Spring ecosystems in Japan: Knowledge and perspectives

• Main Authors: Naito Rita, S, Masaru, Sakai, Bauman, David
• Other Authors: Waseda University Tokyo, Japan, Fukushima Regional Collaborative Research Center, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Fukushima, Japan (FRECC), Botanique et Modélisation de l'Architecture des Plantes et des Végétations (UMR AMAP), Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement (Cirad)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD France-Sud )-Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE)-Université de Montpellier (UM), Lawrence E Stevens
• Format: Book Part
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2023
• Subjects: Ecology; Spring ecosystems; Rivers ecosystems; Conservation status; Endangered ecosystems; global; Groundwater; Management; springs-dependent taxa; Stewardship; [SDE]Environmental Sciences; Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: https://hal.science/hal-04224470

Available online at: https://docs.springsdata.org/PDF/GlobalSpringsReduced.pdf International audience Springs have been the focus of attention throughout human evolutionary history, and are nearly universally recognized as highly productive, bio-culturally essential, and economically important ecosystems. While of recognized value and arguably among the most sustainable ecosystems, these ecosystems also have been reported as being ecologically compromised by intensive anthropogenic management. However, the global conservation status of spring ecosystems has not previously been evaluated. To address data gaps, misinformation, and the many uncertainties about the sustainability of aquifer and springs, Cantonati et al. (2020) called for improving public and governmental awareness of spring ecosystems, as well as additional basic mapping, inventory, and assessment to determine the distribution and ecological integrity of springs globally. The impetus for the present work is, in part, in response to their concerns. In this book we present synopses on the distribution, typology, ecology, anthropogenic uses, and conservation status of >250,000 springs from all continents except Antarctica, from a total of 75 countries and in some cases from multiple states or geologic provinces within countries. This information was derived from our individual studies and from the literature, and serves as the foundation of the first analysis on the ecological status of the world’s spring ecosystems, as summarized by Stevens et al. (2021). Collectively, we report that the ecological integrity of springs is gravely threatened in most regions, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions where water supplies are most limited. The intensity of human impacts on springs and the species and assemblages supported by springs is less clearly identified in the tropics and other humid regions, but generally increases from low to middle latitudes. Human impacts on groundwater availability and quality, local geomorphology, and habitat quality ...