Journal article
A metasystem approach to designing environmental flows
Bioscience, Vol.73(9), pp.643-662
04/09/2023
Metrics
1 Record Views
Abstract
Accelerating the design and implementation of environmental flows (e-flows) is essential to curb the rapid, ongoing loss of freshwater biodiversity and the benefits it provides to people. However, the effectiveness of e-flow programs may be limited by a singular focus on ensuring adequate flow conditions at local sites, which overlooks the role of other ecological processes. Recent advances in metasystem ecology have shown that biodiversity patterns and ecosystem functions across river networks result from the interplay of local (environmental filtering and biotic interactions) and regional (dispersal) ecological processes. No guidelines currently exist to account for these processes in designing e-flows. We address this gap by providing a step-by-step operational framework that outlines how e-flows can be designed to conserve or restore metasystem dynamics. Our recommendations are relevant to diverse regulatory contexts and can improve e-flow outcomes even in basins with limited in situ data.
Details
- Title
- A metasystem approach to designing environmental flows
- Creators
- Mathis Messager - McGill UniversityJulian Olden - University of WashingtonJonathan Tonkin - University of CanterburyRachel Stubbington - Nottingham Trent UniversityJane Rogosch - Texas Tech UniversityMichelle Busch - University of OklahomaChelsea Little - Simon Fraser UniversityAnnika Walters - University of WyomingCarla Atkinson - University of AlabamaMargaret Shanafield - Flinders UniversitySongyan Yu - Griffith UniversityKate Boersma - University of San DiegoDavid Lytle - Oregon State UniversityRichard Walker - Upper Iowa UniversityRyan Burrows - University of MelbourneThibault Datry - Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement
- Publication Details
- Bioscience, Vol.73(9), pp.643-662
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press
- Number of pages
- 20
- Identifiers
- 991013294052902368
- Copyright
- © The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Institute of Biological Sciences.
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Science and Engineering
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article