Environmental Sustainability

控制水源集水区的水释放(径流)的过程是生态系统对人类和气候引起的环境变化的功能、敏感性和脆弱性的关键因素。这项研究计划将通过以下方式评估天然和重建流域内的这种过程：1)评估以湿地为主的水源集水区对下游水资源可用性的作用；2)确定瞬时的、基于事件的连接对森林、湿地和水道之间的水流动的影响；3)应用这些知识来管理资源开采后重建的集水区的淡水可用性。研究成果将保护饮用水质量以及鱼类和野生动物栖息地，这是理解生态系统易受干扰的关键进展。

Processes that control water release (runoff) from headwater catchments are vital factors in the function, sensitivity and vulnerability of ecosystems to human and climate-induced environmental change. This research program will evaluate suchprocesses within natural and reconstructed catchments by: 1) evaluating the role of wetland-dominated headwater catchments on downstream water availability2) establishing the influence of transient, event-based connections on water movement among forests, wetlands and watercourses3) applying this knowledge to manage freshwater availability in catchments reclaimed after resource extraction. Research results will protect drinking water quality and fish and wildlife habitat, as a critical advance in understanding ecosystem susceptibility to disturbance.