Linking hydrology and hydraulics to ecological function in mountain rivers
Event details
| Date | 12.02.2014 |
| Hour | 10:15 › 11:00 |
| Speaker | Chris Soulsby |
| Location | |
| Category | Conferences - Seminars |
Bio
Chris Soulsby is Professor of Hydrology at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland where is also the Head of the School of Geosciences. He has over 25 years research experience working on mountain rivers where the main thrust of his work has been understanding the linkages between catchment hydrology, in-stream hydraulics and ecological responses. This work has been highly inter-disciplinary and has sought to integrate empirical data in a modelling framework for learning and hypothesis testing. Although his research has been focused in the uplands of the British Isles, he has also worked in other montane environments in North America, Australia, East Africa and Latin America. He has successfully supervised almost 30 PhD students and published around 200 ISI-listed papers. His fundamental contributions to the hydrological sciences were recognised by his election as a Fellow of the American Geophysical Union in 2013.
Abstract
Mountain streams usually have a flashy flow regime, often with snow melt influence, which creates dynamic in-channel hydraulics. Aquatic organisms are usually adapted to such conditions, and ecosystem function throughout the year is sensitive to hydrological drivers. This talk will present recent research results from a long-term study of a catchment in the Scottish highlands that have elucidated some of the linkages between catchment hydrology, in-stream hydraulics and various life stages of Atlantic salmon. Reference will also be made to hydraulic influences on other inter-related ecosystem processes such as primary production and invertebrate drift. It will be argued – through examples - that understanding such linkages is a prerequisite to sustainable exploitation of such ecohydological systems for hydropower production and mitigating the likely effects of climatic change.
Chris Soulsby is Professor of Hydrology at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland where is also the Head of the School of Geosciences. He has over 25 years research experience working on mountain rivers where the main thrust of his work has been understanding the linkages between catchment hydrology, in-stream hydraulics and ecological responses. This work has been highly inter-disciplinary and has sought to integrate empirical data in a modelling framework for learning and hypothesis testing. Although his research has been focused in the uplands of the British Isles, he has also worked in other montane environments in North America, Australia, East Africa and Latin America. He has successfully supervised almost 30 PhD students and published around 200 ISI-listed papers. His fundamental contributions to the hydrological sciences were recognised by his election as a Fellow of the American Geophysical Union in 2013.
Abstract
Mountain streams usually have a flashy flow regime, often with snow melt influence, which creates dynamic in-channel hydraulics. Aquatic organisms are usually adapted to such conditions, and ecosystem function throughout the year is sensitive to hydrological drivers. This talk will present recent research results from a long-term study of a catchment in the Scottish highlands that have elucidated some of the linkages between catchment hydrology, in-stream hydraulics and various life stages of Atlantic salmon. Reference will also be made to hydraulic influences on other inter-related ecosystem processes such as primary production and invertebrate drift. It will be argued – through examples - that understanding such linkages is a prerequisite to sustainable exploitation of such ecohydological systems for hydropower production and mitigating the likely effects of climatic change.
Links
Practical information
- General public
- Free
Organizer
- Décanat ENAC
Contact
- Christina Treier