An Ecologist's Perspective of Ecohydrology

Abstract

When my hydrological colleagues first brought up the term “ecohydrology” several years ago, I was simultaneously enthused, wary, and territorial. I still am. Enthused because the interface between ecology and hydrology still seems largely unmined, despite its key importance in ecosystems ecology—particularly in the water-limited systems that have been the focus of most of my work. Wary because although this nterface does seem simultaneously unmined and important, the first response tends to be, “Well it’s not news to ecologists that water is important in driving ecological processes and dynamics, and it is certainly not news to hydrologists that vegetation influences the water budget.” And territorial because after feeling awash and striving to get my groundings in the evergrowing field of ecology, I was uneasy labeling any new collaborative endeavor—and particularly labeling myself—with a term ending in something other than “-ecology” or “-ecologist.” A few years later, these points merit reflection and updating given the rapid growth in this area, which has affected me personally, as well as, I believe, a growing number of ecologists and hydrologists.