Ecodynamic Recovery of Anthropogenically Impacted Water Systems

Aquatic ecosystems worldwide are experiencing increasing pressure from human activities such as intensive agriculture, urban expansion, industrial discharges, and the release of emerging contaminants. These stressors disrupt the natural coupling between hydrological processes, ecological functions, and biogeochemical cycles. In this context, "ecodynamic recovery" refers to the restoration of this dynamic balance, focusing not only on improving water quality but also on recovering the functional interactions that sustain ecosystem resilience and adaptive capacity. Climate change further amplifies these disturbances through altered flow regimes, rising temperatures, and more dangerous extreme events. Addressing these challenges requires integrative, system-based approaches that emphasize in-situ environmental processes, including ecosystem restoration, nature-based solutions, environmental and risk assessment, and the mitigation of emerging contaminants directly within aquatic environments. This Research Topic aims to advance scientific understanding of how such strategies can support the sustainable recovery of anthropogenically impacted rivers, lakes, wetlands, and coastal systems.The goal of this Research Topic is to address the urgent need for innovative and integrative strategies that can reverse the degradation of water systems impacted by human activities. Many aquatic environments are losing ecological function due to pollutant loads, altered hydrodynamics, habitat fragmentation, and the intensifying effects of climate change. To confront these challenges, this Research Topic seeks to bring together cutting-edge research on ecodynamic recovery, restoration of aquatic ecosystems, mitigation of anthropogenic stressors, and the treatment of emerging contaminants.We aim to foster contributions that explore technological, ecological, and nature-based solutions; circular water approaches; advanced monitoring and modeling tools; and comprehensive risk and environmental assessments. By combining insights from environmental science, hydrology, ecology, engineering, and sustainability disciplines, this Research Topic intends to identify practical and scientifically robust pathways for the recovery, resilience, and long-term sustainability of degraded water systems. The overarching objective is to generate knowledge that supports effective management and policy decisions for healthier aquatic environments.This Research Topic invites contributions that advance understanding and propose solutions for the ecodynamic recovery of water systems affected by anthropogenic pressures. We welcome studies on aquatic ecosystem restoration, environmental and ecotoxicological assessment, mitigation of anthropogenic impacts, in-situ processes for the attenuation and transformation of emerging contaminants, ecosystem-scale circular water strategies, climate change adaptation, and the evaluation of ecological resilience. Submissions may explore nature-based solutions, advanced monitoring and modeling tools, hydro-ecological interactions, and integrated watershed management approaches.We encourage original research articles, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, methodological papers, case studies, and short communications that offer innovative insights or practical applications. Multidisciplinary and cross-scale work—linking hydrology, ecology, environmental engineering, and sustainability—is particularly valued. Contributions should clearly highlight how their findings support the recovery and long-term sustainability of impacted water systems. Topic editors: Hector Barrios-Piña, David Antonio Buentello-Montoya, Karina G. Coronado-Apodaca, Laura Carter Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/76907/ecodynamic-recovery-of-anthropogenically-impacted-water-systems