Sensitivity of Aquatic Ecosystems to Climatic and Anthropogenic Changes: The Basin and Range, American Southwest and México

Authors

N. B. Grimm
A. Chacón
C. N. Dahm
S. W. Hostetler
O. T. Lind
P. L. Starkweather
Wayne A. Wurtsbaugh, Utah State UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Journal/Book Title/Conference

Hydrological Processes

Volume

11

Issue

8

Publisher

Wiley-Blackwell

Publication Date

1997

Keywords

sensitivity, aquatic ecosystems, climatic changes, anthropogenic changes, basin, range, American Southwest, Mexico

First Page

1023

Last Page

1041

Abstract

Variability and unpredictability are characteristics of the aquatic ecosystems, hydrological patterns and climate of the largely dryland region that encompasses the Basin and Range, American Southwest and western Mexico. Neither hydrological nor climatological models for the region are sufficiently developed to describe the magnitude or direction of change in response to increased carbon dioxide; thus, an attempt to predict specific responses of aquatic ecosystems is premature. Instead, we focus on the sensitivity of rivers, streams, springs, wetlands, reservoirs, and lakes of the region to potential changes in climate, especially those inducing a change in hydrological patterns such as amount, timing and predictability of stream flow. The major sensitivities of aquatic ecosystems are their permanence and even existence in the face of potential reduced net basin supply of water, stability of geomorphological structure and riparian ecotones with alterations in disturbance regimes, and water quality changes resulting from a modified water balance. In all of these respects, aquatic ecosystems of the region are also sensitive to the extensive modifications imposed by human use of water resources, which underscores the difficulty of separating this type of anthropogenic change from climate change. We advocate a focus in future research on reconstruction and analysis of past climates and associated ecosystem characteristics, long-term studies to discriminate directional change vs. year to year variability (including evidence of aquatic ecosystem responses or sensitivity to extremes), and studies of ecosystems affected by human activity.

Comments

Originally published by Wiley-Blackwell. Publisher's PDF available through remote link.

Recommended Citation

Grimm, N.B., A. Chacón, C.N. Dahm, S.W. Hostetler, O.T. Lind, P.L. Starkweather, and W.A. Wurtsbaugh. 1997. Sensitivity of aquatic ecosystems to climatic and anthropogenic changes: the Basin and Range, American Southwest, and México. Hydrological Processes 11:1023-1041.