Doing Science in Ecology. Does river flow show a path?

Résumé

Rivers are submitted to deep and irreversible changes concerning their physical integrity (habitat simplification and loss) and water quantity (forcing of the global water cycle). The horizontal and hierarchical structure of river networks facilitates that impacts caused at the local scale may become relevant at higher scales, and therefore we face impacts which trespass the background of river ecologists. While we have progressed by incorporating many aspects of physical, chemical, and biological components of river ecosystems, the new challenges ahead imposed by global change complicate achieving operational predictions. I propose enhancing our connection to other experts, such as chemists, engineers, or land planners, to expand our current paradigms. I see that enforcing collaboration is deemed essential to disentangle challenges that humankind has regarding river ecosystems. I assume that this will return as a progress and improvement of common scientific knowledge and applicability, stronger and more valuable for the sake of the conservation of our rivers.