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Titel |
Environmental flow assessments in estuaries based on an integrated multi-objective method |
VerfasserIn |
T. Sun, J. Xu, Z. F. Yang |
Medientyp |
Artikel
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Sprache |
Englisch
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ISSN |
1027-5606
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Digitales Dokument |
URL |
Erschienen |
In: Hydrology and Earth System Sciences ; 17, no. 2 ; Nr. 17, no. 2 (2013-02-20), S.751-760 |
Datensatznummer |
250017722
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Publikation (Nr.) |
copernicus.org/hess-17-751-2013.pdf |
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Zusammenfassung |
An integrated multi-objective method for environmental
flow assessments was developed that considered variability of potential
habitats as a critical factor in determining how ecosystems respond to
hydrological alterations. Responses of habitat area, and the magnitude of
those responses as influenced by salinity and water depth, were established
and assessed according to fluctuations in river discharge and tidal
currents. The requirements of typical migratory species during pivotal
life-stage seasons (e.g., reproduction and juvenile growth) and natural flow
variations were integrated into the flow-needs assessment. Critical
environmental flows for a typical species were defined based on two primary
objectives: (1) high level of habitat area and (2) low variability of habitat
area. After integrating the water requirements for various species with the
maximum acceptable discharge boundary, appropriate temporal limits of
environmental flows for ecosystems were recommended. The method was applied
in the Yellow River estuary in eastern Shandong province, China. Our results
show that, while recommended environmental flows established with
variability of potential habitats in mind may not necessarily benefit
short-term survival of a typical resident organism on a limited temporal or
spatial scale, they may encourage long-term, stable biodiversity and
ecosystem health. Thus, short-term ecosystem losses may be compensated by
significant long-term gains. |
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