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Water Quantity and Hydrology

Freshwater ecosystems are naturally dynamic. The source of water, discharge, turnover, and residence times all affect which organisms can live in different freshwater habitats and are key determinants of freshwater ecosystem structure and function. Human-induced changes to the volume and timing of both surface and ground water flows are a leading driver of global declines in freshwater biodiversity and are likely to be exacerbated by climate change. The conservation of many wetlands around the world, including in some cases the preservation of unique flora and fauna, is now entirely dependent on continued human intervention and water management. Such management can only be successful if based on sound understanding of water budgets and hydrological processes informed by accurate hydrological monitoring. This chapter provides a brief introduction to hydrological monitoring—what needs to be measured and how—for freshwater ecology and conservation.