Developing a dynamic model to predict the recruitment and early survival of black willow (Salix nigra) in response to different hydrologic conditions

Ahn, Changwoo; Moser, Kurt F.; Sparks, Richard E.; White, David C.

doi:10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2007.01.006

Cited by 31 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…The model simulates plant germination and growth on a one square meter site at a specified elevation in response to changes in daily water levels (Ahn et al 2004a). At the end of the project, we developed a separate model for one of the pioneering tree species (black willow, Salix niger) that competes with the moist soil plants, in order to predict tree line elevations under alternative water regimes (Ahn et al 2007). However, the results reported below were based on elevations of tree lines observed on aerial photographs.…”

Section: The Moist-soil Plant Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

Naturalization of Developed Floodplains: An Integrated Analysis

Sparks

Braden

2007

Contemporary Water Research

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Summary Reducing future flood damages and restoring natural services provided by floodplains is not as simple as buying levee districts from willing sellers and then breaching the levees. Removing agriculture from the floodplain can have a significant negative impact on the local economy, unless outdoor recreation, tourism or other activities are developed that are compatible with the naturalized floodplain. The value of the area for these activities depends in turn on the quality of the naturalization. We evaluated the potential for naturalization using a simulation model for an indicator group of plants, the moist‐soil plant community, that depends on the natural flooding cycle and provides food and shelter for a variety of valued species. Existing conditions and two alternative scenarios were evaluated by analyzing the frequency of successful growing seasons for moist soil plants using a 47‐year record of daily water levels and a hydraulic simulation model (for the scenarios). Results were expressed as color‐coded probabilities of plant success overlain on 3‐D maps of the floodplains—a visualization of results that was readily understood by stakeholders. One of the stakeholders, The Nature Conservancy, subsequently funded a more detailed study by our scientists of the Emiquon Floodplain Restoration Project, a 2,125‐ha agricultural drainage and levee district purchased for $18.3 million in 2000 by the Conservancy and located within our study reach on the Illinois River. Based on the results, the Conservancy plans to undertake a managed reconnection of the river and the floodplain at Emiquon, using gates in the levee to admit river water (and aquatic organisms) during the spring flood, but to exclude the unnatural, frequent summer floods that drown moist‐soil plants. The Conservancy intends the Emiquon Restoration to be a model not only for its floodplain restorations in the Upper Mississippi River Basin, but also a model for naturalization projects undertaken by state and federal agencies. Three papers from this project are cited extensively in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Illinois River Basin Restoration Comprehensive Plan and Integrated Environmental Assessment and the plan includes recommendations for naturalizing the hydrology of the river and restoring moist‐soil vegetation (USACE 2006). The results from the project are also used in an introductory lecture for summer interns at the National Great Rivers Research and Education Center and have been the basis of the development of an economic module for the NSF curriculum development project on Interdisciplinary Modeling of Aquatic Ecosystems (Saito et al. 2005). Our co‐PIs and project information were among the resources used by graduate students in a project in Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Illinois to: (1) analyze the evolution of planning efforts on the Illinois River; (2) compare these efforts to planning efforts elsewhere; and (3) develop a framework for improved, integrated planning for the Illinois River (Fassero et al. 2001).

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Section: The Moist-soil Plant Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

Naturalization of Developed Floodplains: An Integrated Analysis

Sparks

Braden

2007

Contemporary Water Research

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“…Also, numerous river flow assessment methods have been proposed in several countries over the past decades [4,5]. These methods have been classified as hydrological [6], hydraulic rating [7], habitat simulation [8], holistic [9], combination, and other methodologies [10].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multi-Objective Assessment of the Ecological Flow Requirement in the Upper Yangtze National Nature Reserve in China Using PHABSIM

Wang

Hao

et al. 2018

Water

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Many dams have been constructed or are planned all around China. These dams significantly change the hydrological regime and sand concentration downstream, and subsequently affect the river habitat and riverbed substances. Therefore, a good understanding of the river habitat is urgently required to undertake efficient measures for fish diversity conservation. A multi-objective assessment method based on the Physical Habitat Simulation system (PHABSIM) was utilized to calculate the ecological river flow demand using maximum weighted usable area (WUA) and minimum river discharge as the main objectives. The study employed this method to assess ecological water flow demand in the National Nature Reserve for Rare and Endemic Fish in the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River in China. Multiple factors such as the degree of endangerment, fish value (ecological value, economic value and scientific research value), data acquisition difficulty, and species representativeness were taken into consideration during selection of indicator fish for coupled habitat analysis. Requirements for both growth and breeding during the study period were considered. Ten species of fishes were chosen as indicator fishes, including floating egg and sinking egg fishes. Additionally, we applied the principle of "minimization of habitat demand and maximization of ecological demand" to include the needs of all indicator fishes. Further, this method comprehensively considered requirements for ecological flow and economic development. The results highlighted that an optimal ecological river flow demand of 2395 m 3 /s was needed to satisfy the needs for habitat protection and 1890 m 3 /s was required to meet the needs of social and economic development. The methods used in this study and results obtained, provide a valuable reference for water resources planning and ecosystem protection in other rivers and lakes.

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“…For S. gooddingii, also native to North American floodplains and classified as an obligate phreatophyte (Brush et al 1992), root growth rates of 1.0-2.1 mm day -1 have been recorded but seedlings can survive rates of water table decline exceeding these values by obtaining water from the capillary fringe (Horton and Clark 2001). Ahn et al (2007) developed a dynamic simulation model to predict recruitment and seedling growth of S. nigra in response to flood timing and duration, parameterized for S. nigra populations growing in North American floodplains. The abundance and distribution of seedling recruits was highly sensitive to fluctuations in the height of the capillary fringe parameter (Ahn et al 2007).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In Australia invasive S. nigra is classified as a Weed of National Significance (ARMCANZ 2000), due to detrimental impacts on riparian environments (Cremer 1999;Stokes and Cunningham 2006), whereas in North America the species is commercially important: cuttings are used as a cost-effective bioengineering tool to provide soil stabilization and habitat rehabilitation along eroded stream banks (Schaff et al 2002;Pezeshki and Shields 2006;Pezeshki et al 2007). However, in regions of the native range, such as the Lower Mississippi Valley (the Illinois River), S. nigra is considered problematic by conservation managers, because it reduces the growth of herbaceous species required by waterfowl (Ahn et al 2007). Predicting S. nigra population responses to flow regimes is likely to be complex, considering that optimal hydrological conditions for juvenile establishment might differ to those required for subsequent growth and survival.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exotic invasive black willow (Salix nigra) in Australia: influence of hydrological regimes on population dynamics

Stokes

2007

Plant Ecol

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Floodplain vegetation occupies disturbance prone habitats vulnerable to exotic plant invasion. Black willow (Salix nigra Marshall) is a flood-tolerant tree native to the southeastern United States and recently invasive in Australia, where it is considered detrimental to riparian environments. Effective management of S. nigra requires understanding the impacts of hydrological conditions on population dynamics at each stage of the plant's life cycle. The influence of inundation events (timing, duration, and recession rates) on S. nigra stand dynamics and relative growth rate (RGR) was quantified across a hydrological gradient on the shorelines of Blowering Dam reservoir (NSW, Australia). Successful recruitment (sexual and asexual) and establishment is highly dependent on the position of S. nigra recruits above reservoir water levels and exposure to flooding during the first few years of establishment. Recruitment was ubiquitous along the hydrological gradient but a greater number of asexual recruits were found at higher elevations where inundation events are less frequent. Juvenile mortality was highest at lower elevations, which experienced greater depth and duration of inundation. Mean RGR was greatest in S. nigra stands experiencing no inundation over the study period and declined as inundation duration increased. Flooding events inhibit adult growth, but create suitable conditions for seedling recruits, provided the depth and duration of the flood does not exceed complete submersion for more than 30 days. To investigate relative tolerance to water table decline rooted S. nigra cuttings were grown in rhizopods, controlled growth devices that allow watertable manipulation. Water-table decline rates of 0, 1, 2, 4, and 8 cm day -1 were applied and the response of leaf abscission measured. S. nigra cuttings were not significantly impacted at water-table decline rates of between 1 and 4 cm day -1 . Spatial location of S. nigra recruits in Australian floodplains represents a trade-off among hydrological conditions that promote recruitment without inducing mortality, resulting in a narrow spatial and temporal regeneration window critical to successful establishment. Future distribution and abundance of S. nigra in Australia will be determined by propagule availability and the degree to which current and future flow regimes create suitable hydrological conditions for successful establishment.

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Developing a dynamic model to predict the recruitment and early survival of black willow (Salix nigra) in response to different hydrologic conditions

Cited by 31 publications

References 23 publications

Naturalization of Developed Floodplains: An Integrated Analysis

Naturalization of Developed Floodplains: An Integrated Analysis

Multi-Objective Assessment of the Ecological Flow Requirement in the Upper Yangtze National Nature Reserve in China Using PHABSIM

Exotic invasive black willow (Salix nigra) in Australia: influence of hydrological regimes on population dynamics

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