The Importance of Hydrodynamics for Protected and Endangered Biodiversity of Lowland Rivers

Nooij, R.J.W. de; Verberk, Wilco C. E. P.; Lenders, H.J.R.; Leuven, R.S.E.W.; Nienhuis, P.H.

doi:10.1007/s10750-005-1911-9

Cited by 26 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…The highest frequency of taxa was reported for macroforb species: Filipendula ulmaria (L.) Maxim., Lysimachia vulgaris L., Lythrum salicaria L., Cirsium oleraceum (L.) Scop., C. rivulare (Jacq.) All., and Mentha longifolia (L.) L. The most substantial changes in species richness were noted in patches 3-5, but a similar trend was reported for patches 4 where a significant decline in the number of taxa, by 27 and 33% respectively, was found in 2009. During 5 successive years, a visible decrease in species number was observed only in patch 4.…”

Section: Temporal Changes In Species Diversitysupporting

confidence: 73%

“…All these factors determine the soil cover and its properties, simultaneously determining the character of the vegetation cover [3][4][5][6]. Special natural values are characteristic of small unregulated watercourses where human impact on the natural water cycle and economic management of the catchment (mowing, grazing, deforestation, peat excavation) has been largely limited.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Temporal changes of meadow and peatbog vegetation in the landscape of a small-scale river valley in Central Roztocze

Czarnecka

Franczak

2015

Acta Agrobot

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The Szum is a right-side tributary of the Tanew River crossing the southern escarpment zone of the Central Roztocze region (SE Poland). Downstream of the strict river break in a section between the 10th and 12th km of the river course in the Szum valley, meadow and peatbog complexes have developed, associated with semi-hydrogenic and marshy soils. In an area of approx. 13 ha of the most valuable non-forest habitats, a variety of plant communities have been identified, including habitats of the Natura 2000 network and habitats that are protected under the Regulation of the Minister of the Environment (2001). These are, for instance, meadow associations Lysimachio vulgaris-Filipenduletum, Lythro-Filipenduletum, Filipendulo ulmariae-Menthetum longifoliae, Angelico-Cirsietum oleracei, and Cirsietum rivularis. The moss-sedge and sphagnum bog communities comprise noteworthy associations Caricetum limosae, Rhynchosporetum albae, Caricetum lasiocarpae, Caricetum paniceo-lepidocarpae, Caricetum davallianae, and Sphagnetum magellanici. These communities are composed of ca. 160 vascular plant species and 40 moss and liverwort species.In 1999-2014, the greatest changes occurred within macroforb meadows, i.e. small Angelico-Cirsietum oleracei and Cirsietum rivularis patches have been transformed into Lysimachio vulgaris-Filipenduletum, while some patches of the latter association have been transformed into a Caricetum acutiformis rush. Several patches of bog-spring associations Caricetum paniceo-lepidocarpae and Carici canescentis-Agrostietum caninae have been irretrievably destroyed. Sphagnetum magellanici appears to be the least stable community among the preserved peatbogs. The changes of meadow and peatbog vegetation observed for the last 15 years are a consequence of natural processes that take place in the river valley and to a large extent human activity connected with the so-called small-scale water retention as well as the presence of a beaver colony in the area and later the abandonment of this area by beavers. Despite the multidirectional changes, the peatbogs of the Szum valley have retained their high species and phytocoenotic diversity, which indicates a substantial degree of naturalness.

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Section: Temporal Changes In Species Diversitysupporting

confidence: 73%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Temporal changes of meadow and peatbog vegetation in the landscape of a small-scale river valley in Central Roztocze

Czarnecka

Franczak

2015

Acta Agrobot

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“…It may also have profound indirect effects on aquatic biota via altering local environmental conditions in wetlands (De Nooij, Verberk, Lenders, Leuven, & Nienhuis, 2006), for example by dilution of nutrients and dissolved salts (Junk et al, 1989;Lizotte et al, 2012;Thomaz et al, 2007;Weilhoefer, Pan, & Eppard, 2008), or by bringing in sediments and organic matter from the river (Junk et al, 1989;Ward, Tockner, Arscott, & Claret, 2002). It may also have profound indirect effects on aquatic biota via altering local environmental conditions in wetlands (De Nooij, Verberk, Lenders, Leuven, & Nienhuis, 2006), for example by dilution of nutrients and dissolved salts (Junk et al, 1989;Lizotte et al, 2012;Thomaz et al, 2007;Weilhoefer, Pan, & Eppard, 2008), or by bringing in sediments and organic matter from the river (Junk et al, 1989;Ward, Tockner, Arscott, & Claret, 2002).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Consequently, variation in LHC across wetlands (pans) might promote habitat variability at the landscape scale, which can result in higher regional diversity (De Nooij et al, 2006;Thomaz et al, 2007). Consequently, variation in LHC across wetlands (pans) might promote habitat variability at the landscape scale, which can result in higher regional diversity (De Nooij et al, 2006;Thomaz et al, 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lateral hydrological connectivity differentially affects the community characteristics of multiple groups of aquatic invertebrates in tropical wetland pans in South Africa

et al. 2019

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River–floodplain connectivity (i.e. lateral hydrological connectivity, LHC) can directly affect the community characteristics by promoting dispersal of organisms but can also have profound indirect effects by altering local habitat characteristics. A major challenge is to disentangle the relative importance of direct and indirect effects of LHC on organisms. Combining taxonomic data with trait information allows a more mechanistic understanding of how LHC affect biotic communities in floodplains. Here, we attempted to determine the relative importance of the direct and indirect effects of LHC on local environmental variables and community characteristics (taxonomic and trait composition) of three different taxonomic organism groups in a set of 33 temporary floodplain pans along a gradient of LHC. In addition, we specifically aimed to unravel the underlying mechanisms shaping patterns of taxonomic diversity by partitioning compositional dissimilarity between ponds into components of nestedness and spatial turnover. Variation partitioning revealed that most differences in macroinvertebrate and zooplankton community composition between pans resulted from variation in local environmental variables, particularly macrophyte cover and the presence of fish. For large branchiopod crustaceans, however, partitioning indicated that LHC did significantly affect both taxonomic and trait community composition, and reduced local taxon diversity. Partitioning taxonomic and trait β‐diversity showed that community dissimilarity between pans was largely determined by turnover, rather than by nestedness. Overall, our study revealed that the effects of LHC on aquatic invertebrate communities act mainly indirectly by altering local environmental conditions. Although the effects of LHC were significant, they were small compared to those of environmental variables. Our results from the partitioning of taxonomic and trait β‐diversity have important implications for biodiversity conservation efforts in the Ndumo region. We demonstrate the need to conserve multiple pans along the LHC gradient to sustain high regional diversity. A common practice in the study area mainly focuses on the conservation of river‐connected or larger pans.

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“…Floodplain rehabilitation aims at creating a diverse and (semi‐)natural river landscape, consisting of marshes, pioneer habitats (such as eolian dunes), natural grasslands, shrubs and riverine forests (Lenders, 2003). In the past decade positive effects of Dutch floodplain rehabilitation on biodiversity have been described (Grift, 2001; Raat, 2001; Nienhuis et al ., 2002; Lenders, 2003; De Nooij et al ., 2006; Peters and Kurstjens, 2008). However, quantitative evaluations are still scarce and studies are often based on short‐term responses in populations of a small selection of species (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecological strategies successfully predict the effects of river floodplain rehabilitation on breeding birds

Turnhout

Leuven

Hendriks

et al. 2010

River Research & Apps

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To improve the ecological functioning of riverine ecosystems, large‐scale floodplain rehabilitation has been carried out in the Rhine–Meuse Delta since the 1990s. This paper evaluates changes in abundance of 93 breeding bird species over a period of 10 years in response to rehabilitation, by comparing population changes in 75 rehabilitated sites with 124 non‐rehabilitated reference sites. Such quantitative, multi‐species, large‐scale and long‐term evaluations of floodplain rehabilitation on biodiversity are still scarce, particularly studies that focus on the terrestrial component. We try to understand the effects by relating population trends to ecological and life‐history traits and strategies of breeding birds. More specifically, we try to answer the question whether rehabilitation of vegetation succession or hydro‐geomorphological river processes is the key driver behind recent population changes in rehabilitated sites. Populations of 35 species have significantly performed better in rehabilitated sites compared to non‐rehabilitated floodplains, whereas only 8 have responded negatively to rehabilitation. Differences in effects between species are best explained by the trait selection of nest location. Reproductive investment and migratory behaviour were less strong predictors. Based on these three traits we defined eight life‐history strategies that successfully captured a substantial amount of variation in rehabilitation effects. We conclude that spontaneous vegetation succession and initial excavations are currently more important drivers of population changes than rehabilitation of hydrodynamics. The latter are strongly constrained by river regulation. If rehabilitation of hydro‐geomorphological processes remains incomplete in future, artificial cyclic floodplain rejuvenation will be necessary for sustainable conservation of characteristic river birds. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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The Importance of Hydrodynamics for Protected and Endangered Biodiversity of Lowland Rivers

Cited by 26 publications

References 16 publications

Temporal changes of meadow and peatbog vegetation in the landscape of a small-scale river valley in Central Roztocze

Temporal changes of meadow and peatbog vegetation in the landscape of a small-scale river valley in Central Roztocze

Lateral hydrological connectivity differentially affects the community characteristics of multiple groups of aquatic invertebrates in tropical wetland pans in South Africa

Ecological strategies successfully predict the effects of river floodplain rehabilitation on breeding birds

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