The Role of Spatial Heterogeneity in the Management of Freshwater Resources

Spatial heterogeneity of ecosystem structure and function is rarely taken into consideration in the management of our planet's freshwater resources. Incorporation of spatial heterogeneity provides a new way to view freshwater resources and leads to potentially useful management strategies. In this chapter, we address the relationship between the management of freshwater resources and spatial heterogeneity by introducing landscape concepts as they apply to water management, developing a conceptual framework, describing how this relationship applies to ecosystem services provided by fresh water, and using a case study that explains the potential relevance of spatial heterogeneity to water management.

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