Benthic and hyporheic habitats of a large lowland river (Elbe, Germany): influence of river engineering

Longitudinal training dams mitigate effects of shipping on environmental conditions and fish density in the littoral zones of the river Rhine

“…S2). The maximum observed water level fluctuations of 0.54 m in the groyne field was in accordance with previous studies of the river Rhine (Ten Brinke et al, 1999, but higher than the value (0.18 m) reported for groyne fields in the river Elbe (Brunke et al, 2002). This difference is likely explained by the higher intensity of navigation and the larger ship size on the river Rhine compared to the river Elbe (Central Commission for the Navigation of the Rhine, 2014).…”

“…The decline in habitat diversity due to navigation is characterized by a deterioration in spawning and nursery habitats that results in decreased diversity and productivity of migratory and riverine fishes (Wolter and Arlinghaus, 2003). Navigation is facilitated by, among other things, the construction of groynes with basalt stones and other rocks (Brunke et al, 2002). These groynes provide habitat for several alien species (Leuven et al, 2009;Van Kessel et al, 2016) and are often characterized by an impoverished fish community dominated by alien species (Fladung et al, 2003;Dorenbosch et al, 2017).…”

The recolonization of the river Elbe with benthic and hyporheic Ostracoda (Crustacea) after the reunion of Germany in 1989

“…In the year 2000, the mean discharge was 349 m 3 s −1 (Table ). The average slope was 0.021% in this river section . The investigations were conducted at three groyne heads and the downstream groyne fields in the summer of 2000.…”

“…In contrast, the area between the groynes, the so‐called groyne fields, contain gravel, sand, and organic matter as sediment. This habitat can be colonized only by few animal groups, because it is severely exposed to waves caused by passing vessels . The sediment of groyne fields contains organic matter and it is sometimes overgrown by water plants in marginal areas.…”

Sandy rivers: a review on general ecohydrological patterns of benthic invertebrate assemblages across continents

“…In managed rivers worldwide, we find stabilized riverbanks using rip-rap, and locally groyne fields that stabilize river flow for navigation (Brunke et al 2002). In terms of the native sand-bed fauna, this management has severe consequences, as it introduces permanent habitats that favour the occurrence of highly competitive invasive species.…”