Scope

Freshwater ecosystems are increasingly threatened by the multiple interacting stressors of the Anthropocene. Fundamental regimes of water flows, sediment, nutrients and energy are changing, connectivity patterns are disrupted, alien species are spreading and new pollutants and diseases are emerging, whilst human populations burgeon and water demands exceed supplies. Our land and water management systems are largely failing to address complex syndromes of ecological degradation, freshwater biodiversity decline and loss of vital ecosystem services. Even our freshwater protected areas are poorly buffered against pressures within and external to their boundaries.  

The Freshwater Science section of Frontiers in Environmental Science publishes research related to inland aquatic systems (springs, streams, rivers, lakes, reservoirs, subterranean systems and estuaries), connected boundary systems (riparian areas, floodplains and wetlands) and catchments. Our scope includes fundamental ecosystem science, the impact of human activities and multiple stressors on freshwater and associated ecosystems, ecosystem condition assessment and monitoring, evidence-based management, governance and policy.

Particular emphasis will be given to novel, interdisciplinary and collaborative approaches and perspectives in freshwater science and management. We must cultivate and strengthen the collaboration among scientists, indigenous cultures, citizens, NGOs, industry and government to provide the science needed to support global initiatives – such as the water-related Sustainable Development Goals, the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework and the 2021-2030 UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. These programs offer windows of opportunity to bring the linkages between terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity, ecosystem health and human health/wellbeing into public prominence.  

Key themes and topics in scope include:

Basic Freshwater Science

- Physical, chemical and biological properties of riverine, lacustrine, palustrine and groundwater-dependent habitats, including connectivity patterns and processes

- River, estuary and ocean connections and interactions

- Catchment, terrestrial and riparian connections to freshwater ecosystems

- Structure and dynamics of populations/communities/ecosystems

- Modelling of system dynamics

Multiple stressors, interactions, and monitoring

- Population/community/ecosystem responses to individual stressors and multiple stressor syndromes (urban, agricultural, forestry, mining, energy production, transport  and recreation/tourism sectors)

- Climate change interactions with other stressors and responses of freshwater populations/communities/ecosystems

- Condition assessment and monitoring of freshwater and connected ecosystems

Conservation, restoration, and management

- Importance of freshwater biodiversity, ecosystem goods and ecological services (MEA)

- Conservation and restoration of freshwater ecosystems, including planning, priority setting and best practice

- Evidence-based environmental management, governance and policy 

- Knowledge and approaches to support the Sustainable Development Goals for fresh water, the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework and the 2021-2030 UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration

Inclusive societal/cultural engagement in freshwater ecosystem knowledge generation, management, and policy

- Societal/cultural appreciation, empowerment, and collaboration

- Water, ecosystem health and human health (One Health)

- Citizen science and community engagement 

- Collaborative trade-off analysis and decision support systems

- Freshwater values and ethical considerations

Individual papers and Research Topics are invited within and also between these themes and topics.  Research Topics that fall at the interface with other sectors of Frontiers in Environmental Science (e.g. land use dynamics, toxicology and pollution, wastewater management, climate studies) are also welcome.

Submission

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