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How Land Use and Hydrological Characteristics Impact Stream Conditions in Impaired Ecosystems

Author

Listed:
  • Se-Rin Park

    (Department of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Yujin Park

    (Department of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Jong-Won Lee

    (Department of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea)

  • Hyunji Kim

    (Water Environmental Engineering Research Division, Water Environment Research Department, National Institute of Environmental Research, Incheon 22689, Republic of Korea)

  • Kyung-A You

    (Water Environmental Engineering Research Division, Water Environment Research Department, National Institute of Environmental Research, Incheon 22689, Republic of Korea)

  • Sang-Woo Lee

    (Department of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea)

Abstract

Anthropogenic influence has altered watershed environments and hydrological processes, leading to increased occurrences of impaired streams and negative impacts on benthic invertebrates. While individual environmental factors affecting benthic macroinvertebrates have been studied, the cascading effects of land use change and hydrological alterations remain unclear. This study employed structural equation modeling (SEM) to analyze the interactions among land use proportion, hydrological characteristics, substrate composition, and water quality and their influence on benthic macroinvertebrate communities in impaired streams upstream of the Paldang Dam in the Han River Basin, South Korea. Analysis of data from 24 streams surveyed between 2018 and 2022—3 or 6 streams per year—under the Impaired Stream Diagnosis Program indicated that urban and agricultural land cover, low substrate diversity, high pollutant concentrations, and altered flow conditions (low velocity and discharge) were associated with decreased pollution-sensitive Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera (EPT) taxa and increased pollution-tolerant and collector–gatherer taxa. These findings highlight the role of land use-driven hydrological changes in stream ecosystem degradation and underscore the need for targeted restoration strategies, such as riparian buffer zones, substrate enhancement, and hydrological flow restoration, to mitigate these impacts and improve benthic macroinvertebrate habitats.

Suggested Citation

  • Se-Rin Park & Yujin Park & Jong-Won Lee & Hyunji Kim & Kyung-A You & Sang-Woo Lee, 2025. "How Land Use and Hydrological Characteristics Impact Stream Conditions in Impaired Ecosystems," Land, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-15, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:14:y:2025:i:4:p:829-:d:1632301
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jong-Won Lee & Sang-Woo Lee & Kyung-Jin An & Soon-Jin Hwang & Nan-Young Kim, 2020. "An Estimated Structural Equation Model to Assess the Effects of Land Use on Water Quality and Benthic Macroinvertebrates in Streams of the Nam-Han River System, South Korea," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(6), pages 1-16, March.
    2. Suyeon Kim & Sang-Woo Lee & Se-Rin Park & Yeeun Shin & Kyungjin An, 2021. "Socioeconomic Risks and Their Impacts on Ecological River Health in South Korea: An Application of the Analytic Hierarchy Process," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-15, June.
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