Response to environmental flows in the Lower Tarim River, Xinjiang, China: An ecological interpretation of water-table dynamics

P Hou; R J S Beeton; R W (Bill) Carter; X G Dong; X Li

doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2006.07.006

Back

Response to environmental flows in the Lower Tarim River, Xinjiang, China: An ecological interpretation of water-table dynamics

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Response to environmental flows in the Lower Tarim River, Xinjiang, China: An ecological interpretation of water-table dynamics

P Hou, R J S Beeton, R W (Bill) Carter, X G Dong and X Li

Journal of Environmental Management, Vol.83(4), pp.383-391

2007

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2006.07.006

Files and links (1)

url

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2006.07.006View

Published Version

Abstract

Ecology

water-table dynamics

vegetation

environmental flow

ecological restoration

Tarim River

China

Increased water-dependent development and utilization have led to significant environmental and hydrological degradation of the Tarim River in western China and its dependent ecosystems. Between the 1950s and 1970s, 350 km of the lower reaches were drained and between 1960 and 1980 the water-table fell from between -2 and -3 m to between -8 and -10 m. Subsequently, riparian ecosystems were seriously degraded. In 2000, the Chinese government launched a program to restore the lower reaches of the river. Four environmental flows of 1034×106 m3 were released from 2000 to 2002. This paper interprets and discusses the ecological significance of changes following the releases and identifies the relationship between water-table dynamics and vegetation responses. Short-term objectives for river restoration are proposed with possible monitoring parameters suggested.

Details

Title: Response to environmental flows in the Lower Tarim River, Xinjiang, China: An ecological interpretation of water-table dynamics
Authors: P Hou (Author) - Zhejiang Forestry College, China
R J S Beeton (Author) - University of Queensland
R W (Bill) Carter (Author) - University of Queensland
X G Dong (Author) - Zhejiang Forestry College, China
X Li (Author) - Zhejiang Forestry College, China
Publication details: Journal of Environmental Management, Vol.83(4), pp.383-391
Publisher: Academic Press
Date published: 2007
DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2006.07.006
ISSN: 0301-4797
Organisation Unit: School of Social Sciences - Legacy; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Law and Society; Sustainability Research Cluster
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99449304502621
Output Type: Journal article

Metrics

1 File views/ downloads

912 Record Views

36 Times Cited - Web of Science

InCites Highlights

These are selected metrics from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool, related to this output

Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Web Of Science research areas: Environmental Sciences

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

Source: InCites