Hidden treasures: Human-made aquatic ecosystems harbour unexplored opportunities.

ABSTRACT: Artificial water bodies like ditches, fish ponds, weirs, reservoirs, fish ladders, and irrigation channels are usually constructed and managed to optimize their intended purposes. However, human-made aquatic systems also have unintended consequences on ecosystem services and biogeochemical cycles. Knowledge about their functioning and possible additional ecosystem services is poor, especially compared to natural ecosystems. A GIS analysis indicates that currently only ~ 10% of European surface waters are covered by the European Water Framework directive, and that a considerable fraction of the excluded systems are likely human-made aquatic systems. There is a clear mismatch between the high possible significance of human-made water bodies and their low representation in scientific research

SUBMITTER: Koschorreck M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6965596 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature