Fluvial systems of Western Podolian Upland: methods of assessment of scale and cause of long-term changes in their structure and ecological state

Abstract

Basic principles are stated which are applied to studies of the fluvial systems structure, present state of small rivers ecology and long-term changes in the fluvial systems characteristics (number and length of rivers of different order, structure's complexity etc.). Taking the Western Podolian Uplift (which is a region of ancient human occupation) as a case study, the authors develop a scheme of reseach which permits to identify both natural and man-induced changes during the last 200 years.