A review of groundwater-surface water interactions in arid/semi-arid wetlands and the consequences of salinity for wetland ecology

• Published in: Ecohydrology 2008, Vol.1 (1), p.43-58
• Main Authors: Jolly, Ian D., McEwan, Kerryn L., Holland, Kate L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Biological and medical sciences; ecology; Fresh water ecosystems; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; groundwater-surface water interactions; salinity; Synecology; wetlands
• ISSN: 1936-0584; 1936-0592
• DOI: 10.1002/eco.6

In arid/semi‐arid environments, where rainfall is seasonal, highly variable and significantly less than the evaporation rate, groundwater discharge can be a major component of the water and salt balance of a wetland, and hence a major determinant of wetland ecology. Under natural conditions, wetlands in arid/semi‐arid zones occasionally experience periods of higher salinity as a consequence of the high evaporative conditions and the variability of inflows which provide dilution and flushing of the stored salt. However, due to the impacts of human population pressure and the associated changes in land use, surface water regulation, and water resource depletion, wetlands in arid/semi‐arid environments are now often experiencing extended periods of high salinity. This article reviews the current knowledge of the role that groundwater–surface water (GW–SW) interactions play in the ecology of arid/semi‐arid wetlands. The key findings of the review are as follows: 1. GW–SW interactions in wetlands are highly dynamic, both temporally and spatially. Groundwater that is low in salinity has a beneficial impact on wetland ecology which can be diminished in dry periods when groundwater levels, and hence, inflows to wetlands are reduced or even cease. Conversely, if groundwater is saline, and inflows increase due to raised groundwater levels caused by factors such as land use change and river regulation, then this may have a detrimental impact on the ecology of a wetland and its surrounding areas. 2. GW–SW interactions in wetlands are mostly controlled by factors such as differences in head between the wetland surface water and groundwater, the local geomorphology of the wetland (in particular, the texture and chemistry of the wetland bed and banks), and the wetland and groundwater flow geometry. The GW–SW regime can be broadly classified into three types of flow regimes: (i) recharge—wetland loses surface water to the underlying aquifer; (ii) discharge—wetland gains water from the underlying aquifer; or (iii) flow‐through—wetland gains water from the groundwater in some locations and loses it in others. However, it is important to note that individual wetlands may temporally change from one type to another depending on how the surface water levels in the wetland and the underlying groundwater levels change over time in response to climate, land use, and management. 3. The salinity in wetlands of arid/semi‐arid environments will vary naturally due to high evaporative c