Hydrological connectivity and biological interactions of the wetlands in the Yellow River Estuary and their ecological applications

Hydrological connectivity and biological interactions are the key mechanisms in the national strategy for the ecological protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River to maintain wetland stability and ecological health, which are crucial for the efficient and economical implementation of the ecological restoration of the Yellow River Estuary wetland. This study elucidated the influence of hydrological connectivity on the distribution pattern of plant and animal communities and the regulation of biogeomorphology on hydrological connectivity. Further, it summarized the underlying mechanisms and restoration effects associated with hydrological connectivity management plans, such as returning aquaculture ponds to beaches, ecological water replenishment, and construction and regulation of water networks. Key constraints, such as the shortage of freshwater resources and the invasion of Spartina alterniflora into the Yellow River Estuary wetland, as well as the importance of numerical model construction to reconstruct and predict ecosystem evolution, are emphasized. Our results provide strong scientific basis for supporting protection of the wetland and implementing a national strategy in the Yellow River Estuary.