Advances on Modelling Riparian Vegetation—Hydromorphology Interactions

Abstract

Riparian vegetation actively interacts with fluvial systems affecting river hydrodynamics, morphodynamics and groundwater. These interactions can be coupled because both vegetation and hydromorphology (i.e. the combined scientific study of hydrology and fluvial geomorphology) involve dynamic processes with similar temporal and spatial scales. To predict and assess the consequences of restoration measures, maintenance operations or human pressures in rivers, managers and planners may wish to model these interactions considering the different and interdisciplinary implications in the fields of ecology, geomorphology and hydrology. In this paper, we review models that are currently available and that incorporate the processes that relate riparian vegetation to hydromorphology. The models that are considered include those emphasizing hydraulic-geomorphological processes (such as flow resistance, sediment transport and bank dynamics) as well as those emphasizing ecological processes (seed dispersal, plant survival, growth, succession and mortality). Models interpreting the coupled evolution between riparian vegetation and river morphology and groundwater are also presented. The aim is to provide an overview of current modelling capabilities and limitations and to identify future modelling challenges.

Morphodynamics of alternate bars in the presence of riparian vegetation

“…; Solari et al. ). A first generation of physics‐based two‐dimensional (2D) depth‐averaged morphodynamic numerical models has considered vegetation as static in the nomenclature introduced by Bertoldi et al.…”

Channel forms and vegetation adjustment to damming in a Mediterranean gravel‐bed river (Serpis River, Spain)

“…Second, reservoirs retain sediments causing channel incision and narrowing, bed armouring, and other channel degradation forms (Surian & Rinaldi, ; Brierley & Fryiers, ; Rollet, Piégay, Dufour, Bornette, & Persat, ). Finally, changes to flow regime and sediment supply affect vegetation evolutionary patterns due to the narrow interaction between vegetation and hydrogeomorphology (González del Tánago, Martínez‐Fernández, & García de Jalón, ; Gurnell et al, ; Picco, Mao, Rainato, & Lenzi, ; Picco, Sitzia, Mao, Comiti, & Lenzi, ; Solari, Van Oorschot, Hendriks, Rinaldi, & Vargas‐Luna, ; Surian et al, ).…”

Gravel bar inundation frequency: an important parameter for understanding riparian corridor dynamics

“…The ultimate objective is to understand the key processes regulating riparian ecosystems and thereby to be able to foresee the effects of anthropogenic actions and effectively manage and restore river corridors (Camporeale et al 2013). Solari et al (2015) presented a thorough review of the state of the art of the modelling of riparian dynamics. What we have observed is that, despite increasing efforts to deepen our understanding of the many complex aspects of riparian zones and appropriately model them, only a few models properly take into account the many complex variables, and many simplifications have to be performed (e.g., Nepf 2012b).…”

“…While Junk et al (1989) consider flood pulse as the driving force in determining riverfloodplain systems' equilibrium, Tockner et al (2000) also stress the ecological importance of expansion-contraction events below bankfull flooding (flow pulses). Moreover, fluvial hydrodynamics play an important role during all stages of plant life from seed dispersal to colonisation, recruitment, growth, succession and finally mortality (Crouzy et al 2013;Egger et al 2013;Solari et al 2015).…”