Research summary
Ecohydrology is the study of how water and ecological systems interact. By improving our understanding of this relationship, we can improve water scarcity, enhance biodiversity and make the most of opportunities for sustainable development. Dr. Mark Johnson, Canada Research Chair in Ecohydrology, is investigating ecosystem services related to water resources with a focus on agricultural systems, carbon fluxes in ecohydrological systems, and the resilience of managed ecohydrological systems.
He and his research team are using field-based experiments, remote sensing and modelling to learn more about the interactions among water resources, ecological functions and land use practices. They hope to evaluate how land use practices influence coupled hydrological and ecological processes, and how impacts on these ecohydrological processes further affect ecosystem services, including carbon sequestration. Their work may lead to strategies to improve the sustainability of land use practices with respect to freshwater security.