Legitimizing fluvial ecosystems as users of water: An overview

摘要: We suggest that fluvial ecosystems are legitimate users of water and there basic ecological principles guiding the maintenance long-term vitality. This article articulates some fundamental relationships between physical processes, presents for maintaining vitality ecosystems, identifies several major scientific challenges opportunities effective implementation principles, acts as an introduction to three specific articles follow on biodiversity, biogeochemistry, riparian communities. All objectives, by necessity, link climate, land, fresh water. The proposed are: (1) natural flow regime shapes evolution aquatic biota (2) every river has a characteristic associated biotic community, (3) topographically unique in occupying lowest position landscape, thereby integrating catchment-scale processes. Scientific immediate future relate quantifying cumulative effects, linking multidisciplinary knowledge models, formulating monitoring assessment procedures. Additionally, forecasting consequences changing regimes is challenge science, especially environmental issues related waters escalate next two decades.