Ecohydrology and hydroecology: A ‘new paradigm’?

Abstract

*Correspondence to: David M. Hannah, School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK. E-mail: d.m.hannah@bham.ac.uk It is clear from recent literature, including two commentaries in HPToday (Bond, 2003; Pringle, 2003), special issues of journals (e.g. Gurnell et al., 2000; Zalewski, 2000; Kundzewicz, 2002; Baird et al., 2004), a new journal (Zalewski and Harper, 2001), several books (e.g. Baird and Wilby, 1999; Eagleson, 2002; Rodriguez-Iturbe, 2003) and national and international conference themes (e.g. Acreman, 2001), that ecohydrology (eco-hydrology) and hydroecology (hydro-ecology) have made a mark on the global environmental agenda. However, despite increasing attention and claims of the emergence of a ‘new’ discipline(s) (e.g. Zalewski and Robarts, 2003), opinions still vary as to what the disciplinary focus should be (e.g. Bonell, 2002). In particular, a number of important questions require clarification: (1) What are hydroecology and ecohydrology and are these terms clearly defined and understood? (2) Do hydroecology and ecohydrology represent a paradigm shift or repackaging of well-established research strands imbedded within hydrology or ecology? We address these questions by reviewing the scientific literature and categorizing bibliographic search data. Our aim is to provide a critical perspective, particularly with respect to identifying the theoretical core of hydroecology and ecohydrology and the disciplines’ interdisciplinary (or multidisciplinary) nature.