Ecological water requirements for the source region of China's Yangtze River under a range of ecological management objectives

摘要

Consumptive and non-consumptive ecological water requirements are quantified to meet different management objectives of terrestrial and wetland ecosystems in the source region of the Yangtze River. Consumptive uses are summed, while the rule of compatibility is used to estimate non-consumptive ecological water requirements. The volume of water needed to compensate for evaporative losses in terrestrial ecosystems is determined based on the complementary relationship between actual and potential evapotranspiration. For the riverine habitats, 89.6% of the natural river discharge should be maintained in order to maintain the aquatic ecosystems of the source region in their current state.