Connectivity as a driver of river-floodplain functioning: A dynamic, graph theoretic approach
Connectivity is a crucial property of the river-floodplain ecosystem. Reduction of connectivity, fragmentation and isolation effects, impacting ecological functions and biodiversity, is one of the most critical threats to floodplain systems. We use a graph theoretical approach for analyzing possible...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2023-10-01
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| Series: | Ecological Indicators |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X23010191 |
| _version_ | 1827816050707660800 |
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| author | Andrea Funk Damiano Baldan Elisabeth Bondar-Kunze Sonia Recinos Brizuela Johannes Kowal Thomas Hein |
| author_facet | Andrea Funk Damiano Baldan Elisabeth Bondar-Kunze Sonia Recinos Brizuela Johannes Kowal Thomas Hein |
| author_sort | Andrea Funk |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Connectivity is a crucial property of the river-floodplain ecosystem. Reduction of connectivity, fragmentation and isolation effects, impacting ecological functions and biodiversity, is one of the most critical threats to floodplain systems. We use a graph theoretical approach for analyzing possible transport pathways in the system (directed, undirected, overland, seepage) and relate them to ecosystem functions in a river-floodplain system impacted by engineering structures (Danube River, Vienna, Austria). We studied essential ecological functions using indicators on sediment composition and quality, hydrochemical conditions, and macrophyte coverage. Our results indicate that sediment transport and composition are widely driven by directional flow and connectivity. In contrast, the exchange of water and nutrients is dominated by seepage exchange in the system. Macrophytes are dominating in water bodies which are not relevant for directed transport. The graph theoretical approach solely based on remotely sensed data can be used to classify floodplain water bodies related to their essential function and importance in the network and identify main deficits and potential restoration measures. It can, therefore, be an essential tool for prioritizing systems for management measures and restoration actions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T00:09:24Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a44ad836d4684d5381fbcdcf562a6b09 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1470-160X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T00:09:24Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecological Indicators |
| spelling | doaj.art-a44ad836d4684d5381fbcdcf562a6b092023-09-16T05:30:16ZengElsevierEcological Indicators1470-160X2023-10-01154110877Connectivity as a driver of river-floodplain functioning: A dynamic, graph theoretic approachAndrea Funk0Damiano Baldan1Elisabeth Bondar-Kunze2Sonia Recinos Brizuela3Johannes Kowal4Thomas Hein5Christian Doppler Laboratory for Meta Ecosystem Dynamics in Riverine Landscapes, Institute of Hydrobiology and Aquatic Ecosystem Management, Department Water-Atmosphere-Environment, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Gregor Mendel Str. 33, 1180 Vienna, Austria; WasserCluster Lunz, Lunz/See, Austria; Corresponding author at: Christian Doppler Laboratory for Meta Ecosystem Dynamics in Riverine Landscapes, Institute of Hydrobiology and Aquatic Ecosystem Management, Department Water-Atmosphere-Environment, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Gregor Mendel Str. 33, 1180 Vienna, Austria.Christian Doppler Laboratory for Meta Ecosystem Dynamics in Riverine Landscapes, Institute of Hydrobiology and Aquatic Ecosystem Management, Department Water-Atmosphere-Environment, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Gregor Mendel Str. 33, 1180 Vienna, Austria; National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics OGS, Trieste, ItalyChristian Doppler Laboratory for Meta Ecosystem Dynamics in Riverine Landscapes, Institute of Hydrobiology and Aquatic Ecosystem Management, Department Water-Atmosphere-Environment, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Gregor Mendel Str. 33, 1180 Vienna, Austria; WasserCluster Lunz, Lunz/See, AustriaWasserCluster Lunz, Lunz/See, Austria; Institute of Hydrobiology and Aquatic Ecosystem Management, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Department Water-Atmosphere-Environment, Vienna, AustriaChristian Doppler Laboratory for Meta Ecosystem Dynamics in Riverine Landscapes, Institute of Hydrobiology and Aquatic Ecosystem Management, Department Water-Atmosphere-Environment, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Gregor Mendel Str. 33, 1180 Vienna, Austria; WasserCluster Lunz, Lunz/See, AustriaChristian Doppler Laboratory for Meta Ecosystem Dynamics in Riverine Landscapes, Institute of Hydrobiology and Aquatic Ecosystem Management, Department Water-Atmosphere-Environment, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Gregor Mendel Str. 33, 1180 Vienna, Austria; WasserCluster Lunz, Lunz/See, AustriaConnectivity is a crucial property of the river-floodplain ecosystem. Reduction of connectivity, fragmentation and isolation effects, impacting ecological functions and biodiversity, is one of the most critical threats to floodplain systems. We use a graph theoretical approach for analyzing possible transport pathways in the system (directed, undirected, overland, seepage) and relate them to ecosystem functions in a river-floodplain system impacted by engineering structures (Danube River, Vienna, Austria). We studied essential ecological functions using indicators on sediment composition and quality, hydrochemical conditions, and macrophyte coverage. Our results indicate that sediment transport and composition are widely driven by directional flow and connectivity. In contrast, the exchange of water and nutrients is dominated by seepage exchange in the system. Macrophytes are dominating in water bodies which are not relevant for directed transport. The graph theoretical approach solely based on remotely sensed data can be used to classify floodplain water bodies related to their essential function and importance in the network and identify main deficits and potential restoration measures. It can, therefore, be an essential tool for prioritizing systems for management measures and restoration actions.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X23010191Centrality metricConnectivity indexHydrochemistryMacrophyteNetworkSediment |
| spellingShingle | Andrea Funk Damiano Baldan Elisabeth Bondar-Kunze Sonia Recinos Brizuela Johannes Kowal Thomas Hein Connectivity as a driver of river-floodplain functioning: A dynamic, graph theoretic approach Ecological Indicators Centrality metric Connectivity index Hydrochemistry Macrophyte Network Sediment |
| title | Connectivity as a driver of river-floodplain functioning: A dynamic, graph theoretic approach |
| title_full | Connectivity as a driver of river-floodplain functioning: A dynamic, graph theoretic approach |
| title_fullStr | Connectivity as a driver of river-floodplain functioning: A dynamic, graph theoretic approach |
| title_full_unstemmed | Connectivity as a driver of river-floodplain functioning: A dynamic, graph theoretic approach |
| title_short | Connectivity as a driver of river-floodplain functioning: A dynamic, graph theoretic approach |
| title_sort | connectivity as a driver of river floodplain functioning a dynamic graph theoretic approach |
| topic | Centrality metric Connectivity index Hydrochemistry Macrophyte Network Sediment |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X23010191 |
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