Simple modelling for a large-scale assessment of total phosphorus retention in the floodplains of large rivers

Schulz‐Zunkel, Christiane; Baborowski, Martina; Ehlert, Thomas; Kasperidus, Hans D.; Horchler, Peter; Neukirchen, Bernd; Rupp, Holger; Scholz, Mathias; Symmank, Lars; Natho, Stephanie

doi:10.1007/s13157-021-01458-x

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

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“…This corresponds to an annual economic benefit of more than EUR 500 million which would have otherwise had to be spent every year in order to avoid diffuse nutrient releases of the same magnitude from agricultural land [41,48]. Even though the results of Natho et al [49] and Schulz-Zunkel et al [50] indicate that the nutrient retention determined by Scholz et al [41] is overestimated, they still support the conclusion that floodplain ecosystems have significant economic potential [48]. Nutrient retention is the ecosystem service monetarized most frequently in Germany although the economic benefits of flood protection and water retention are valuated higher [51].…”

Section: Quantification Of Floodplain Functions and Servicesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing Floodplain Management in Germany—A Case Study on Nationwide Research and Actions

Heyden

Natho

2022

Sustainability

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After a long history of floodplain degradation and substantial losses of inundation areas over the last decades, a rethinking of floodplain management has taken place in Germany. Floodplains are now acknowledged as important areas for both biodiversity and society. This transformation has been significantly supported by nationwide research activities. A systematic assessment of the current floodplain management is still lacking. We therefore developed a scheme to assess floodplain management through the steps of identification, analysis, implementation, and evaluation. Reviewing the data and literature on nationwide floodplain-related research and activities, we defined key elements of floodplain management for Germany. We concluded that research activities already follow a strategic nationwide approach of identifying and analyzing floodplains. Progress in implementation is slow, however, and potentials are far from being reached. Nevertheless, new and unique initiatives enable Germany to stay on the long-term path of giving rivers more space and improving floodplain conditions.

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Section: Quantification Of Floodplain Functions and Servicesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing Floodplain Management in Germany—A Case Study on Nationwide Research and Actions

Heyden

Natho

2022

Sustainability

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Vegetation characteristics control local sediment and nutrient retention on but not underneath vegetation in floodplain meadows

et al. 2021

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Sediment and nutrient retention are essential ecosystem functions that floodplains provide and that improve river water quality. During floods, the floodplain vegetation retains sediment, which settles on plant surfaces and the soil underneath plants. Both sedimentation processes require that flow velocity is reduced, which may be caused by the topographic features and the vegetation structure of the floodplain. However, the relative importance of these two drivers and their key components have rarely been both quantified. In addition to topographic factors, we expect vegetation height and density, mean leaf size and pubescence, as well as species diversity of the floodplain vegetation to increase the floodplain’s capacity for sedimentation. To test this, we measured sediment and nutrients (carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus) both on the vegetation itself and on sediment traps underneath the vegetation after a flood at 24 sites along the River Mulde (Germany). Additionally, we measured biotic and topographic predictor variables. Sedimentation on the vegetation surface was positively driven by plant biomass and the height variation of the vegetation, and decreased with the hydrological distance (total R2 = 0.56). Sedimentation underneath the vegetation was not driven by any vegetation characteristics but decreased with hydrological distance (total R2 = 0.42). Carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus content in the sediment on the traps increased with the total amount of sediment (total R2 = 0.64, 0.62 and 0.84, respectively), while C, N and P on the vegetation additionally increased with hydrological distance (total R2 = 0.80, 0.79 and 0.92, respectively). This offers the potential to promote sediment and especially nutrient retention via vegetation management, such as adapted mowing. The pronounced signal of the hydrological distance to the river emphasises the importance of a laterally connected floodplain with abandoned meanders and morphological depressions. Our study improves our understanding of the locations where floodplain management has its most significant impact on sediment and nutrient retention to increase water purification processes.

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Simple modelling for a large-scale assessment of total phosphorus retention in the floodplains of large rivers

Cited by 2 publications

References 46 publications

Assessing Floodplain Management in Germany—A Case Study on Nationwide Research and Actions

Assessing Floodplain Management in Germany—A Case Study on Nationwide Research and Actions

Vegetation characteristics control local sediment and nutrient retention on but not underneath vegetation in floodplain meadows

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