Zeng et al. (2025) Multi-Ecohydrological Interactions Between Groundwater and Vegetation of Groundwater-Dependent Ecosystems in Semi-Arid Regions: A Case Study in the Hailiutu River Basin

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Identification

• Journal: Land
• Year: 2025
• Date: 2025-12-29
• Authors: Lei Zeng, Li Xu, Bo Song, Ping Wang, Gang Qiao, Tianye Wang, Hu Wang, Xuekai Jing
• DOI: 10.3390/land15010060

Research Groups

Not specified in the provided text.

Short Summary

This study investigated the spatiotemporal dynamics of groundwater-dependent ecosystems (GDEs) and their relationship with water conditions in the semi-arid Hailiutu River Basin from 2002–2022, revealing that while vegetation activity and climate indicators increased, groundwater storage significantly declined, posing a threat to GDE stability and highlighting strong, reciprocal ecohydrological interactions.

Objective

• To investigate the spatiotemporal dynamics of groundwater-dependent ecosystems (GDEs) and their relationship with water conditions in the Hailiutu River Basin, northern China.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Hailiutu River Basin, northern China (a semi-arid area).
• Temporal Scale: 2002–2022 (21 years).

Methodology and Data

• Models used: Trend analysis, partial correlation analysis, Random Forest models.
• Data sources: Vegetation activity (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index - NDVI, likely satellite-derived), precipitation, Standardized Precipitation–Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI), groundwater storage (GWSAs), and field observations of key species.

Main Results

• Vegetation activity (NDVI) in GDEs increased at a rate of 0.0052 per year.
• Precipitation exhibited a basin-wide upward trend of 0.735 mm per year.
• SPEI increased at a rate of 0.0207 per year.
• Groundwater storage declined markedly at −11.19 mm per year, indicating a persistent reduction in water availability.
• Both partial correlation and Random Forest models showed strong ecohydrological interactions: vegetation dynamics are primarily driven by groundwater availability, and groundwater variations are most strongly influenced by vegetation.
• Precipitation and SPEI are the primary positive drivers of interannual NDVI variability, while groundwater plays a critical role in sustaining GDEs.
• Continuous groundwater depletion threatens vegetation–groundwater sustainability, particularly where declining groundwater storage anomalies coincide with reduced NDVI.

Contributions

• Provides a quantitative assessment of ecohydrological interactions and GDE dynamics in a semi-arid region over two decades.
• Highlights the critical and potentially unsustainable impact of groundwater depletion on GDEs, even amidst positive climate trends.
• Emphasizes the need for integrated groundwater and vegetation management strategies in arid and semi-arid environments.

Funding

Not specified in the provided text.

Citation

@article{Zeng2025MultiEcohydrological,
  author = {Zeng, Lei and Xu, Li and Song, Bo and Wang, Ping and Qiao, Gang and Wang, Tianye and Wang, Hu and Jing, Xuekai},
  title = {Multi-Ecohydrological Interactions Between Groundwater and Vegetation of Groundwater-Dependent Ecosystems in Semi-Arid Regions: A Case Study in the Hailiutu River Basin},
  journal = {Land},
  year = {2025},
  doi = {10.3390/land15010060},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.3390/land15010060}
}