Synthesizing models useful for ecohydrology and ecohydraulic approaches: An emphasis on integrating models to address complex research questions

Abstract

Ecohydrology combines empiricism, data analytics, and the integration of models to characterize linkages between ecological and hydrological processes. A challenge for practitioners is determining which models best generalizes heterogeneity in hydrological behaviour, including water fluxes across spatial and temporal scales, integrating environmental and socio‐economic activities to determine best watershed management practices and data requirements. We conducted a literature review and synthesis of hydrologic, hydraulic, water quality, and ecological models designed for solving interdisciplinary questions. We reviewed 1,275 papers and identified 178 models that have the capacity to answer an array of research questions about ecohydrology or ecohydraulics. Of these models, 43 were commonly applied due to their versatility, accessibility, user‐friendliness, and excellent user‐support. Forty‐one of 43 reviewed models were linked to at least 1 other model especially: Water Quality Analysis Simulation Program (linked to 21 other models), Soil and Water Assessment Tool (19), and Hydrologic Engineering Center's River Analysis System (15). However, model integration was still relatively infrequent. There was substantial variation in model applications, possibly an artefact of the regional focus of research questions, simplicity of use, quality of user‐support efforts, or a limited understanding of model applicability. Simply increasing the interoperability of model platforms, transformation of models to user‐friendly forms, increasing user‐support, defining the reliability and risk associated with model results, and increasing awareness of model applicability may promote increased use of models across subdisciplines. Nonetheless, the current availability of models allows an array of interdisciplinary questions to be addressed, and model choice relates to several factors including research objective, model complexity, ability to link to other models, and interface choice.

A Review of SWAT Studies in Southeast Asia: Applications, Challenges and Future Directions

“…The intricacies and interwoven nature of SEA water resources problems points to the need for innovative methods and tools that can be used to help identify solutions for multi-faceted issues. Available tools include dozens of eco-hydrological models, which have been developed to quantify water quantity and water quality indicators for varying ranges of watershed drainage areas, environmental conditions, and pollutants [14,[23][24][25][26][27]. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model [28][29][30] has emerged as one of the most widely used eco-hydrological models worldwide, as documented by previous review studies [31][32][33][34][35][36][37] and an extensive literature collection that now exceeds 3000 studies [38].…”

Changing Ecological and Hydrological Conditions in the Himalayan Mountains and Measures of Future Adaptation

“…The shorter scale (hours to days) rainfall propagates to a longer time scale (months to years) benefits for water recycling and ecosystem functioning at dry conditions (Wang et al 2015). Such modelling likely to integrate climate, land use, and biotic responses to address the range of water management options and help decision making and adaptation process (Brewer et al 2018).…”

Sensitivity test of the Hydrological Model of Large Basins (MGB-IPH) in scenarios of extreme changes in soil use and occupation, precipitation regime and mean air temperature.

“…In these types of studies, hydrological modeling is presented as a useful tool to simulate future scenarios in different land uses and climatic variations (Clark et al, 2015;Kauffeldt et al, 2016;Sorribas et al, 2016). There are several hydrological models described in the literature, among them are the SWAT and the Hydrological Model of Large Basins (MGB-IPH) (Pontes et al, 2016;Paz et al, 2018;Brewer et al, 2018;Daggupati et al, 2018). The MGB-IPH is a mathematical model written in Fortran that can be used to represent hydrological processes in watersheds with areas equal to or greater than 10,000 km 2 (Collischonn et al, 2007).…”