Primacy of ecological engineering tools for combating eutrophication: An ecohydrological assessment pathway

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Hydrology
• Ecology

Background:

• Eutrophication of freshwater bodies is a significant environmental issue, leading to biodiversity loss and exacerbating climate change.
• Both internal and external nutrient inputs contribute to eutrophication, necessitating advanced monitoring and management strategies.
• Existing research emphasizes ecohydrological and ecological engineering for managing eutrophication, yet comprehensive reviews are scarce.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present eutrophication as an ecohydrological component.
• To explore comprehensive monitoring and restoration possibilities for eutrophic water bodies.
• To critically analyze diverse eutrophication treatment methods, including physical, biological, chemical, and eco-engineering approaches.

Main Methods:

• Extensive literature survey using databases like Scopus, Google Scholar, PubMed, and ScienceDirect.
• Identification and analysis of keywords related to ecohydrological assessment and freshwater eutrophication.
• Categorization of ecohydrological research trends from 2010-2020, including conceptual knowledge, assessment, climate change, and restoration.

Main Results:

• Ecohydrological research has diversified, with significant focus on conceptual knowledge (37.2%) and assessment (32.6%) in the last decade.
• A clear transition from traditional to modern restoration techniques has been observed.
• Biophysicochemical and ecological engineering techniques demonstrate high effectiveness in terms of time, cost, and labor, with potential for further optimization.

Conclusions:

• Ecohydrology and eco-engineering offer sustainable and effective solutions for the restoration of eutrophic water bodies.
• These integrated approaches represent a promising route for water resource conservation in the current era.
• The study underscores the importance of these methods for mitigating the adverse impacts of eutrophication.