Freshwater springs and the ecosystems that they support are threatened by land conversion, water extraction, exotic species, and the effects of climate change on water availability. The alarm over the effects of land conversion and groundwater extraction in arid areas sounded years ago. In arid areas, groundwater-dependent ecosystems may represent singular water sources in parched landscapes and, as a result, they may host a variety of endemic plants, invertebrates, and fish. Due to their relative isolation in the landscape, these systems may have greater ecological roles than their size would suggest and their loss could have cascading effects on both the aquatic and terrestrial systems that they support. In addition, springs and groundwater-dependent ecosystems in areas with higher rainfall also may be vulnerable to land conversion and groundwater extraction. If extraction is greater than aquifer recharge or pumping is concentrated around ecosystems, groundwater supplies can decline regardless of the amount of rainfall in a region. Furthermore, pollution issues that often accompany land conversion may reduce the value of the water that remains.
Climate change threatens to accentuate these existing problems, as many arid areas are projected to become drier and agriculture may shift geographically and become more intensive in the wetter areas. Without recognition of the value of springs and groundwater-dependent ecosystems, many may be lost entirely to the competing demands of economic development, agricultural need, and domestic supply in a changing world.
The purpose of this Research Topic is to advance our knowledge of the critical role that groundwater-dependent ecosystems, including springs and spring runs, play in maintaining biodiversity now and in a changing climate in the future. Therefore, the editors of this topic welcome submissions on topics including, but not limited to:
• Geographic and temporal variation in the link between the land surface and the groundwater that supplies groundwater-dependent ecosystems;
• Models of the effect of climate change on the persistence of groundwater-dependent ecosystems;
• Water quality and quantity thresholds for groundwater-dependent ecosystems that can be used as management triggers;
• The effect of land use on water quantity and quality in groundwater-dependent ecosystems;
• The effect of reductions in water supply on local and regional aquatic biodiversity of groundwater-dependent ecosystems, particularly for endemic species;
• The role of groundwater-dependent ecosystems in maintaining local and regional aquatic and terrestrial biodiversity;
• Ecosystem services provided by groundwater-dependent ecosystems
Freshwater springs and the ecosystems that they support are threatened by land conversion, water extraction, exotic species, and the effects of climate change on water availability. The alarm over the effects of land conversion and groundwater extraction in arid areas sounded years ago. In arid areas, groundwater-dependent ecosystems may represent singular water sources in parched landscapes and, as a result, they may host a variety of endemic plants, invertebrates, and fish. Due to their relative isolation in the landscape, these systems may have greater ecological roles than their size would suggest and their loss could have cascading effects on both the aquatic and terrestrial systems that they support. In addition, springs and groundwater-dependent ecosystems in areas with higher rainfall also may be vulnerable to land conversion and groundwater extraction. If extraction is greater than aquifer recharge or pumping is concentrated around ecosystems, groundwater supplies can decline regardless of the amount of rainfall in a region. Furthermore, pollution issues that often accompany land conversion may reduce the value of the water that remains.
Climate change threatens to accentuate these existing problems, as many arid areas are projected to become drier and agriculture may shift geographically and become more intensive in the wetter areas. Without recognition of the value of springs and groundwater-dependent ecosystems, many may be lost entirely to the competing demands of economic development, agricultural need, and domestic supply in a changing world.
The purpose of this Research Topic is to advance our knowledge of the critical role that groundwater-dependent ecosystems, including springs and spring runs, play in maintaining biodiversity now and in a changing climate in the future. Therefore, the editors of this topic welcome submissions on topics including, but not limited to:
• Geographic and temporal variation in the link between the land surface and the groundwater that supplies groundwater-dependent ecosystems;
• Models of the effect of climate change on the persistence of groundwater-dependent ecosystems;
• Water quality and quantity thresholds for groundwater-dependent ecosystems that can be used as management triggers;
• The effect of land use on water quantity and quality in groundwater-dependent ecosystems;
• The effect of reductions in water supply on local and regional aquatic biodiversity of groundwater-dependent ecosystems, particularly for endemic species;
• The role of groundwater-dependent ecosystems in maintaining local and regional aquatic and terrestrial biodiversity;
• Ecosystem services provided by groundwater-dependent ecosystems
