ABSTRACT
The river basin is a natural laboratory for the integration of hydrological, ecological and geomorphological processes. Moving from morphological and functional analyses of the dendritic geometries observed in Nature for river networks over a wide range of scales [1-2], the Lecture addresses essential processes sustaining human life and societies hinging on fluvial ecosystems. For example, population migrations and human settlements historically proceeded along river networks to follow water supply routes, with implications on key features of historical colonizations [3]. Riparian areas, critically important ecosystems positioned alongstream, play a crucial role in their watersheds and in the loss of biodiversity proceeding at alarming rates worldwide [4–5]. The resilience of river flow regimes is key to fluvial ecosystem services, from energy production to community composition [6]. Waterborne diseases like cholera, schistosomiasis or proliferative kidney disease in freshwater fish thrive owing the pathways provided by pristine or engineered watercourse to pathogen and human mobility [7–8]. Is there a linkage?
