Modelling food-web mediated effects of hydrological variability and environmental flows
Authored by Nicholas R Bond, Barbara J Robson, Rebecca E Lester, Darren S Baldwin, Romain Drouart, Robert J Rolls, Darren S Ryder, Ross M Thompson
Date Published: 2017
DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2017.07.031
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Abstract
Environmental flows are designed to enhance aquatic ecosystems through a
variety of mechanisms; however, to date most attention has been paid to
the effects on habitat quality and life-history triggers, especially for
fish and vegetation. The effects of environmental flows on food webs
have so far received little attention, despite food-web thinking being
fundamental to understanding of river ecosystems. Understanding
environmental flows in a food-web context can help scientists and
policy-makers better understand and manage outcomes of flow alteration
and restoration. In this paper, we consider mechanisms by which flow
variability can influence and alter food webs, and place these within a
conceptual and numerical modelling framework. We also review the
strengths and weaknesses of various approaches to modelling the effects
of hydrological management on food webs. Although classic bioenergetic
models such as Ecopath with Ecosim capture many of the key features
required, other approaches, such as biogeochemical ecosystem modelling,
end-to-end modelling, population dynamic models, individual-based
models, graph theory models, and stock assessment models are also
relevant. In many cases, a combination of approaches will be useful. We
identify current challenges and new directions in modelling food-web
responses to hydrological variability and environmental flow management.
These include better integration of food-web and hydraulic models,
taking physiologically based approaches to food quality effects, and
better representation of variations in space and time that may create
ecosystem control points. Crown Copyright (C) 2017 Published by Elsevier
Ltd. All rights reserved.
Tags
Individual-based model
ecosystems
Prediction
ecosystem models
Life-history
Food webs
Fresh-water
Ecological networks
Lowland river
Adaptive river management
Ecohydrology
Organic-carbon subsidies
Isotope mixing models
Stable-isotopes
Aquatic biodiversity