Linking hydrology and biogeochemistry in complex landscapes

TLDR

Landscape structure and organization across ecological and geomorphological scales are reviewed, highlighting functional connectedness as a key theme. The review aims to explore how hydrology and biogeochemistry interact at the landscape scale. The authors examine hillslope runoff pathways and their link to nutrient dynamics, focusing on riparian zones relevant to catchment water‑quality management. They conclude that future research should target the near‑stream zone, which is critical for coupling hillslope and channel systems.

Abstract

This review seeks to examine connections between hydrology and biogeochemistry at the landscape scale. A review of research on landscape structure and organization provides a context for what follows, and seeks to integrate work at relevant scales in ecology and geomorphology; the degree of functional ‘connectedness’ between different landscape elements provides the key theme. Following a review of hillslope hydrology, links between hillslope runoff pathways and nutrient dynamics are then considered. We focus in particular on riparian zones, where nutrient dynamics has relevance for water-quality management in catchments. In conclusion, we argue that future studies need to focus on the critical near-stream zone, given its importance in coupling hillslope and channel systems.