Laboratory of Catchment Ecohydrology

The laboratory adopts a holistic approach to investigating water-related issues, addressing both water quality and quantity. A core principle of our research is the implementation of the WBRSC concept (Water, Biodiversity, Resilience, Ecosystem services, Cultural heritage, Education), which integrates key elements such as water, biodiversity, resilience to climate change, ecosystem services, and cultural heritage. By exploring the fundamental properties of ecosystems, the laboratory aims to generate knowledge that can be effectively applied to water resource management (e.g., rivers and reservoirs), enhancing both environmental sustainability and societal resilience.

Our research includes:

1. Spatial and temporal analysis of nutrient and pesticide transport dynamics from terrestrial to aquatic ecosystems at the catchment scale.

2. Testing real-time monitoring systems (for water quality and discharge) to support the development of water management strategies, particularly within the catchment-river-reservoir system.

3. Hydroacoustic assessment of the spatial (horizontal and vertical) distributions of:

   • Fish (including abundance, biomass, size distribution, and behavior);

   • Macrophytes (including coverage, maximum depth range, and height structure);

   • Cyanobacterial blooms (including biomass, depth distribution, and spatio-temporal changes).

4. Designing and implementing ecohydrological nature-based solutions (EHNBS) to reduce pollutant transfer, increase water retention, and enhance biodiversity in agricultural catchments.

5. Developing and evaluating absorption materials to improve the effectiveness of EHNBS.

6. Applying an ecohydrological approach to wetland restoration (including oxbow lakes) as a key component of sustainable water management.

7. Developing and testing models for stakeholder co-creation in integrated water management, particularly in agricultural catchments