Advancing ecohydraulics and ecohydrology by clarifying the role of their component interdisciplines

TLDR

River ecosystem complexity has spurred the emergence of integrative disciplines such as ecohydrology, hydroecology, and ecohydraulics, yet their interchangeable naming creates ambiguity that hampers field development. The study aims to clarify the distinct definitions and contributions of ecohydrology, hydroecology, and ecohydraulics, arguing that they are complementary disciplines essential for tackling river science challenges, including climate change. This is achieved by examining their interrelationships and offering a reference framework for integrating these disciplines.

Abstract

Increasing awareness of the complexity of river ecosystems has led to the emergence of integrative disciplines that combine topics in river physical and ecological processes, exemplified by the disciplines of ecohydrology, hydroecology and ecohydraulics. However, the names of these disciplines are often referred to interchangeably without attention paid to their meaning. This ambiguity impairs the efficient development and widespread promotion of these fields of study and their applications. To address this issue, we strive to clarify the definitions and contributions of the different disciplines. This is done by exploring their interrelationships and providing a reference for the integration of disciplines in these evolving fields. Finally, we advocate for ecohydrology and ecohydraulics to be considered complementary, and not duplicative, disciplines within river science. We further argue that awareness of their similarities and differences is important to address key issues in river science and to ensure ecohydraulics finds its positioning with respect to other disciplines, as well as current and emerging societal and scientific challenges, such as climate change.