Evaluating the metabolic structure and interrelationships of the Lijiang River Basin based on ecological network analysis

• Published in: Journal of hydrology. Regional studies Vol. 51; p. 101631
• Main Authors: Chen, Junhong, Lu, Min, Dong, Gangbo, Wu, Shucheng, Xu, Jingxuan, Wang, Shaoxu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01-02-2024; Elsevier
• Subjects: Ecological network analysis; Ecological relationship; Lijiang River Basin; Metabolic structure; Water metabolism; Metabolic structure; Ecological network analysis; Water metabolism; Lijiang River Basin; Ecological relationship
• ISSN: 2214-5818; 2214-5818
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejrh.2023.101631

The Lijiang River Basin in southwest China.
This research focuses on the structure, function, and evolution of the water metabolic system. It quantifies multiple water metabolic processes involve in water cycle, considering natural and social influences. Furthermore, an integrated water metabolism network system is established, and the ecological network analysis is introduced to quantitatively simulate the water circulation in metabolic processes and analyze the interaction between metabolic components in the Lijiang River Basin during 2010 to 2020.
The results contribute to a deeper understanding of the nature, state, and stability of water metabolism. The water metabolic system in the basin is balanced, with a moderate robustness and a high efficiency. The structure of the water metabolism is unchanged, with little fluctuation of the flow transmission, revealing the development of metabolic structure in the Lijiang River Basin. The surface water compartment (more than 80% of the total) contributes most significantly to the water metabolic processes, with abundant natural inflow. Water consumption is mainly driven by the agricultural irrigation compartment. The relationships among pairwise compartments are mutualistic and synergistic, indicating a healthy metabolic process. Exploitation and being exploited relationships are the dominant types. These insights reveal how water metabolism is quantified, and the water metabolic structure and relationships can be further optimized by improving the water efficiency.
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•Explored the various water metabolic processes involve in the water cycle.•An integrated water metabolic system was established considering natural and anthropogenic influences.•ENA was proposed to determine the metabolic structure, interrelationships, and characteristics within the system.•The water metabolic system in the Lijiang River Basin was balanced.•The metabolic relationships among pairwise compartments are mutualistic and synergistic.