Applying Functional Traits to Ecogeomorphic Processes in Riparian Ecosystems

Diehl, Rebecca M.; Merritt, David M.; Wilcox, Andrew C.; Scott, Michael L.

doi:10.1093/biosci/bix080

Cited by 50 publications

(100 citation statements)

References 67 publications

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“…This aligns with recent studies showing that sediment supply mediates the eco-geomorphological response to floods (Diehl, Merritt, Wilcox, & Scott, 2017;Manners et al, 2015). This aligns with recent studies showing that sediment supply mediates the eco-geomorphological response to floods (Diehl, Merritt, Wilcox, & Scott, 2017;Manners et al, 2015).…”

Section: A Large Flood In An Unregulated Braided River Caused Channsupporting

confidence: 91%

Short‐term geomorphological and riparian vegetation responses to a 40‐year flood on a braided, dryland river

Shafroth

Lee

Leverich³

et al. 2019

Ecohydrology

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In December 2010, a 40-year flood occurred in the lower Virgin River (SE Nevada, southwestern United States), a braided river segment with riparian vegetation largely dominated by invasive shrubs in the genus Tamarix. We assessed geomorphological and vegetation responses to this large magnitude disturbance event by comparing pre-and post-flood remote sensing and field survey data in four river reaches. Analyses of orthophotos and light detection and ranging-derived topography showed that both the active channel area and channel width increased between 80% and 258%, representing an increase from 13% to 30% of the total river corridor area. Erosion predominated in the outer bends of the enlarged channel and deposition in the pre-flood channel, causing local avulsions of the low-flow channel. Field-based topographic data recorded before and after the flood in 385 plots also showed that deposition occurred in parts of the floodplain that were not eroded. Two thirds of woody vegetation cover (mainly dominated by Tamarix, with some native shrub Pluchea sericea) was lost in areas that eroded (~20% of the river corridor). In the remaining~80% of stable river corridor (aggrading or no change in elevation) Tamarix remained dominant. Following erosion, but also where sediment deposition predominated under the Tamarix canopy, the most common colonizing vegetation in the understory was comprised of annual plants, especially Salsola tragus. Our study supported previous studies describing large floods in braided rivers; we documented the first phase of a cycle of channel widening and increase in vegetation heterogeneity that is commonly followed by narrowing and vegetation homogenization.

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Section: A Large Flood In An Unregulated Braided River Caused Channsupporting

confidence: 91%

Short‐term geomorphological and riparian vegetation responses to a 40‐year flood on a braided, dryland river

Shafroth

Lee

Leverich³

et al. 2019

Ecohydrology

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“…Species in the remotely sensed vegetation classification were assigned to morphological guilds defined by Diehl et al () on the nearby Yampa and Green rivers, which shared several species in common with the Colorado. This classification is based on an ordinal scale of height and branching architecture, in which increasing guild number represents species that are likely to cause greater flow resistance (increasing stem diameter, height, and rigidity) (Table ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…To assess the effects of vegetation on topographic change, we modified the general analytical approach of Diehl et al () in order to account for nonlinear effects of elevation and flow direction on topographic change, as well as to accommodate our categorical vegetation data. We analyzed each of the three hydrological zones separately, owing to the different geomorphic processes occurring within those zones.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We used remotely sensed vegetation classifications of plant guilds from imagery collected in May 2013 (Durning, Sankey, Bedford, & Sankey, ) and annual digital elevation models from 2013 to 2018 in order to assess topographic changes of sandbars as a function of the initial 2013 vegetation composition. We assigned species to morphological guilds along an ordinal scale from small plants with simple branching architecture to large plants with greater frontal area (Diehl et al, ). Our expectation was that topographic change would be positively correlated with the morphological guild ordinal scale.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Associations between riparian plant morphological guilds and fluvial sediment dynamics along the regulated Colorado River in Grand Canyon

Butterfield

Grams

Cagney

et al. 2020

River Research & Apps

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Effects of riparian vegetation on fluvial sediment dynamics depend on morphological traits of the constituent species. Determining the effects of different morphological guilds on sedimentation rates, as influenced by multiple aspects of dam operations, can help identify viable strategies for streamflow and vegetation management to achieve riparian resource goals. Plants of increasing size and branching density or complexity have been found to have greater effects on sedimentation in free‐flowing systems; however, this relationship could differ in regulated rivers. We tested the hypothesis that plant guilds of increasing height and branching complexity would be positively associated with sedimentation rates on 23 sandbars deposited in zones of recirculating flow (eddies) along the Colorado River in Grand Canyon. We used an image‐based vegetation classification and digital elevation models from annual topographic surveys to track associations between six plant morphological guilds and topographic change over 5 years. Vegetation had significant associations with deposition after accounting for geomorphic setting, but the ordinal guild scale was not positively correlated with deposition magnitude. Instead, low‐statured rhizomatous and herbaceous guilds were particularly effective at capturing sediment in the separation zone of sandbars, whereas tall herbs and large shrubs were most effective at capturing sediment in reattachment zones. These nuanced interactions between geomorphic position and morphological guild may be a direct consequence of flow regulation through modifications to physical deposition and erosion processes. Flow regulation may also select for a narrow subset of morphological guilds, reducing the diversity of vegetation feedbacks on sedimentation and emphasizing geomorphic drivers.

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“…to uprooting during floods and their morphodynamic effects (Bywater-Reyes et al, 2015Diehl et al, 2017a;Kui et al, 2014). Vegetation's impact on altering the velocity (flow steering) is poorly understood despite advances in understanding the reciprocal interactions between riparian vegetation recruitment and river processes (Corenblit et al, 2007;Gurnell, 2014;Osterkamp and Hupp, 2010;Schnauder and Moggridge, 2009).…”

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confidence: 99%