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Nine approaches of river restoration by reconstruction of the floodplains and the river bed (based on: the Dutch 'Room for the River' Programme: http://www.ruimtevoorderivier.nl)
Source publication
Floodplain ecosystems are biodiversity hotspots and supply multiple ecosystem services. At the same time they are often prone to human pressures that increasingly impact their intactness. Multifunctional floodplain management can be defined as a management approach aimed at a balanced supply of multiple ecosystem services that serve the needs of th...
Citations
... They live near wetland habitats: edge of gallery forests, willow bushes, or reed-framed watersheds in the steppe zone. These habitat types are profoundly affected by land use, climatic changes, and invasive alien species (Stohlgren et al. 1998;Schindler et al. 2016). According to Soó (1980), its habitats are characterised by moist, compacted clay or alluvial soils. ...
We aimed to investigate the reproduction-related traits of Vicia biennis L., an endangered and poorly known wetland species in its western marginal populations (in Hungary), and discuss the conservational and ecological implications.
We measured the mass, viability, and physical dormancy of half-year-old seeds in five in-situ collected seed lots, while potential seed longevity (i.e., seed bank type) was estimated from repeatedly germinating subsamples from four ex-situ collected seed lots for 3-8 years. Plant survival, flowering, and seed production were studied in different light-, irrigation-, and competition conditions in a botanical garden experiment.
We found that 1) half-year-old seeds have a high germination capacity (78-100%), 2) and high level of physical dormancy (72-100%) in all examined Hungarian populations, and 3) the seeds can preserve their germination capacity for more than five years, although their viability sharply decreases, probably falling below 10% within ten years, when they are stored at room temperature. The results of the botanical garden experiment suggested that 1) the species is annual , not biennial; 2) it shows strong sensitivity to precipitation and low competitiveness for water; and 3) it can produce hundreds of seeds even in suboptimal (dry or shady) conditions. Although the species was found to be well-adapted to a temporally heterogeneous environment, its future vulnerability can increase depending on the duration of dry seasons. Further investigation of genetic diversity and soil seed bank is needed to estimate the actual vulnerability of the species while strengthening the populations through seed sowing, and additional vegetation control in the habitats is suggested.
... In this context, to identify the GI it is necessary to define, on the one hand, the core areas, as their conservation can help conserve biodiversity and ES supply. On the other hand, it is necessary to define corridors connecting them, as the movement of organisms and ecological flows that occur in the landscape can help maintain ES (Mitchell et al. 2013;Schindler et al. 2016). In the UBR, the core areas correspond mainly to natural forests, grasslands and wetlands due to their relevance for the conservation and maintenance of biodiversity and ES provision, while the ecological corridors are formed mainly by exotic forest plantations due to the large amounts of these forest plantations found in the UBR. ...
Introduction
Habitat fragmentation is one of the major causes of the loss of biodiversity that our planet is experiencing. This has affected the ecosystems functioning and, consequently, the provision of ecosystem services (ES). Therefore, the European Commission, in a 2013 communication, established the concept of Green Infrastructure (GI), which is a strategically planned network of multifunctional areas with the aim of protecting biodiversity and ES supply, as well as improving ecological connectivity. Ecological restoration is an essential element to achieve the objectives of the GI, which if well targeted, could reverse widespread ecosystem degradation and improve landscape connectivity.
Objective
In this study, we propose a methodology to prioritise areas to restore by identifying a GI in the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve (UBR), in the north of the Iberian Peninsula, where forest plantations of exotic species abound.
Methods
In order to identify the elements of the GI (core areas and corridors) we integrated a multispecies approach based on the movement of key species and an ES-based approach based on multifunctionality. Subsequently, to prioritise areas to restore we identified sectors in the GI, where connectivity is particularly vulnerable (pinch points) using the circuit theory. Thus, forest plantations around the pinch points were prioritised for a future restoration plans depending on their aim: (1) Improve corridors of high importance and low quality for the multispecies approach (2) Improve corridors of high importance and low quality for the ES-based approach, and (3) Improve the connectivity of the GI for the species movement.
Results
The resultant GI included 36% of the UBR surface. We identified 34 pinch points for the corridors of the three especies in the multispecies approach and 64 in the ES-based approach. We prioritised 149 ha of exotic forest plantations around the pinch points to convert into native forest in order to improve the corridors and 167 ha to improve GI connectivity.
Conclusion
This information could be useful for organizations and institutions carrying out restoration actions for the recovering of native forests in the territory.
... Loss of natural floodplains and their functions because of dams, diversions, levees, disconnection, stabilization, agriculture, and urban development, leads to decreased resilience of these landscapes and increased risk of destruction to both natural and human habitats (Knox et al., 2022b). Human-led alteration and management of river corridors is increasing (Knox et al., 2022a;Morrison et al., 2023), and is linked to lower spatial heterogeneity and functionality (Kuiper et al., 2014;Samaritani et al., 2011;Schindler et al., 2016;Wohl & Iskin, 2019). Because spatial heterogeneity of floodplain form is linked to ecosystems functions, quantifying heterogeneity can provide insight into the form and associated functions of natural river corridors. ...
... River floodplains are among the areas with the highest biodiversity, as these areas represent habitats with high levels of structural and functional dynamics, mainly induced by hydrological regime [57]. Natural riparian landscapes are covered by mosaics of habitats differing in age, moisture, sediment characteristics, productivity, biota diversity, abundance, composition and successional status [58]. ...
The objective of the study was to determine the relationship between the structure of phytocenoses in riparian wetland ecosystems and the hydrologic regime in a lowland river floodplain. The hydrobotanical study was conducted over three years 2017, 2018, and 2019, which differed in hydrological conditions (wet, average, and dry) in a middle section of the Supraśl floodplain (NE Poland) as a case study. The results showed that the structure and pattern of phytocenoses in the floodplain are primarily controlled by hydrological regime of the river and the geomorphological features of the area. The reach and duration of the flood contributed to a specific pattern of riparian vegetation. Based on plant community structure and riparian habitat indicators such as soil moisture, fertility, reaction pH, soil granulometry, and organic matter content, four habitat types were identified and supported by discriminant analysis (DA): wet, semi-wet, semi-dry, and dry zones. The indicator species analysis (ISA) revealed species characteristic of the zones with the dominance of reed rush, reed canary grass, anthropogenic or partially natural herbaceous communities along watercourses or riparian meadows, respectively. Natural inundation of the river water is an important driver of site-specific vegetation elements and habitat types and determines habitat availability, biodiversity, and ecosystem functions of wetlands. This knowledge can serve as the basis for conservation efforts, sustainable management practices, and decision-making processes aimed at maintaining the biodiversity and ecological integrity of riparian ecosystems in similar regions.
... Global research on oxbow lakes offers insights into their morphology, environmental risks, and climate challenges, enabling comparisons with African counterparts. Asian lakes like Kanwar and Vynthala exhibit diverse shapes influenced by local geomorphology and human activities (Resmi et al., 2021;Kumari and Kumar, 2023), while EU lakes shaped by historical river dynamics face urbanization, nutrient runoff, and altered hydrology issues (Sommerwerk et al., 2009;Schindler et al., 2016). In the USA, meandering rivers lead to unique oxbow shapes with unique channelization and sedimentation challenges e.g. ...
... agroforestry, organic farming, and low-input agriculture) and restoration of degraded ecosystems (e.g. removing invasive species, planting native catchment vegetation) (Schindler et al. 2016) that can benefit both people and wildlife. ...
A significant research focus is placed on identifying animal species and areas at future risk to human‐induced alterations of the environment and long‐term changes in climatic conditions. Yet, the extent to which exposure to extreme climatic events and intense human pressure can increase the risk of harmful impacts on species remains poorly investigated. Focusing on terrestrial mammals in China, one of the world's megadiverse countries, we investigated patterns of contemporary exposure to floods and human pressures and determined their taxonomic representation and distribution across three major area‐based conservation schemes, namely, national nature reserves (NNRs), priority areas for biodiversity conservation (PABCs), and key biodiversity areas (KBAs). Among the 440 species assessed with moderate or high exposure to floods, 327 (∼75%) also qualified as moderate or high in exposure to intense human pressure. These species mainly belong to the orders Chiroptera, Eulipotyphla, and Rodentia. Likewise, there were 305, 311, and 311 species with moderate or high exposure to flood and intense human pressure represented across NNRs, PABCs, and KBAs, respectively. Our findings support the prioritization of KBAs for expansion of site‐based protection efforts such as NNRs in China, considering threats to species from exposure to adverse effects from both extreme climate and human pressure.
... They often undergo a process of trivialisation, which is reflected in the functional dystrophy of the ecosystems that compose them, with the result of making the system increasingly vulnerable, fragile, and costly in terms of remediation and public investment (Santolini 2010). So, it becomes strategic to focus on rivers as an ecological framework for integrating biodiversity in planning and ecological design at different scales (Schindler et al. 2016; see the chapters by Giaimo, Seigneuret and Arcidiacono, Ronchi, Di Martino, and Pristeri). The current situation results challenging for implementing GBI in planning at different scales, and it calls for planning guidance on how, where and when GBI and ES should be managed to enforce biodiversity and deliver multiple benefits to citizens in urban regeneration actions (such as in ecological reticularity strategies and experimentation; see the chapter by La Riccia). ...
Green and blue infrastructure (GBI) is increasingly popular in international literature and cultural debates. Indeed, international opinion agrees that GBI is a strategic planning and design tool to face current and upcoming societal challenges. However, goals and practical applications are not fixed and differ based on disciplinary approaches and geographical areas. Thus, the chapter attempts to provide a systematic frame on the current cultural debate on GBI, presenting the diverse contributions deriving from planning and design practices, from vast scale strategies to local projects.KeywordsGreen and blue infrastructureSustainabilityResilienceUrban and regional planningUrban and landscape design
... In particular, temporary ponds situated in or near floodplains might be heavily impacted by the dynamics of the surrounding habitat. Natural flooding regimes have maintained high productivity levels of floodplains by periodic water, nutrient and propagule supply, making them species-rich habitats and providers of abundant ecosystem services (Duncan, 2011;Schindler et al., 2016). As a result of the high appeal for agricultural use, 90% of the floodplains in Europe have been degraded and lost their functional role, while the remaining ones are experiencing distress syndrome manifest as lowered biodiversity and productivity, increasing prevalence of diseases and opportunistic and alien species (Rapport et al., 1985, Tockner et al., 2022. ...
Aim
(i) To determine whether area and connectivity of temporary ponds can predict plant species diversity, and the diversity and abundance of different plant life histories; (ii) To explore whether pond connectivity with the river prior to river regulation predicts better plant diversity patterns than current pond connectivity, suggestive of possible effects of connectivity loss.
Location
Eastern Carpathian Mountains, Romania, Europe.
Methods
We fitted linear and generalized linear models (LM and GLM) to examine whether pond area and current distance from the Olt River predict plant species richness, Shannon diversity and relative cover of different social behaviour types and overall plant species richness and Shannon diversity. Using historical maps, we measured pond distance from the river ca. 60 years before the Olt River was regulated, and we refitted the LM and GLM models using pond area and past distance from the river as independent variables.
Results
Total plant species richness increased with pond area, and it decreased with the distance from the river, but total plant Shannon diversity index was affected, positively, only by pond area. The strength of responses to pond area and connectivity of species richness, Shannon diversity and relative cover varied across the different social behaviour types. Past and current distances between ponds and riverbeds had similar effects on plant diversity, with some evidence for stronger effect of the present connectivity on specialist species Shannon diversity and a weaker effect on disturbance tolerants, generalists and competitors.
Main Conclusions
Pond area and connectivity with the landscape are important predictors of the diversity of plant life history strategies, and therefore, useful tools in pond conservation. Consistent species richness and Shannon diversity responses of wetland specialists to pond area and connectivity make this life history type well suited for monitoring pond condition.
... The elements of the habitat mosaic have a different time of existence after emergence and may disappear naturally or as a result of catastrophic events (Simioni et al., 2019). Solving the problem of managing floodplain ecosystems that are under anthropogenic influence is possible based on an understanding of the interactions between the various biotic components of ecosystems and soil cover (Schindler et al., 2016;Vári et al., 2022). The important role in procedures of development of optimum management strategies is played by protected floodplain ecosystems, which can be considered as a reference pattern of interaction between various components of an ecosystem (Kiedrzyńska et al., 2015;Serra-Llobet et al., 2022). ...
... Such locations become natural reserves of biological diversity (Schindler et al., 2013). To effectively use the resources of floodplain ecosystems, consensus solutions must be implemented and biodiversity must be incorporated into management activities to maximize the provision of ecosystem services and potential human benefits (Schindler et al., 2016). The application of these results to landscape management issues is what attracts particular attention to soil macrofauna. ...
Floodplain ecosystems are hotspots of biological diversity and perform important ecosystem functions in the landscape. The key to understanding the sustainability of ecosystem function is knowledge of the relationships between ecosystem components. The article reveals the role of morphological and physical properties of soil, as well as phytoindication of environmental factors as drivers of biological diversity of soil macrofauna of protected ecosystems of the Dnipro River floodplain. The studies were conducted in the forest floodplain ecosystems of the “Dnipro-Orilskiy” Nature Reserve. The studies of morphological properties of soils allowed us to identify the representatives of two reference groups: Fluvisol and Gleysol. The soil physical property data were subjected to principal component analysis, which extracted four principal components whose eigenvalues exceeded unity and described 79.9% of the variation in traits. The principal components of variation in soil physical properties and phytoindication assessments of environmental factors were used as predictors of the community structure of soil macrofauna. These predictors were able to explain 29.6% of the community variation. Physical soil properties are most important as a driver of soil macrofauna. The morphological properties of the soil and phytoindicator assessments are able to explain a much smaller part of the community variation. The pure influence of the predictors is small, indicating that they interact significantly in influencing soil animals. The results obtained have implications for the development of optimal strategies for floodplain ecosystem management and biodiversity conservation.
... At present, spatially heterogeneous and fully functional floodplains are rapidly disappearing due to human modifications such as flow regulation (Thoms, 2003), land drainage, and artificial levees (Knox, Wohl, & Morrison, 2022). As loss of heterogeneity creates loss of floodplain functionality (Kuiper, Janse, Teurlincx, Verhoeven, & Alkemade, 2014;Samaritani et al., 2011;Schindler et al., 2016;Wohl & Iskin, 2019), floodplains are becoming a major focus of river restoration (Tockner et al., 2008;Wohl et al., 2021), emphasizing the need to quantitatively characterize heterogeneity in natural floodplains. ...
Floodplains provide numerous ecosystem services that depend on the spatial heterogeneity, or patchiness, of the floodplain. Direct and indirect human alterations of rivers can reduce floodplain heterogeneity and function, but relatively little is known of patterns of floodplain heterogeneity in natural, fully functional floodplains. We quantify floodplain heterogeneity at four sites in the United States with the objectives of (i) developing a method of combining field measurements and remote sensing data products to calculate integrative landscape‐scale metrics of floodplain spatial heterogeneity and (ii) demonstrating which metrics from landscape ecology are likely to be useful for identifying qualities of natural floodplains, differentiating floodplains, and inferring processes, based on a case study of three prairie floodplains and one beaver‐modified floodplain in the continental United States. We developed a new unsupervised classification workflow that combines field data, topography, and Sentinel‐2A imagery to create classified floodplains for all four field sites that could be used to calculate heterogeneity metrics. We identified six heterogeneity metrics for characterizing natural floodplain heterogeneity: aggregation index, interspersion and juxtaposition index, largest patch index, patch density, percentage of like adjacencies, and Shannon's evenness index, and these metrics capture both intermetric (variation in spatial heterogeneity between the floodplains) and intrametric variation (variation in the patterns of the metrics). Results show that natural floodplains have high evenness and interspersion and juxtaposition of classes, and we attribute this to natural flow and sediment regimes driving channel migration, erosion, deposition, vegetation succession, and active beaver modifications. Colorado floodplains show higher aggregation and lower fragmentation than the Oklahoma floodplain. We attribute this to the greater incision and lower hydrologic variability at the Oklahoma site.
