Dynamic interactions of ecohydrological and biogeochemical processes in water-stressed environments

Water is the essential reactant, catalyst, or medium for many biogeochemical reactions and flows. The coupling between hydrological and biogeochemical processes is particularly evident in drylands, but also in areas with strong seasonal precipitation patterns or in mesic systems during droughts. Moreover, this coupling is apparent at all levels in the ecosystems - from soil microbial cells to whole plants to landscapes. A holistic approach is essential to fully understand function and processes in water-limited ecosystems and to predict their responses to environmental change. We examine some of the mechanisms responsible for microbial and vegetation responses to moisture inputs in water-limited ecosystems through a synthesis of existing literature and we also summarize the modeling advances in addressing these interactions. This paper focuses on three opportunities to advance coupled hydrological and biogeochemical research: (1) improved quantitative understanding of mechanisms linking hydrological and biogeochemical variations in drylands, (2) experimental and theoretical approaches that describe linkages between hydrology and biogeochemistry (particularly across scales), and (3) the use of these tools and insights to address critical dryland issues of societal relevance.