CLASSIFYING THE HIERARCHY OF WATERCOURSES FOR ECOLOGICAL STUDIES: Classifying the hierarchy of watercourses

Valter Monteiro Azevedo-Santos; Bianca de Freitas Terra; Raoul Henry

doi:10.4257/oeco.2026.3003.01

Authors

Valter Monteiro Azevedo-Santos Universidade Federal do Tocantins https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8986-6406
Bianca de Freitas Terra Universidade Estadual Vale do Acaraú https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0229-2388
Raoul Henry Universidade Estadual Paulista “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4000-2524

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4257/oeco.2026.3003.01

Abstract

The hierachical classification of a watercourse is fundamental in the field of ecology and other sciences, as it facilitates, for example, communication about the characteristics of the environment to be studied (or previously studied). Generally, for ecological studies of lotic ecosystems, many authors use classification by order, as proposed by Arthur N. Strahler in 1954 (widespread from 1957), or magnitude, a concept idealized by Ronald L. Shreve published in 1967. In this article, we advocate that, from a logical perspective, the use of Shreve’s method makes more sense in studies on the ecology of freshwater biodiversity. In addition, we call attention to the fact that (if possible) authors should also consider the type of environment (i.e., perennial, intermittent, and ephemeral) in their classification.

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CLASSIFYING THE HIERARCHY OF WATERCOURSES FOR ECOLOGICAL STUDIES