中国生态农业学报（中英文）2026，Vol.34Issue(9)：1871-1881,11.DOI:10.12357/cjea.20260139
水生态系统概念的演进、内涵与展望
Evolution,connotation,and prospects of the water ecosystem concept
摘要
Abstract
Under the intensifying impacts of global climate change and increasing human activities,water scarcity,water pollution,water ecological degradation,and water-related hazards are becoming more frequent and severe.Water security problems are increasingly characterized by cross-scale interactions,multi-process coupling,and non-linear dynamics,reflecting the complexity of integrated human-water-ecosystem systems.However,conventional research paradigms on water ecosystems,which predominantly focus on single ecosystems or aquatic biota,have inherent limitations in terms of object definition,process representation,and spatial scale,being difficult to systematically reveal the overall evolution mechanisms of water ecosystems under the complex coupling of human-water-ecological dynamics.This study systematically reviewed the conceptual evolution of water ecosystems,categorizing their development into three stages:biology being dominated,introduction and deepening of systems thinking,and multi-element coupling with spatial-scale expansion.The theoretical characteristics and limitations of each stage are summarized.Overall,water ecosystem research has progressed from descriptions of aquatic biological communities to analysis of ecosystem processes and further toward integrated studies of multiple elements,processes,and spatial scales.On this basis,a macro-ecosystem perspective is introduced to redefine the water ecosystem,and it is conceptualized as a dynamic whole with specific structures,functions,and ecosystem service values,formed through the interactions and interdependence between biological communities and the abiotic environment via energy flows and material cycles across the entire water cycle space.This framework extends the research boundary beyond individual water bodies and incorporates atmospheric water,surface water,soil water,groundwater,snow and ice,and artificial water systems,together with key hydrological processes such as precipitation,interception,evapotranspiration,infiltration,runoff,and groundwater recharge.It treats human activities,including water withdrawal,water use,water transfer,storage,drainage,engineering regulation,and land-use change,as integral components of the system rather than merely external disturbances.This definition emphasizes the integrity of the whole water cycle,the integrity of watershed/regional scales,and the deep coupling of natural,social,and economic systems.Furthermore,the scientific significance and application prospects of the water ecosystem concept under a macro-ecosystem framework are discussed from the perspectives of eco-hydrological coupling mechanisms,watershed water resources management and ecological restoration,regional water security and environmental protection,adaptation to climate change,and integrated governance of mountains,waters,forests,fields,lakes,grasslands,and deserts.In addition,the proposed framework highlights the need to strengthen cross-scale observation,multi-process coupling analysis,and integrated monitoring and modeling,thereby improving the understanding of water ecosystem dynamics,resilience,and risk transmission under global environmental change.关键词
水生态系统/宏观生态系统视角/生态系统/水循环全空间/水生态空间Key words
water ecosystems/macro-ecosystem perspective/ecosystem/entire water cycle space/water ecological space分类
资源环境引用本文复制引用
曹建生,田卫堂,郭波,赵宇寒,阳辉,朱春雨,王丽云..水生态系统概念的演进、内涵与展望[J].中国生态农业学报（中英文）,2026,34(9):1871-1881,11.基金项目
国家自然科学基金项目(42371048)、河北省林草关键技术创新与示范揭榜挂帅项目(2026JBGS0002)、河北省自然科学基金创新研究群体项目(D2025503014)和河北省省级水利科技计划项目(2025-59)资助 The study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(42371048),Key Technology Innovation and Demonstration Program of Forestry and Grassland of Hebei Province(2026JBGS0002),the Project for Innovative Research Group of the Natural Science Foundation of Hebei Province(D2025503014),and Hebei Provincial Water Resources Science and Technology Plan Project(2025-59). （42371048）
