1) 발표자: 서승범

2) 학술대회명: AGU Annual Meeting 2024

3) 발표 주제: Enhancing Aquatic Ecosystem Management with an Ecohydrological Decision Support System

4) 발표 내용

The demand for ecologically healthy rivers and water-friendly spaces from citizens is increasing over time. However, as a result of changing climate, alterations in the hydrological regime and rapid decline in biodiversity of aquatic ecosystems are occurring around the world. This loss of biodiversity in aquatic ecosystems can reduce the satisfaction that waterfronts provides to the society. Thus, to maintain a satisfactory waterfront area for the society, a proper decision-making support system is required. This study proposes the application of a decision support system based on ELOHA (Ecological Limitations Of Hydrological Alteration) for supporting the determination of release of ecological/environmental flow and timing from regulated rivers. Following the steps of the ELOHA system, the relationship between changes in the hydrological regime and aquatic ecosystem was investigated. A total of 34 hydrological variables, including the classic 33 IHA (Indicators of Hydrological Alteration) variables and average rate of flow change, were used. Quantitative biodiversity indices (α and β) were used as ecological variables and were derived from species occurrence records which include epilithic diatoms, benthic macroinvertebrates, fish, and riparian vegetation. A pilot test was conducted targeting three streams in the city of Suwon, South Korea, while the relationship between hydrological and ecological alteration was developed using the data from multiple regulated streams located in the Han River Basin. Further studies regarding the sociodemographic survey for the decision of ecological flow will be conducted. Also, additional hydrological variables and qualitative ecological variables will be incorporated to identify the uniqueness of sites (or streams). The proposed ELOHA-based decision support system is not only anticipated to aid the management of waterfront areas but also facilitate the collaboration between policy makers, scientists, and stakeholders.