Rivers are important ecosystems under continuous anthropogenic stresses. The hyporheic zone is a ubiquitous, reactive interface between the main channel and its surrounding sediments along the river network. We elaborate on the main physical, biological, and biogeochemical drivers and processes within the hyporheic zone that have been studied by multiple scientific disciplines for almost half a century. These previous efforts have shown that the hyporheic zone is a modulator for most metabolic stream processes and serves as a refuge and habitat for a diverse range of aquatic organisms. It also exerts a major control on river water quality by increasing the contact time with reactive environments, which in turn results in retention and transformation of nutrients, trace organic compounds, fine suspended particles, and microplastics, among others. The paper showcases the critical importance of hyporheic zones, both from a scientific and an applied perspective, and their role in ecosystem services to answer the question of the manuscript title. It identifies major research gaps in our understanding of hyporheic processes. In conclusion, we highlight the potential of hyporheic restoration to efficiently manage and reactivate ecosystem functions and services in river corridors.

Sacherschließung

lokal	hyporheic exchange flow
lokal	emerging pollutants
lokal	nutrient turnover
lokal	self-purification capacity
lokal	hyporheic zone
lokal	refuge
lokal	ecosystem services
lokal	surface water–groundwater exchange
lokal	removal of trace organic compounds
lokal	hyporheos

Fächerklassifikation (DDC)

Liste der Beteiligten

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5278-129X|https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7109-8979|https://frl.publisso.de/adhoc/uri/QmFua3MsIEVkZGll|https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1443-6385|https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2979-5428|https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7863-1062|https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1100-1263|https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6501-7618|https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6611-9173|https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5512-6140|https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8045-5926|https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0926-1202|https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2905-9578|https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1088-2321|https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9281-0566|https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4660-274X|https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8510-9651|https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9141-3235|https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2521-2248|https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0803-1712|https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7975-5320|https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4971-359X|https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6908-5212|https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3123-6003|https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3467-7664|https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3911-8105|https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8979-8044|https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0085-6928|https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6651-490X|https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6033-0309|https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2716-4446|https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8398-3556|https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7164-3693|https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5526-3743|https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0714-2525|https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8627-2474|https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1710-1548|https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6937-1630|https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6376-0061|https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0643-9634|https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2726-6821|https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5642-3860

Label

frl:6417581

Förderer

Fördernummer

641939; 765553; 734317
GRK 2032/1