Defining the ecological hydrology of Taiwan Rivers using multivariate statistical methods
Resource
Journal of Hydrology, 376(1-2), 235-242
Journal
Journal of Hydrology
Pages
235-242
Date Issued
2009-09
Date
2009-09
Author(s)
Abstract
The identification and verification of ecohydrologic flow indicators has found new support as the importance of ecological flow regimes is recognized in modern water resources management, particularly in river restoration and reservoir management. An ecohydrologic indicator system reflecting the unique characteristics of Taiwan’s water resources and hydrology has been developed, the Taiwan ecohydrological indicator system (TEIS). A major challenge for the water resources community is using the TEIS to provide environmental flow rules that improve existing water resources management. This paper examines data from the extensive network of flow monitoring stations in Taiwan using TEIS statistics to define and refine environmental flow options in Taiwan. Multivariate statistical methods were used to examine TEIS statistics for 102 stations representing the geographic and land use diversity of Taiwan. The Pearson correlation coefficient showed high multicollinearity between the TEIS statistics. Watersheds were separated into upper and lower-watershed locations. An analysis of variance indicated significant differences between upstream, more natural, and downstream, more developed, locations in the same basin with hydrologic indicator redundancy in flow change and magnitude statistics. Issues of multicollinearity were examined using a Principal Component Analysis (PCA) with the first three components related to general flow and high/low flow statistics, frequency and time statistics, and quantity statistics. These principle components would explain about 85% of the total variation. A major conclusion is that managers must be aware of differences among basins, as well as differences within basins that will require careful selection of management procedures to achieve needed flow regimes.
Subjects
Ecohydrology
Taiwan ecological hydrology indicator system
Flow regime
River restoration
Multivariate statistical methods
Other Subjects
Ecohydrology; Flow regime; Multivariate statistical methods; River restoration; Taiwan ecological hydrology indicator system; Cluster analysis; Discriminant analysis; Ecology; Flow of water; Land use; Landforms; Multivariant analysis; Principal component analysis; Regression analysis; Reservoir management; Reservoirs (water); Restoration; Statistics; Water; Water resources; Watersheds; Rivers; ecohydrology; environmental restoration; flow pattern; land use change; management practice; multivariate analysis; river management; water resource; Asia; Eurasia; Far East; Taiwan
Type
journal article
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