The basic principles of Ecohydrology and Ecosystem-Based approaches will be introduced. Ecohydrology combines Biology and Physics to show how water moves through the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum and explain their role in the hydrologic cycle. Ecosystem-based approaches (EBA) are an environmental management approach that recognizes the full array of interactions within an ecosystem, including humans, rather than considering single issues, species, or ecosystem services in isolation. Through this course students will learn on how to apply both principles to promote sustainable management in terrestrial ecosystems.

• Understanding the meaning of EBA
• Tools that could be used as means to address proper EBA for the area of our interest
• Develop an interdisciplinary perspective of our ecosystems and forge pathways for understanding the interdependence of our disciplinary construct
• Introduce students to the field of ecohydrology via targeted examples drawn from various ecosystems
• Synthesize recent literature and demonstrate experimental competence in ecohydrologic systems analysis
• Setting thresholds and targets that would represent the desired level of health for the ecosystem
• Ecological indicators to tracking or monitor an ecosystem's status and provide feedback on management progress

On completion of this module, students are expected to be able to:

• Understand how ecosystems accommodate or respond to changes/variability in the water resources
• Know the basics of semi-arid ecohydrology
• Develop and implement ecosystem-based approaches in terrestrial ecosystems
• Monitor ecosystem-based approaches in terrestrial ecosystems

6 credits

1. D'Odorico, A. Porporato (Editors). Dryland Ecohydrology. Springer pp. 348 (2006)
2. Layzer. Natural Experiments: Ecosystem-Based Management and the Environment. MIT Press. pp. 416 (2008)
3. Eamus, T. Hatton, P. Cook, C. Colvin. Ecohydrology: Vegetation Function, Water and Resource Management. CSIRO Publishing pp. 360 (2006).
4. Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. 2005. Ecosystems and Human Well-being: Current State and Trends. Island Press, pp. 948 (2005)