in the arid region of Northwest China. The Manas River Basin is a typical agricultural oasis and the largest oasis [...] Read more.
In the context of global warming, the acceleration of the water cycle increases the risk of meteorological drought (MD) and hydrological drought (HD) in the arid region of Northwest China. The Manas River Basin is a typical agricultural oasis and the largest oasis farming area in Xinjiang, Northwest China. Droughts in this basin have significant implications for both agricultural production and the livelihoods of inhabitants. To evaluate the MD and HD and provide information for drought relief in the MRB, the standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI) and standardized runoff index (SRI) were calculated using long-term rainfall and runoff data. Subsequently, combined with ArcGIS 10.3 software and the trend analysis method, the SPEI and SRI characteristics were evaluated at different time scales (1-, 3-, 6-, and 12-month). There were three main findings. First, both MD and HD were alleviated, with significantly more HD alleviation. MDs in spring and autumn exhibited a trend of aggravation. The SRIs in summer, autumn, and winter increased significantly at a confidence level of p < 0.01, with an insignificant decline in spring. In the 2010s, the frequency of light drought of MD was stable at 10% to 20%, while severe and extreme droughts increased. The frequency of HDs has decreased since the 1990s. Second, on annual and seasonal scales, MDs occurred mainly as light and moderate droughts. The highest frequency of MD was 24% of moderate droughts in winter. Spatially, the northern region of the MRB was characterized by more frequent light and extreme droughts. Third, runoff in the Manas River Basin increased significantly during the 1990s, which may have been related to the acceleration of glacial retreat in the Tianshan Mountains. This study can effectively reveal the changes in meteorological and hydrological drought in NWC and provide the basis for risk decision-making and management for watershed managers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Ecohydrology in Arid Inland River Basins)
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27 pages, 1716 KiB  
Article
Water Governance in the Cambodian Mekong Delta: The Nexus of Farmer Water User Communities (FWUCs), Community Fisheries (CFis), and Community Fish Refuges (CFRs) in the Context of Climate Change
by Mak Sithirith, Sok Sao, Sanjiv de Silva, Heng Kong, Chay Kongkroy, Tim Thavrin and Hy Sarun
Water 2024, 16(2), 242; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16020242 - 10 Jan 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2302
Abstract
Cambodia faces the challenge of managing excess water during the wet season and insufficient water during the dry season. This harms human life and endangers aquatic and natural resources, agricultural practices, and food security. Water governance is crucial to ensure the well-being of [...] Read more.
Cambodia faces the challenge of managing excess water during the wet season and insufficient water during the dry season. This harms human life and endangers aquatic and natural resources, agricultural practices, and food security. Water governance is crucial to ensure the well-being of both people and their food security. However, Cambodia’s water governance is hindered by various obstacles, including sectoral and centralized influences, top-down and large-scale strategies, weak coordination among relevant agencies, and limited involvement of local communities. This study examines water governance across different sectors, from centralized to community-based natural resources management, and explores the opportunities that can be done to improve water governance. This study undertakes the literature and case studies of farmer water user communities (FWUCs), community fisheries (CFis), and community fish refuges (CFRs) in three Mekong Delta provinces in Cambodia. This study concludes that water governance has been challenged by FWUCs competing for water resources to intensify rice production at the expense of increased pesticides and fertilizer uses, which undermine the fishery productivity, degrade the natural resources in rivers and water bodies, and increase water conflicts among farmers and sectors in the face of climate change. To enhance water governance in Cambodia, it is critical to integrate it at the district level. This will promote sustainable water use and management across the country and pave the way for a brighter future. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Ecohydrology in Arid Inland River Basins)
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18 pages, 6988 KiB  
Article
Assessing the Impacts of Future Climate and Land-Use Changes on Streamflow under Multiple Scenarios: A Case Study of the Upper Reaches of the Tarim River in Northwest China
by Qiang Han, Lianqing Xue, Tiansong Qi, Yuanhong Liu, Mingjie Yang, Xinyi Chu and Saihua Liu
Water 2024, 16(1), 100; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16010100 - 27 Dec 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1538
Abstract
Climate change and land use/cover change (LUCC) are two major factors that alter hydrological processes. The upper reaches of the Tarim River, situated in the northwest region of China, experience a dry and less rainy climate and are significantly influenced by human activities. [...] Read more.
Climate change and land use/cover change (LUCC) are two major factors that alter hydrological processes. The upper reaches of the Tarim River, situated in the northwest region of China, experience a dry and less rainy climate and are significantly influenced by human activities. This study comprehensively assessed the impacts of individual and combined climate changes and LUCCs on streamflow. Three general circulation models (GCMs) were utilized to predict future climate changes under three shared socioeconomic pathways (SSP119, SSP245, and SSP585). Cellular Automata–Markov (CA–Markov) was employed to predict future LUCC under three scenarios (i.e., ecological protection, historical trend, and farmland development). Streamflow for the period 2021–2050 was simulated using the calibrated MIKE SHE model with multiple scenarios. The results showed that from 2021 to 2050, increments in both average annual precipitation and average annual temperature under the three SSPs were predicted to lead to an increased streamflow. In comparison to the conditions observed in 2000, under three LUCC scenarios for 2030, the grassland area decreased by 1.04% to 1.21%, while the farmland area increased by 1.97% to 2.26%, resulting in reduced streamflow. The related changes analysis indicated that the variation in streamflow during winter is most significant, followed by spring. The study predicted that climate change would increase streamflow, while LUCC would decrease it. Due to the greater impact of LUCC, considering the combined effect of both factors, runoff would decrease. The contribution analysis indicated that climate change contributed between −7.16% and −18.66%, while LUCC contributed between 107.16% and 118.66%. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Ecohydrology in Arid Inland River Basins)
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19 pages, 11637 KiB  
Article
Landscape Ecological Risk Assessment of Kriya River Basin in Xinjiang and Its Multi-Scenario Simulation Analysis
by Jinbao Li, Xuemin He, Pengcheng Huang, Zizheng Wang and Ranran Wang
Water 2023, 15(24), 4256; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15244256 - 12 Dec 2023
Viewed by 1354
Abstract
To comprehend the potential impacts of both natural phenomena and human activities on ecological risk, a thorough examination of the spatial and temporal evolution characteristics of Landscape Ecological Risk (LER) in arid river basins is imperative. This investigation holds paramount importance for the [...] Read more.
To comprehend the potential impacts of both natural phenomena and human activities on ecological risk, a thorough examination of the spatial and temporal evolution characteristics of Landscape Ecological Risk (LER) in arid river basins is imperative. This investigation holds paramount importance for the proactive prevention and mitigation of LER, as well as for the preservation of ecological security within these basins. In this scholarly inquiry, the Kriya River Basin (KRB) serves as the focal point of analysis. Leveraging three historical land use and land cover (LULC) images and incorporating a diverse array of drivers, encompassing both natural and anthropogenic factors, the study employs the PLUS model to forecast the characteristics of LULC changes within the basin under three distinct scenarios projected for the year 2030. Concurrently, the research quantitatively assesses the ecological risks of the basin through the adoption of the Landscape Ecological Risk Assessment (LERA) methodology and the Spatial Character Analysis (SCA) methodology. The results showed the following: (1) The study area is primarily composed of grassland and unused land, which collectively account for over 97% of the total land. However, there has been a noticeable rise in cropland and considerable deterioration in grassland between 2000 and 2020. The key observed change in LULC involves the transformation of grassland and unused land into cropland, forest, and construction land. (2) The overall LER indices for 2000, 2010, and 2020 are 0.1721, 0.1714, and 0.16696, respectively, showing strong positive spatial correlations and increasing autocorrelations over time. (3) Over time, human activities have come to exert a greater influence on LER compared to natural factors between 2000 and 2020. (4) In the natural development scenario (NDS), cropland protection scenario (CPS), and ecological priority scenario (EPS), the LER of KRB experienced notable variations in the diverse 2030 scenarios. Notably, the CPS exhibited the highest proportion of low-risk areas, whereas Daryaboyi emerged as the focal point of maximum vulnerability. These findings offer theoretical and scientific support for sustainable development planning in the watershed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Ecohydrology in Arid Inland River Basins)
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16 pages, 8345 KiB  
Article
Hydro-Climatic and Vegetation Dynamics Spatial-Temporal Changes in the Great Lakes Depression Region of Mongolia
by Batsuren Dorjsuren, Valerii A. Zemtsov, Nyamdavaa Batsaikhan, Denghua Yan, Hongfei Zhou and Sandelger Dorligjav
Water 2023, 15(21), 3748; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15213748 - 26 Oct 2023
Viewed by 1783
Abstract
The Great Lakes Depression region basin is among the most sensitive regions to vegetation change due to climate change. This study estimated spatial-temporal changes and relationships in hydro-climate and vegetation dynamics in the basin. Studying the spatial-temporal variation between vegetation dynamics and hydro-climate [...] Read more.
The Great Lakes Depression region basin is among the most sensitive regions to vegetation change due to climate change. This study estimated spatial-temporal changes and relationships in hydro-climate and vegetation dynamics in the basin. Studying the spatial-temporal variation between vegetation dynamics and hydro-climate in this basin is essential for assessing climate change and sustainability. This research involved an examination of the mean yearly air temperature, overall annual rainfall, fluctuations in river discharge, vegetation cover, and alterations in vegetation types within the selected basin stations. This was accomplished through the utilization of hydro-meteorological analysis, satellite assessment, land cover determination, and statistical analysis. Over the course of the study, it was observed that the average annual air temperature increased at all stations (with a positive change of Z = +1.16). The amount of precipitation decreased (Z = −0.79), especially from 2000 to 2014, and its statistical significance decreased. During the study period, average river discharge significantly decreased (Z = −3.51). Due to these combined factors, the lake’s water level also decreased (Z = −2.03). Vegetation cover change varied in high mountains, near river and lake water surfaces, and in arid regions. Changes in air temperature and precipitation in the current year determine vegetation cover. Because of the large amount of precipitation in the summer months from 2000 to 2010 and 2020, the growth of vegetation cover during that period was relatively good. This study was conducted in arid and semi-arid regions of Central Asia and demonstrates the impact of climate change on changes in vegetation cover. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Ecohydrology in Arid Inland River Basins)
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15 pages, 3091 KiB  
Article
Water Protection Zones—Impacts on Weed Vegetation of Arable Soil
by Jan Winkler, Tomáš Řičica, Věra Hubačíková, Eugeniusz Koda, Magdalena Daria Vaverková, Ladislav Havel and Mariusz Żółtowski
Water 2023, 15(17), 3161; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15173161 - 4 Sep 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1399
Abstract
The aim of this study is to evaluate the occurrence of weeds under conditions of limited herbicide use due to the protection zone of water resources. A total of 23 weed species were found in maize stands, 19 species were found in wheat [...] Read more.
The aim of this study is to evaluate the occurrence of weeds under conditions of limited herbicide use due to the protection zone of water resources. A total of 23 weed species were found in maize stands, 19 species were found in wheat stands, and 16 species were found in rapeseed stands. The redundancy analysis (RDA) results show significant differences in weed occurrence and composition due to herbicide regulation in each crop. Changes in weed composition induced by herbicide application limitations lead to a preference for more specialized weed species (specialists) at the expense of widespread species (generalists). Limiting the use of pesticides in sensitive and vulnerable areas, such as water sources, bodies, and watercourses, is justified from the perspective of protecting the aquatic environment and biodiversity. However, such measures can cause weed growth that is difficult to control, and therefore, it is important to search for new methods for weed control in field crops. Determining a balance between safeguarding water resources and addressing agricultural challenges remains crucial for sustainable land and water management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Ecohydrology in Arid Inland River Basins)
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16 pages, 3317 KiB  
Article
Impact of the Construction of Water Conservation Projects on Runoff from the Weigan River
by Jingwen Su, Aihua Long, Fulong Chen, Cai Ren, Pei Zhang, Ji Zhang, Xinchen Gu and Xiaoya Deng
Water 2023, 15(13), 2431; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15132431 - 30 Jun 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1729
Abstract
In order to use water resources more efficiently, the construction of water conservation projects in dryland watersheds has changed the natural water cycle processes. This study used the SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool) model coupled with the glacier module to simulate the [...] Read more.
In order to use water resources more efficiently, the construction of water conservation projects in dryland watersheds has changed the natural water cycle processes. This study used the SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool) model coupled with the glacier module to simulate the hydrological processes in the upper reaches of the Weigan River estuary from 1965 to 1991, to restore and quantitatively evaluate the conditions of the estuarine runoff in the no-reservoir scenario, and to analyse the impact of the construction of water conservation projects on the estuarine runoff based on this model. The results show that the SWAT model has good applicability in the study area, with 41.45% and 58.55% of the increase in runoff due to increased precipitation and temperature, respectively, over the 52 years study period. The degree of influence of the construction of water conservation projects on runoff from the mountain in different seasons was spring > autumn > winter > summer, with 83.28% of the spring runoff being influenced by artificial regulation. The construction of water conservation projects has alleviated water shortage problems to a certain extent, and is an effective measure for achieving the efficient allocation of water resources in arid areas. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Ecohydrology in Arid Inland River Basins)
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