Seawater Intrusion Research Articles

Coastal Flood Induced Salinity Intrusion Risk Assessment Using a Spatial Multi-criteria Approach in the South-Western Bangladesh

AbstractBangladesh is extremely vulnerable to sea-level rise and other climate-induced extreme events, such as flooding, storm surge, and salinity intrusion. The south-western coastal region of Bangladesh is particularly vulnerable to salinity intrusion caused by cyclone induced storm surges and coastal floods. Salinity intrusion endanger land productivity by increasing both soil and surface water salinity. Detailed risk assessment using spatial mapping approach can contribute to mitigating the effects of salinity intrusion on natural capital and the environment. In this study, we established and evaluated a spatial multi-criteria approach for mapping the risk levels of areas to salinity intrusion impacts using field data and geospatial techniques at the local scale. We evaluated the viability of the proposed approach using Khulna District, a major coastal city and saline prone area in the south-western Bangladesh. We considered three risk components (i.e. vulnerability, exposure and hazard) with 16 relevant criteria for the study. For each criterion, an Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) was used to build and weight spatial raster map layers. Individual maps for each risk component were generated using a weighted sum technique, and lastly, a risk map was created by combining those. Our generated maps correctly identified relevant spatial dimensions as well as risk levels (i.e. very-high to very-low). The outcomes of our study suggest that the southern (east and west) parts of the study area are mostly susceptible to salinity intrusion due to higher storm surge impacts, lower elevation, and land use patterns than other parts. We validate our findings using a qualitative and quantitative approach. We believe that this novel approach would be useful to create risk maps that policymakers and relevant stakeholders could potentially use to evaluate risks posed by flood induced salinity intrusion in coastal regions of Bangladesh and elsewhere with similar geo-climatic context.

Effect of Salinity Intrusion and Coastal Erosion on Marawila Coastal Area, Sri Lanka

Coastal erosion has become a major threat to coastal areas all around the world while salinity intrusion has also become a problem due to erosion mitigation measures in coastal area. Coastal erosion (and accretion) in Marawila coastal area was investigated by analyzing satellite images using spatial analysis techniques. The effect of salinity intrusion on Marawila coastal area was identified by travelling along the coastline, conducting interviews and analyzing the reports. In this study it was identified that both coastal erosion and salinity intrusion are nexus problems in Marawila coastal area. This study highlights the effect of salinity intrusion and coastal erosion on Marawila coastal area.

Revealing climatic and groundwater impacts on the spatiotemporal variations in vegetation coverage in marine sedimentary basins of the North China Plain, China

The North China Plain (NCP) is one of the three great plains in China and also serves as a vital region for grain, cotton, and oil production. Under the influence of regional hydrothermal changes, groundwater overexploitation, and seawater intrusion, the vegetation coverage is undergoing continuous alterations. However, a comprehensive assessment of impacts of precipitation, temperature, and groundwater on vegetation in marine sedimentary regions of the NCP is lacking. Heilonggang Basin (HB) is located in the low-lying plain area in the east of NCP, which is part of the NCP. In this study, the HB was chosen as a typical area of interest. We collected a series of data, including the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), precipitation, temperature, groundwater depth, and Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) from 2001 to 2020. Then the spatiotemporal variation in vegetation was analyzed, and the underlying driving mechanisms of vegetation variation were explored in this paper. The results show that NDVI experiences a rapid increase from 2001 to 2004, followed by stable fluctuations from 2004 to 2020. The vegetation in the HB has achieved an overall improvement in the past two decades, with 76% showing improvement, mainly in the central and eastern areas, and 24% exhibiting deterioration in other areas. From 2001 to 2020, NDVI correlates positively with precipitation, whereas its relationship with temperature fluctuates between positive and negative, and is not statistically significant. There is a threshold for the synergistic change of NDVI and groundwater depth. When the groundwater depth is lower than 3.8 m, NDVI increases sharply with groundwater depth. However, beyond this threshold, NDVI tends to stabilize and fluctuate. In the eastern coastal areas, NDVI exhibits a strong positive correlation with groundwater depth, influenced by the surface soil TDS controlled by groundwater depth. In the central regions, a strong negative correlation is observed, where NDVI is primarily impacted by soil moisture under the control of groundwater. In the west and south, a strong positive correlation exists, with NDVI primarily influenced by the intensity of groundwater exploitation. Thus, precipitation and groundwater are the primary driving forces behind the spatiotemporal variability of vegetation in the HB, while in contrast, the influence of temperature is uncertain. This study has elucidated the mechanism of vegetation response, providing a theoretical basis for mitigating adverse factors affecting vegetation growth and formulating rational water usage regulations in the NCP.

Geochemistry and sources of boron and strontium of geothermal waters from the Pearl River Delta region, South China: Implications for water-rock interactions

Pearl River Delta (PRD) region of South China is abundant of geothermal water resources. However, the development and utilization level of geothermal resources in this region is relatively low, due in part to the lack of fundamental geochemical research. To access water-rock interaction processes of the PRD geothermal system, we analyzed the geochemistry of geothermal waters by combining trace elements (B, Sr, and Br) and isotopes (δ11B and 87Sr/86Sr) with conventional tracers (major elements) that had been reported. The Cl/Br ratios (from 31 to 639) confirm the multi-source salinity of marine origin, precipitation, and a minor dissolution of halite. Major ions chemistry highlights the influence of ions exchange, the dissolution of carbonate, silicate, and sulphate minerals as well as the contribution of seawater. The Cl/B ratios (61 to 22,583) suggest interactions with carbonate rock and felsic rock, input of seawater, and groundwater mixing. Boron isotopic compositions (δ11B) range between −9.22 and +39.78 ‰. Sr contents and 87Sr/86Sr ratios are more homogeneous, falling between 0.06 and 32.26 mg/L and between 0.71239 and 0.72121, respectively. The B and Sr isotopic signatures show that three processes contribute to geochemistry of geothermal waters: 1) water/rock interaction involving marine carbonate rock, evaporite, and granitoid or/and gneiss, 2) seawater intrusion, and 3) shallow groundwater mixing. Major-trace element chemistry and these isotope systematics on their own indicates essential information on the aspects of fluid origin or water-rock interaction processes, and however provide a more comprehensive understanding of the geothermal system in the PRD region, South China.

A Model Of Wave Attenuation In Vegetated Environments

Mangrove degradation and rapid coastline erosion have been widely observed at many locations along the Mekong Delta Coast. These locales frequently display narrow mangrove forests, occasionally spanning as few as 100 meters. This phenomenon of the narrower mangrove forests is supposed to be due to the construction of sea dikes in a search to establish room for agricultural purposes and to hinder the salinity intrusion, referred to as "mangrove squeeze". Within the context of monitoring mangrove forest evolution alongside the shoreline's dynamic processes of erosion and accretion, the hypothesis of a "squeeze mangrove forest" was advanced by Phan (2015) and Truong (2017). This conceptual construct underscores the fundamental importance of "mangrove width" as a critical length scale influencing the sustainable growth of a mangrove forest. The physical interpretation of this length scale is intricately tied to the extent of the mixing layer's intrusion into the vegetative domain (Truong et al., 2019). It is important to note that while the mixing dynamics of estuarine mangroves are primarily regulated by lateral flow events induced by large vortex structures moving along the vegetation edge, the characteristics of incoming waves primarily determine the length to which the mixing layer penetrates within coastal mangroves. The latter is the primary focus of this study.

Experimental study on the rheological behavior of superfine cement–sodium silicate slurry under seawater intrusion

Grouting is the effective method to prevent water inrush and reinforce fractured surrounding rocks in the construction of the submarine tunnel. The seawater intrusion will lead to obvious changes in the rheological properties of slurries, which can be adverse for the diffusion properties of slurries. This study aimed to identify the impact of seawater intrusion on the constitutive relationship of superfine cement–sodium silicate slurry (SC-S slurry). The chemical gelling time, viscosity, and rheological model of the slurry were studied. The concentrations of seawater ranged from 0% to 100%. The water–cement ratio ranged from 0.6 to 2.0. This study revealed that seawater significantly shortened the chemical gelling time of the slurry. The effect was more pronounced as the concentration of seawater increases. Furthermore, it was observed the rheological model of SC-S slurry will change from Bingham model to Herschel–Bulkley model with the increase in concentration of seawater. Rheological parameters that vary with time were also studied. The rheological constitutive models of slurry under seawater intrusion were established.

Assessing impact of sluice gate operation on salinity intrusion in Ho Chi Minh City

This study aims to evaluate salinity intrusion propagation in Ho Chi Minh City under the operation of six tidal sluice gates, namely, Ben Nghe, Tan Thuan, Phu Xuan, Muong Chuoi, Cay Kho, and Phu Dinh by utilizing the HEC-RAS model. The outcomes during calibration and validation procedures underscore the high performance of the HEC-RAS model in simulating salinity intrusion over the study area. In particular, R2 and NSE values were higher than satisfactory thresholds of 0.80 for water level and discharge simulations and 0.50 for salinity concentration simulations. Based on the calibrated HEC-RAS model, this study examined the potential influences of sluice gate operations on salinity distribution under different scenarios. Results indicate that salinity concentration would exhibit increasing trends when operating Ben Nghe and Tan Thuan sluices, while the closure of the Phu Xuan and Muong Chuoi sluices would cause a reduction in the salinity concentration within the areas enclosed by these sluices. In addition, the operations of the Cay Kho and Phu Dinh sluices would lead to decreases and increases in salinity concentration in the upstream and downstream areas of each corresponding sluice gate, respectively. Moreover, when closing six sluice gates simultaneously, the salinity concentration inside and outside the sluice gates would decrease and increase, respectively. In general, these findings indicate that salinity concentration and spatial distribution are significantly influenced by the location and structure of each tidal sluice gate.

The Climate Moratorium

Climate change is our new reality. The impacts of climatic changes, including massive forest fires, floods, drought, severe storms, saltwater intrusion, and the resulting migration of people displaced by such impacts, will continue to ravage communities across the nation into the foreseeable future. In the meantime, communities continue to expand and growth continues unabated in many of the most climate-impacted areas. Given that most communities are unprepared for the onslaught of climate disasters and many continue to increase existing community vulnerabilities through unsustainable growth and development practices, we need legal tools that will provide space to engage in effective adaptation planning. The climate moratorium is one such tool. Moratoria, which have been used to temporarily halt development and associated impacts to facilitate effective land-use planning, have long been used by communities to address community and infrastructure vulnerabilities. This Article proposes a climate moratorium.

An initial assessment of mobile dam efficiency in raising low-flow water levels in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta

In recent years, the Tien and Hau rivers have experienced a downtrend in water levels during the low flow season. This decrease has led to detrimental effects on agricultural production and ecological health in the VMD’s upper regions, such as the Long Xuyen Quadrangle (LXQ) and the Plain of Reeds (PoR). This research employs a numerical hydraulic model for a preliminary assessment of the potential effectiveness of mobile dams in increasing water levels in the VMD’s upper part. A calibrated 1D hydraulic model was utilized to evaluate the performance of the proposed mobile dams: one situated near the My Thuan bridge on the Tien river, and the other near the Can Tho bridge on the Hau river. Initial results indicate that setting the crest of mobile dams at -1.0 m could raise minimum and maximum water levels in the Tien river near Tan Chau by 1.0 m and 0.15 m, respectively, and in the Hau river near Chau Doc by 1.1 m and 0.07 m, respectively. Furthermore, these mobile dams could significantly enhance the minimum and maximum water levels in An Binh channel within the PoR and Ba The channel in the LXQ, by up to 0.55 m and 0.26 m, and 0.42 m and 0.29 m, respectively. These findings provide an essential foundation for initially understanding how mobile dams can improve water resource management in the VMD. However, additional investigation is required to assess the effects of mobile dams on salinity intrusion, ecological balance, hydrological dynamics, sediment deposition, and erosion.

Screening Disinfection Byproducts in Arid-Coastal Wastewater: A Workflow Using GC×GC-TOFMS, Passive Sampling, and NMF Deconvolution Algorithm.

Disinfection during tertiary municipal wastewater treatment is a necessary step to control the spread of pathogens; unfortunately, it also gives rise to numerous disinfection byproducts (DBPs), only a few of which are regulated because of the analytical challenges associated with the vast number of potential DBPs. This study utilized polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) passive samplers, comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC×GC) coupled with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOFMS), and non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) spectral deconvolution for suspect screening of DBPs in treated wastewater. PDMS samplers were deployed upstream and downstream of the chlorination unit in a municipal wastewater treatment plant located in Abu Dhabi, and their extracts were analyzed using GC×GC-TOFMS. A workflow incorporating a multi-tiered, eight-filter screening process was developed, which successfully enabled the reliable isolation of 22 candidate DBPs from thousands of peaks. The NMF spectral deconvolution improved the match factor score of unknown mass spectra to the reference mass spectra available in the NIST library by 17% and facilitated the identification of seven additional DBPs. The close match of the first-dimension retention index data and the GC×GC elution patterns of DBPs, both predicted using the Abraham solvation model, with their respective experimental counterparts-with the measured data available in the NIST WebBook and the GC×GC elution patterns being those observed for the candidate peaks-significantly enhanced the accuracy of peak assignment. Isotopic pattern analysis revealed a close correspondence for 11 DBPs with clearly visible isotopologues in reference spectra, thereby further strengthening the confidence in the peak assignment of these DBPs. Brominated analogues were prevalent among the detected DBPs, possibly due to seawater intrusion. The fate, behavior, persistence, and toxicity of tentatively identified DBPs were assessed using EPI Suite™ and the CompTox Chemicals Dashboard. This revealed their significant toxicity to aquatic organisms, including developmental, mutagenic, and endocrine-disrupting effects in certain DBPs. Some DBPs also showed activity in various CompTox bioassays, implicating them in adverse molecular pathways. Additionally, 11 DBPs demonstrated high environmental persistence and resistance to biodegradation. This combined approach offers a powerful tool for future research and environmental monitoring, enabling accurate identification and assessment of DBPs and their potential risks.

Hydrogeochemical characteristics of shallow aquifers in Thanh Phu District, Ben Tre Province, Vietnam

Shallow aquifers in the Thanh Phu coastal area in Ben Tre Province are increasingly withdrawn for domestic and irrigation purposes. However, groundwater resources here are declining in quality due to the effects of seawater intrusion and anthropogenic activities. It requires an understanding of the groundwater origin and changes in water quality to protect local groundwater resources. By applying the hydrogeochemical approach, the origin and quality of groundwater here have been clarified. A total of 35 water samples were collected during the 2023 dry season. The laboratory analysis included 16 ions. The results show that the groundwater water types are Ca-Cl, Ca-Mg-Cl and Na-Cl, with the domination of the third pattern. Hydrochemical characteristics have shown evaporation, silicate weathering, cation exchange and marine effects as the vital processes governing the mineralization of regional groundwater. Most of the water samples are of poor quality, not adapting to domestic water standards according to the National Technical Regulation on Domestic Water Quality and WHO 2011. It requires water treatment before being used for domestic purposes. However, the SAR, Na%, PI, KR and EC values displayed that groundwater here was still acceptable for irrigation purposes, demonstrating the prospect of using groundwater for agricultural purposes in the study area.

An automatic model selection-based machine learning approach to predict seawater intrusion into coastal aquifers

An automatic model selection-based machine learning approach to predict seawater intrusion into coastal aquifers

Characteristics, preservation mechanisms, and significance of aragonite in lacustrine shale: A case study from the Jiyang Depression, Bohai Bay Basin

Aragonite is a metastable mineral, which is easily transformed into calcite, and generally difficult to preserve in the stratum. However, large amounts of aragonites were found in the Paleogene shale of the Jiyang Depression. The characteristics and preservation mechanisms of these aragonites were analyzed through a series of analytical methods, including cathodoluminescence, field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS), micro-area carbon and oxygen isotopes, Sr isotopes, and dissolution simulation experiments under high temperature and high pressure. The research results show that: ①Aragonite in the Paleogene shale of the Jiyang Depression is related to algal microbial fossils, primarily composed of coccoliths and characterized by two emission peaks at 420 nm and 480 nm in cathodoluminescence; ②The primary factor allowing biological aragonite to be preserved is the immaturity of the organic matter and the deficiency of abundant organic acids necessary for its dissolution or transformation, which is confirmed by the evidence of organic matter maturity and simulation experiments of organic acid dissolution on aragonite under high-temperature and high-pressure conditions. Additional factors that may aid in the preservation of aragonite are the ideal sedimentation conditions, the defense of organic coating, and the enclosed environment with tiny pores, low porosity, and low permeability; ③These aragonite-rich shales, characterized by coccolithophores, provide a solid evidence for seawater intrusion into terrestrial lake basin, and have a significant implication for the source and storage of shale oil.

Decision support system for community managed rainwater harvesting: A case study in the salinity-prone coastal region of Bangladesh

Climate change-induced saline intrusion into both surface and groundwater, extreme weather events, and unregulated water usage are serious threats to the drinking water supply in coastal areas worldwide, especially in least-developed countries. This research developed a data-driven decision-making methodology to evaluate the performance of rainwater harvesting (RWH) systems in the saline-prone southwestern coastal region of Bangladesh. Twenty-five community managed RWH systems, recently piloted in two major coastal districts, were considered the case study to develop and validate this evaluation tool. The evaluation methodology integrates daily water models, lifetime cost analysis, Geographic Information System (GIS)-based parameters supported by the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), and field observation. While the meteorological parameters as well as the hydrological and economic performance were found to be highly suitable, 36 % of the systems showed moderate performance, as challenges remain in ensuring proper operation and maintenance practices at the community level. However, 40 % of the systems showed high performance, with two systems showing very high suitability, which suggests community managed RWH systems as a sustainable adaptation for coastal water supply.

Hydrochemistry and isotope hydrology of groundwater and surface water in the Sor and Gebba watershed, southwestern Ethiopia

The Sor and Gebba watershed plays a crucial role in the water resources of the Baro-Akobo River Basin. However, various factors have had a detrimental effect on the watershed. Unplanned groundwater extraction, wetland drainage, surface water pollution, and land use changes have all intensified due to population growth, urbanization, commercial farms, industrial development, poor water resources management, and improvements in living standards. This research utilized major hydrochemical ions and environmentally stable isotopes to elucidate the interaction between groundwater and surface water in the watershed, which are reliable tracers in various hydrologic processes. During the 2020 wet season and 2022 dry season, over 25 meteoric water samples were collected from different locations for hydrochemical and isotopic analysis. The hydrochemical analysis revealed that the dominant water type is Ca–Mg–HCO3−. Among the anions, HCO3− was the most dominant, followed by NO3−, Cl−, and SO42−, and those of cations Ca2+, followed by Na+, Mg2+, and K+. The spatial analysis of environmentally stable isotopes confirmed the interaction between groundwater and surface water in the watershed. The quality of groundwater is primarily influenced by rock-water interaction (Gibb's diagram) and, to some extent, by evaporation (Isotope study). A graph of the water samples closely aligned with the Addis Ababa-local meteoric water line indicates their meteoric origin. However, there was a slight deviation to the left due to the effects of distance and altitude. The isotopic correlation further supported the interaction between different water sources.

Identification of Seawater Intrusion in Groundwater using The Wenner-Schlumberger Configuration (2D) Geoelectric Resistivity Method on Balu Island, Santiri Village, Tiworo Utara Sub-District, West Muna Regency

This research aims to identify sea water intrusion in groundwater using the Wenner-Schlumberger configuration (2D) resistivity geolectric method on Balu Island, Santiri village, Tiworo Utara sub-District, West Muna Regency. This research uses primary data which is resistivty measurement data measured in the field aimed at identifying groundwater aquifers. The interpretation data is then reconstructed into 2D cross-sectional profile using Res2Dinv software. The results obtained in the research area show that sea water intrusion has occurred in groundwater at an average surface depth of up to 39.6 meters with low resistivity values ​​between 0.06 – 807 Ohm-meters

Dynamic change and driving response of shallow groundwater level based on random forest in southwest Songnen Plain

Study regionThe southwest Songnen Plain in China.Study focus:This study investigated the multi-time groundwater dynamic types and the trends of groundwater level. Random forest model was applied to analyse on driving factors of groundwater level.New hydrological insights:This study selected the following data from four periods in 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2020: groundwater depth, precipitation, evaporation, groundwater extraction, dry field area, and paddy field area. Pearson correlation analysis, Kriging interpolation, Mann-Kendall test, and other methods were employed to determine the groundwater dynamic types and changes in level within the four periods. Pearson correlation analysis shows that the dynamic types of groundwater table change greatly in the four periods, and the correlation between groundwater depth and precipitation decreases first and then increases. Kriging interpolation showed that the groundwater depth was lower in the west, and the depth around irrigation areas was higher. The Mann-Kendall test showed that the groundwater depth changed abruptly over time during the irrigation period and rainy season; the average groundwater depth increased by 1.36 m from 2005 to 2010, but only by 0.09 m from 2010 to 2020. The random forest model of groundwater level dynamics and its driving factors was established, and it was found that the size of the paddy field had the greatest influence on groundwater dynamics, affecting 32.15%.

Training on making compost blocks using agroforestry waste for the Pujo Makmur forest farmers group, Pesawaran Regency, Lampung

Protected forests serve as the fundamental protection for the support system of life, regulating water resources, preventing floods, controlling erosion, mitigating saltwater intrusion, and preserving soil fertility. However, in reality, many protected forests are converted into agricultural land. To address this issue, the government grants land use permits through the Community Forest (HKm) system. The HKm system typically involves planting a combination of agricultural and forestry crops (agroforestry). The variety of crops grown in one area yields abundant harvests, but it also generates a significant amount of waste. Consequently, waste becomes a problem, although plant waste can be utilized to make compost. The objective of this community service activity is to provide education and training on making compost blocks. The method employed in this activity is education and training provided to farmers. The results of this community service activity enhance the knowledge of the Pujo Makmur Farmer Group regarding the benefits of compost blocks, the process of making them, and their usage.

Isolation, and selection of indigenous potassium solubilizing bacteria from Vietnam Mekong Delta rhizospheric soils and their effects on diverse cropping systems

Potassium (K) is an essential nutrient for plant growth, biosynthesis, and metabolism. It enhances plant tolerance to salinity and acidity by triggering various defense mechanisms. These characteristics are particularly important to agricultural production in the Vietnam Mekong River Delta, experiencing increased saltwater intrusion, precipitation extremes and unpredictable drought. This study isolated and selected indigenous potassium-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) from Vietnam Mekong Delta rhizospheric soils collected from three different ecological systems producing rice, maize, kumquat, and green onion. Experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of indigenous PSB on rice seedlings and future potential as biostimulants for commercial field application. To isolate PSB, solid Aleksandrov medium supplemented with 0.2% muscovite was used. The soluble K was quantified using the atomic absorption method at a wavelength of 766.5 nm. Among 24 isolates, Burkholderia vietnamiensis L1.1 and Staphylococcus hominis T7.3 exhibited the highest K solubilization, releasing 567 μg L−1 and 488 μg L−1 liquid medium, respectively. The study explored the optimal conditions for K release, revealing that a temperature of 35 °C, a pH 5, and NaCl concentration up to 1 % in a medium favored K solubilization. B. vietnamiensis L1.1 significantly enhanced rice seed germination (95.3 %) compared to the control treatment without PSB (82 %). Furthermore, the combined application of B. vietnamiensis L1.1 and S. hominis T7.3 notably improved rice growth under K deficient conditions. This research suggests that these indigenous PSB can effectively increase plant available K and improve the productivity of rice and other crops grown under saline and acidic stresses.

Impact of artificial barriers on benthic macroinvertebrate functional diversity in estuarine ecosystems

AbstractFunctional diversity research enhances our understanding of ecosystems and both their functioning and their responses to environmental variations. This study investigated the biological trait responses of benthic invertebrate communities to various environmental conditions in estuarine habitats. We analyzed benthic macroinvertebrate communities in freshwater and estuarine environments to compare their characteristics between estuary sites with and without artificial barriers. Moreover, we combined taxonomic analyses (species richness, abundance, and four community indices) with functional diversity indices and biological trait analyses. The major results are as follows: (i) the most important environmental factors shaping species distribution in estuarine habitats were salinity and electrical conductivity; (ii) comparing functional diversity indices, tidal estuaries revealed that seawater intrusion induced changes in species distribution and the dispersion of benthic macroinvertebrates; (iii) the presence or absence of artificial barriers in estuaries affected biological traits owing to the influence of specific functional strategies of certain species. Consequently, the presence or absence of artificial barriers in estuaries can lead to significant changes in habitat connectivity and functional diversity related to ecosystem functions. These findings indicate that the presence of artificial barriers can significantly influence the ecological dynamics of estuarine ecosystems, thereby affecting species distribution, functional diversity and habitat connectivity. Understanding these effects contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of ecosystem functionings, as it complements existing taxonomic findings and integrates information about the functional aspects of diverse ecosystems.