Biodiversity in Wetlands

Gopal, Brij

doi:10.1002/9781444315813.ch3

Cited by 34 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 113 publications

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“…In floodplain river systems, a key determinant of the biodiversity values and ecological roles of floodplain wetlands is their patterns of hydrological connectivity to main river channels over time (Gopal and Junk, ; Amoros and Bornette, ; Frazier and Page, ). In many river systems, connectivity facilitates fish movement into floodplain wetlands for refuge from predators, spawning, feeding, growth and population recruitment (Welcomme et al ., ; Balcombe et al ., ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Floodplain wetlands provide important physical and biological links in the aquatic continuum of rivers with well‐developed floodplains, providing complex habitats and associated resources for a wide range of aquatic biota (Amoros and Bornette, ; Balcombe et al ., ; Tockner et al ., ). In addition to their roles in biodiversity conservation (Briggs and Thornton, ; Gopal and Junk ; Leigh and Sheldon, ), floodplain wetlands contribute to water quality through filtration and nutrient sequestration (Greenway and Woolley, ; McJannet et al ., ). A key determinant of habitat quality, biodiversity and ecological integrity of a floodplain wetland is its hydrological connectivity to main river channels over time (Junk et al ., ; Tockner et al ., ; Frazier and Page, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Modelling hydrological connectivity of tropical floodplain wetlands via a combined natural and artificial stream network

Karim

Kinsey-Henderson

Wallace

et al. 2013

Hydrological Processes

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The ecological condition and biodiversity values of floodplain wetlands are highly dependent on the hydrological connectivity of wetlands to adjacent rivers. This paper describes a method for quantifying connectivity between floodplain wetlands and the main rivers in a wet tropical catchment of northern Australia. We used a one‐dimensional hydrodynamic model to simulate time‐varying water depths across the stream network (i.e. rivers, streams and man‐made drains). The timing and duration of connectivity of seven wetlands (four natural and three artificial) with the two main rivers in the catchment were then calculated for different hydrological conditions. Location and areal extent of the wetlands and the stream network were identified using high‐resolution laser altimetry, and these data formed key inputs to the hydrodynamic model. The model was calibrated using measured water depths and discharges across the floodplain. An algorithm was developed to identify contiguous water bodies at daily time steps, and this gave the temporal history of connection and disconnection between wetlands and the rivers. Simulation results show that connectivity of individual wetlands to both rivers varies from 26 to 365 days during an average hydrological condition. Location, especially proximity to a main river, and wetland type (natural stream or artificial drain) were identified as key factors influencing these levels of connectivity. Some natural wetlands maintain connection with the river for most or all of the year, whereas the connectivity of some artificial wetlands varies from 26 to 36 days according to their patterns of network connection to adjacent rivers – a result that has important implications for the accessibility of these types of wetland to aquatic biota. Using readily available river gauge data, we also show how connectivity modelling can be used to identify periods when connectivity has fallen below critical thresholds for fish movement. These connectivity patterns within the floodplain network are central to the setting of river flows that will meet environmental requirements for biota that use floodplain wetlands during their life history. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modelling hydrological connectivity of tropical floodplain wetlands via a combined natural and artificial stream network

Karim

Kinsey-Henderson

Wallace

et al. 2013

Hydrological Processes

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“…Freshwater wetlands support a disproportionately high diversity of species relative to terrestrial and marine ecosystems (Dudgeon et al. , Gopal ), but these habitats are particularly vulnerable to climate change (Bardecki , Matthews , Lee et al. ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of climate drivers on colonization and extinction dynamics of wetland‐dependent species

et al. 2016

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Abstract.Freshwater wetlands are particularly vulnerable to climate change. Specifically, changes in temperature, precipitation, and evapotranspiration (i.e., climate drivers) are likely to alter flooding regimes of wetlands and affect the vital rates, abundance, and distributions of wetland-dependent species. Amphibians may be among the most climate-sensitive wetland-dependent groups, as many species rely on shallow or intermittently flooded wetland habitats for breeding. Here, we integrated multiple years of high-resolution gridded climate and amphibian monitoring data from Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks to explicitly model how variations in climate drivers and habitat conditions affect the occurrence and breeding dynamics (i.e., annual extinction and colonization rates) of amphibians. Our results showed that models incorporating climate drivers outperformed models of amphibian breeding dynamics that were exclusively habitat based. Moreover, climate-driven variation in extinction rates, but not colonization rates, disproportionately influenced amphibian occupancy in monitored wetlands. Long-term monitoring from national parks coupled with high-resolution climate data sets will be crucial to describing population dynamics and characterizing the sensitivity of amphibians and other wetland-dependent species to climate change. Further, long-term monitoring of wetlands in national parks will help reduce uncertainty surrounding wetland resources and strengthen opportunities to make informed, science-based decisions that have far-reaching benefits.

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“…In general, the lower richness of aquatic macrophyte was associated to the period of occurrence of floods (Maltchik et al, , 2007Schott et al, 2005). According to Gopal and Junk (2000), the hydrological fluctuation contributes to a high biodiversity in floodplain systems. The increase in the species richness in a subtropical palustrine wetland resulted of the resistance of several species during both hydrological extremes (flood and drought) and the establishment of new species along the drawdown phase (Maltchik et al, 2007).…”

Section: Flood and Macrophyte Community Dynamics 33 In Natural Wetlmentioning

confidence: 99%

Aquatic macrophytes in natural and managed wetlands of Rio Grande do Sul State, Southern Brazil

Rolon¹,

Homem²,

Maltchik³

2010

Acta

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Aim: This study gathers the main results obtained from studies regarding dynamic of aquatic macrophyte community in natural and managed wetlands of Southern Brazil. We analyzed the aquatic macrophytes diversity in wetlands of Southern Brazil, the environmental factors that determine the structure of the aquatic macrophyte community in fragmented wetlands, the effects of floods on the dynamics of macrophytes, and the contributions to the rice field for the conservation of aquatic macrophytes; Methods: The information was obtained from several researches carried in several spatial scales and different wetlands types over the last 10 years in Southern Brazil; Results: The studies have reported the occurrence of approximately 250 species of aquatic macrophytes. Wetland area, habitat diversity, altitude and hydroperiod were determinant for macrophyte richness and composition in wetlands of Southern Brazil. Furthermore, flood events, long or short-term ones, are strongly associated to the structure of the aquatic macrophyte community. The rice field systems of Southern Brazil (crops and irrigation channel) shelter a representative number of species of macrophyte found at natural wetlands in this region. The agricultural practices adopted over rice cultivation cycle in the rice fields have influenced the macrophyte richness and biomass. The different hydrological management practices adopted after the harvesting period (presence or lack of water surface) did not influence the macrophyte richness and biomass, however it influenced the species composition; Conclusions: The increasing process of wetland degradation (e.g. fragmentation, flood control and rice field expansion) presents a threat to the conservation aquatic macrophyte species.Keywords: aquatic plant, diversity, conservation, Neotropical region.Resumo: Objetivo: Este estudo reúne os principais resultados obtidos em trabalhos sobre a dinâmica da comunidade de macrófitas aquáticas em áreas úmidas naturais e manejadas do sul do Brasil. Nós analisamos a diversidade de macrófitas aquáticas do sul do Brasil, os fatores ambientais que determinam a estrutura da comunidade de macrófitas aquáticas nas áreas úmidas, o efeito das inundações na dinâmica da comunidade e a contribuição dos arrozais para a conservação das macrófitas aquáticas; Métodos: As informações foram obtidas de vários trabalhos realizados em diversas escalas espaciais e diferentes tipos de áreas úmidas ao longo dos últimos 10 anos no sul do Brasil; Resultados: Os estudos têm reportado a ocorrência de aproximadamente 250 espécies de macrófitas aquáticas. O tamanho da área úmida, diversidade de habitats, altitude e hidroperíodo foram determinantes para a riqueza e a composição de espécies em áreas úmidas do sul do Brasil. Além disso, os eventos de inundação, de longa ou curta duração, estão fortemente relacionados à estrutura da comunidade de macrófitas. Os sistemas orizícolas sul do Brasil (lavouras e canais de irrigação) abrigam um número representativo de espécies de macrófitas aquáticas enco...

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Biodiversity in Wetlands

Cited by 34 publications

References 113 publications

Modelling hydrological connectivity of tropical floodplain wetlands via a combined natural and artificial stream network

Modelling hydrological connectivity of tropical floodplain wetlands via a combined natural and artificial stream network

Influence of climate drivers on colonization and extinction dynamics of wetland‐dependent species

Aquatic macrophytes in natural and managed wetlands of Rio Grande do Sul State, Southern Brazil

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