ABSTRACT
Growing awareness of the impacts of hydrological perturbations on freshwater life and the role of ecological systems in water security has led to the prioritization of ecological factors in water management. This chapter addresses the critical role of ecological systems in water management, focusing on the conflicts and synergies between freshwater biodiversity conservation and water resources decision making. It begins with a summary of ecological sources of complexity that affect water management outcomes, describing the role of nonlinearity, emergence, feedback, cross-scale dynamics, and interdependence in ecological response. Next, it explores modern interdisciplinary frameworks and concepts for addressing the complex interactions between water, ecosystems, and society, including ecosystem services, environmental flows, Integrated Water Resources Management, and Water Diplomacy. The chapter concludes with three case studies describing different ecological systems to show the diversity of interactions between ecological systems and water management and the frameworks that can help manage hydroecological relationships.
