Ecohydrology

Ecohydrology is the study of interactions between the water cycle and ecological systems. It examines how water availability, movement, and storage influence ecosystems, and how biological and soil processes in turn modify hydrological behavior. The field integrates hydrology, ecology, soil science, biogeochemistry, and geography to understand feedbacks across scales, from plant roots and soil layers to catchments and landscapes.

Key concerns in ecohydrology include how soil moisture, groundwater–surface water exchanges, and evapotranspiration govern vegetation patterns, productivity, and habitat sustainability. Conversely, vegetation structure, root depth, leaf area, and litter chemistry affect infiltration, runoff generation, evaporation, and nutrient cycling. This bidirectional interaction shapes water balance, streamflow regimes, drought resilience, and ecosystem services such as water purification and habitat support.

Researchers use field measurements, experiments, remote sensing, and modeling to quantify ecohydrological processes. Methods range from soil moisture probes and groundwater monitoring to rainfall-runoff analysis and integrated models that couple hydrological and ecological dynamics. Outcomes often emphasize predictive understanding of how land cover changes, climate variability, and disturbance affect water resources and ecosystem health.

Applications span water resources management, ecological restoration, and climate adaptation. Ecohydrology informs watershed planning, drought risk assessment, riparian zone conservation, and wetland rehabilitation by linking hydrological targets with ecological goals. While challenges remain in data integration, scaling, and uncertainty, the field provides a framework for examining how water and life co-evolve within landscapes.