Hydrology as a Determinant of Riparian Habitat Structure in Lowland River Floodplains
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 condi...
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MDPI AG
2023-12-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/16/1/164 |
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| author | Paweł Burandt Mirosław Grzybowski Katarzyna Glińska-Lewczuk Wojciech Gotkiewicz Monika Szymańska-Walkiewicz Krystian Obolewski |
| author_facet | Paweł Burandt Mirosław Grzybowski Katarzyna Glińska-Lewczuk Wojciech Gotkiewicz Monika Szymańska-Walkiewicz Krystian Obolewski |
| author_sort | Paweł Burandt |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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 the 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 the 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 linear discriminant analysis (LDA): 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T14:55:38Z |
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| issn | 2073-4441 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T14:55:38Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Water |
| spelling | doaj.art-c21e0b1a09e246a6a6743be19e32497d2024-01-10T15:11:54ZengMDPI AGWater2073-44412023-12-0116116410.3390/w16010164Hydrology as a Determinant of Riparian Habitat Structure in Lowland River FloodplainsPaweł Burandt0Mirosław Grzybowski1Katarzyna Glińska-Lewczuk2Wojciech Gotkiewicz3Monika Szymańska-Walkiewicz4Krystian Obolewski5Department of Water Management and Climatology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-719 Olsztyn, PolandDepartment of Tourism, Recreation and Ecology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-719 Olsztyn, PolandDepartment of Water Management and Climatology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-719 Olsztyn, PolandDepartment of Agronomy and Agribusiness, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-719 Olsztyn, PolandDepartment of Revitalization of Inland Waterways, University of Kazimierz Wielki in Bydgoszcz, 85-064 Bydgoszcz, PolandDepartment of Hydrobiology, University of Kazimierz Wielki in Bydgoszcz, 85-064 Bydgoszcz, PolandThe 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 the 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 the 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 linear discriminant analysis (LDA): 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.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/16/1/164lowland riverhydrologyriparian vegetation structurefloodplainnatural flow regimeriparian zonation |
| spellingShingle | Paweł Burandt Mirosław Grzybowski Katarzyna Glińska-Lewczuk Wojciech Gotkiewicz Monika Szymańska-Walkiewicz Krystian Obolewski Hydrology as a Determinant of Riparian Habitat Structure in Lowland River Floodplains Water lowland river hydrology riparian vegetation structure floodplain natural flow regime riparian zonation |
| title | Hydrology as a Determinant of Riparian Habitat Structure in Lowland River Floodplains |
| title_full | Hydrology as a Determinant of Riparian Habitat Structure in Lowland River Floodplains |
| title_fullStr | Hydrology as a Determinant of Riparian Habitat Structure in Lowland River Floodplains |
| title_full_unstemmed | Hydrology as a Determinant of Riparian Habitat Structure in Lowland River Floodplains |
| title_short | Hydrology as a Determinant of Riparian Habitat Structure in Lowland River Floodplains |
| title_sort | hydrology as a determinant of riparian habitat structure in lowland river floodplains |
| topic | lowland river hydrology riparian vegetation structure floodplain natural flow regime riparian zonation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/16/1/164 |
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