A multi-tracer approach to constraining water sources of culturally and ecologically significant natural springs: Combining environmental isotopes and environmental DNA

IF 7.3 1区地球科学 Q1 ENGINEERING, CIVIL

Journal of Hydrology Pub Date : 2026-05-01 Epub Date: 2026-03-06 DOI:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2026.135245

Monica Esmond , Dioni Cendón , Harald Hofmann , Mark de Bruyn , Matthew Currell

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Natural springs are vital ecotones which connect surface and groundwaters, play critical ecological roles and sustain important cultural values worldwide. Increasing pressures on hydrological systems from anthropogenic-induced changes threaten springs and their connected waterways. Methods to characterise spring groundwater sources and the dynamics controlling discharge are critical to inform evidence-based management. This study presents an eco-hydrogeological approach synthesising geochemical tracer data (hydrochemistry, stable and radio-isotopes) with environmental DNA (eDNA) from springs and spring-fed surface waters, to develop a conceptual model of groundwater flow paths and water sources for Great Artesian Basin springs in Carnarvon Gorge, northern Australia. Analysis of δ²H, δ¹⁸O, ³H, ¹⁴C and ³⁶Cl identified vertical inter-aquifer flow as a major control on local groundwater dynamics. ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr helped to constrain dominant water sources for springs and confirmed multiple recharge zones within and surrounding the gorge. eDNA was in certain areas more sensitive than the isotopic tracers to differences in recharge area and flow paths, e.g., distinguishing between groundwater from the same aquifer(s) emerging at different springs hydraulically separated by gorge topography. ³H showed a statistically significant relationship with eDNA beta diversity and non-linear modelling supported the hypothesised elevation-driven vertical hydraulic gradient controlling groundwater flow to springs. This is among the first studies to demonstrate the value of integrating ecological with isotopic tracers in the context of developing more robust and nuanced conceptual models of complex aquifer-spring-surface water dynamics. We highlight the need for multi-tracer approaches to inform the protection of springs, connected waters, and associated ecological and cultural values.

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一种多示踪剂方法来限制具有文化和生态意义的天然泉水的水源：结合环境同位素和环境DNA

天然泉水是连接地表水和地下水的重要过渡带，在世界范围内发挥着重要的生态作用，并维持着重要的文化价值。人为变化给水文系统带来的压力越来越大，威胁着泉水及其相连的水道。研究泉水水源特征和动态控制流量的方法对循证管理至关重要。本研究提出了一种生态水文地质方法，将地球化学示踪数据（水化学、稳定同位素和放射性同位素）与来自泉和泉水地表水的环境DNA （eDNA）相结合，建立了澳大利亚北部卡纳冯峡谷大自流盆地泉的地下水流动路径和水源的概念模型。δ2H、δ18O、δ 3H、14C和36Cl的分析表明，垂直含水层间流动是控制当地地下水动态的主要因素。87Sr/86Sr有助于限制泉水的主要水源，并确定峡谷内部和周围的多个补给区。在某些地区，eDNA比同位素示踪剂对补给区域和流动路径的差异更敏感，例如，区分来自不同泉水的同一含水层的地下水，这些地下水由峡谷地形水力分隔。3H与eDNA β多样性的关系具有统计学意义，非线性模型支持海拔驱动的垂直水力梯度控制地下水流向泉水的假设。这是在开发更强大和细致的复杂含水层-泉水-地表水动力学概念模型的背景下，首次证明将生态与同位素示踪剂相结合的价值的研究之一。我们强调需要采用多种示踪方法来保护泉水、相连水域以及相关的生态和文化价值。

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来源期刊

Journal of Hydrology 地学-地球科学综合

CiteScore

11.00

自引率

12.50%

发文量

1309

审稿时长

7.5 months

期刊介绍： The Journal of Hydrology publishes original research papers and comprehensive reviews in all the subfields of the hydrological sciences including water based management and policy issues that impact on economics and society. These comprise, but are not limited to the physical, chemical, biogeochemical, stochastic and systems aspects of surface and groundwater hydrology, hydrometeorology and hydrogeology. Relevant topics incorporating the insights and methodologies of disciplines such as climatology, water resource systems, hydraulics, agrohydrology, geomorphology, soil science, instrumentation and remote sensing, civil and environmental engineering are included. Social science perspectives on hydrological problems such as resource and ecological economics, environmental sociology, psychology and behavioural science, management and policy analysis are also invited. Multi-and interdisciplinary analyses of hydrological problems are within scope. The science published in the Journal of Hydrology is relevant to catchment scales rather than exclusively to a local scale or site.