Longitudinal Changes in Water Quality to Landscape Gradients along Jialu River Basin

Abstract

Abstract. Lateral and longitudinal scales are both critical to understand the response of stream ecosystem to landscape changes. The aim in this study was to investigate the characteristic reaches explaining water quality most along the longitudinal scale of Jialu River Basin, a highly polluted stream in China. Results showed that most deteriorated water quality were observed at headwater sites of Jialu River Basin where towns and cities intensely located. However, water quality were apparently improved along sites at middle or lower reaches. Urbanization is the primary cause, in spite of that the dominant land type in Jialu River Basin is agriculture. Additionally, the primary water pollution in Jialu River Basin is coming from the urban places located in headwater reaches. Overall,our results shows a case study by a model integrating framework which is helpful for achieving sustainable development in China.