Importance of landscape context for post‐restoration recovery of riparian vegetation

Su, Xiaolei; Polvi, Lina E.; Lind, Lovisa; Pilotto, Francesca

doi:10.1111/fwb.13282

Cited by 5 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 69 publications

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“…Riparian species in this area were reproduced by either vegetative fragments or generative propagules (Andersson, 1999;Johansson & Nilsson, 1993). Total species richness of vascular plants of rapids, slow-flowing reaches, and lakes did not differ in previous studies in tributaries to the Vindel River Su et al, 2019). Rapids, however, have higher proportions of short-floating species (buoyancy time of propagules <2 days) and herbs than the other process domains .…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 82%

“…Hydrochoric potential is governed by the stream network's physical structure, reflecting a balance between connectivity to allow for transport of propagules among reaches and retention to allow for propagules to be caught and have a chance to germinate. In streams with very low downstream longitudinal connectivity due to anthropogenic (e.g., dams) or natural (e.g., beaver dams and log jams) fragmentation, the potential for propagule dispersal is greatly reduced (Crook et al, ; Dias, Cornu, Oberdorrff, Lasso, & Tedesco, ); thus, plant communities will not be able to exchange propagules and may develop disparate communities (Su et al, ). On the other hand, if stream networks have high levels of longitudinal connectivity through anthropogenic channelization (e.g., due to timber floating) or sustained high flows, then propagules may have high transport capacity through the stream network but will not have an opportunity to germinate and establish in a downstream reach.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The variation in transport and retention capacity of propagules on a landscape level, that is, among different process domains along the same stream, is, however, still unclear. In a recent study of the importance of adjacent domains for the recovery of riparian vegetation, we concluded that hydrochory on a regional scale is probably not the main factor, suggesting that local factors likely outweigh landscape connectivity in the short‐term recovery of riparian vegetation (Su, Polvi, Lind, Pilotto, & Nilsson, ). These previous studies on hydrochory provide us with hypotheses on the driving factors that lead to propagule retention in various process domains.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 86%

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Variation in hydrochory among lakes and streams: Effects of channel planform, roughness, and currents

Lind

Polvi

2019

Ecohydrology

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The configuration of channels in stream networks is vital for their connectivity, biodiversity, and metacommunity dynamics. We compared the capacity of three process domains—lakes, slow‐flowing reaches, and rapids—to disperse and retain plant propagules by releasing small wooden cubes as propagule mimics during the spring flood and recording their final locations. We also measured the geomorphic characteristics (planform, longitudinal profile, cross‐sectional morphology, and wood) of each process domain. The three process domains all differed in morphology and hydraulics, and those characteristics were important in shaping the transport capacity of mimics. On average, lakes retained more mimics than slow‐flowing reaches but did not differ from the retainment of rapids. Living macrophytes were the most efficient element trapping mimics. In rapids and slow‐flowing reaches, most trapped mimics remained floating, whereas in lakes, most mimics ended up on the banks. The decay curves of retention varied substantially among and within process domains. The results suggest that managers who rely on natural recovery of restored sites by means of plant immigration may benefit from understanding landscape patterns when deciding upon the location of restoration measures in stream networks.

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Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 82%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 86%

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Variation in hydrochory among lakes and streams: Effects of channel planform, roughness, and currents

Lind

Polvi

2019

Ecohydrology

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“…The main recruitment processes-germination, seedling survival, and seedling growth-are essential for the recovery after disturbance [49]. Mechanisms underlying resilience are difficult and frequently need a detailed investigation at local habitat levels, as well as recruitment and survival that in many cases require conservation efforts, such as species translocations and active restoration of riparian vegetation [41,49,50]. Several fluvial processes may alter the vegetation establishment.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of a Large Irrigation Reservoir on Aquatic and Riparian Plants: A History of Survival and Loss

Aguiar

Fernandes

Martins

et al. 2019

Water

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Dammed rivers have unnatural stream flows, disrupted sediment dynamics, and rearranged geomorphologic settings. Consequently, fluvial biota experiences disturbed functioning in the novel ecosystems. The case study is the large irrigation reservoir Alqueva in Guadiana River, Southern Iberia. The study area was divided into three zones: upstream and downstream of the dam and reservoir. For each zone, species composition and land use and land cover (LULC) were compared before and after the Alqueva Dam implementation. Data consist of aquatic and riparian flora composition obtained from 46 surveys and the area (%) of 12 classes of LULC obtained in 90 riverine sampling units through the analysis of historical and contemporary imagery. There was an overall decrease of several endemic species and on the riparian shrublands and aquatic stands, although differences in the proportion of functional groups were not significant. Nevertheless, compositional diversity shows a significant decline in the upstream zone while landscape diversity shows an accentuated reduction in the reservoir area and downstream of the dam, which is likely related to the loss of the rocky habitats of the ‘old’ Guadiana River and the homogenization of the riverscape due to the irrigation intensification. The mitigation of these critical changes should be site-specific and should rely on the knowledge of the interactions between surrounding lands, ecological, biogeomorphologic, and hydrological components of the fluvial ecosystems.

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“…In addition, it is one of the most efficient dispersal mechanisms, since propagules can establish near their source or travel long distances and therefore reach a greater number of sites (Cain, Milligan, & Strand, 2000; Sannikov & Sannikova, 2007; Waser, Vickery, & Price, 1982). This becomes very important when the environment is fragmented, since dispersal via flowing water can enable the seeds to travel from one fragment to another, influencing regeneration and the genetic structure of populations (Kudoh, Shimamura, Takayama, & Whigham, 2006; Monette & Markwith, 2012; Su, Polvi, Lind, Pilotto, & Nilsson, 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of the grass Leersia hexandra on the dispersal, seed germination, and establishment of Pachira aquatica seedlings

2020

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In wetlands, hydrochory is one of the main mechanisms of seed dispersal and there is often synchrony between propagule production and the flood season. Different sources of disturbance can prevent seed dispersal to suitable sites, and if environmental conditions are not adequate for germination and seedling establishment, recruitment will be limited, affecting succession. We worked in a disturbed tropical freshwater swamp where the native grass Leersia hexandra has dominated open areas, creating a grass matrix that surrounds patches of swamp forest. Leersia grows vigorously, forming cushions of dry matter that cover the soil, forming a potential obstacle to seed dispersal. We asked whether the vegetative growth of this grass prevents the entry and dispersal of seeds of the tropical swamp tree Pachira aquatica, thwarting seed germination and seedling establishment, and arresting succession. We set up transects in the grass matrix in two zones: close to the river (R) and bordering the tree patches or fragments (F). We quantified tree seed and seedling presence, survival and growth in situ and experimentally introduced seeds and seedlings in the field and monitored seed germination and the survival and growth of their seedlings, as well as that of transplanted seedlings. There was a negative relationship between the number of seeds and established seedlings, and the distance to river or fragment (r = −0.86, p < 0.001 for zone R; and r = −0.77, p < 0.001 for zone F) and with the grass cushion (r = −0.68, p = 0.005 for zone R; and r = −0.66, p = 0.007 for zone F); the grass creating a barrier to dispersal. When seeds were sown after clearing the grass cushion, germination success was high, so this stage is not limited. The transplanted seedlings had better survival and a greater final height than the seedlings of the sown seeds. Grass cover had a negative effect on both types of seedlings. Seedling survival rates were inversely related to grass cover, showing that seedlings overgrown by grass had low survival rates. Flooding is a stress factor for seedlings and produced mortality, in addition to the effects of the grass. Together, the field survey and the experiment show that succession is being arrested in two ways: (1) by limiting seed dispersal because the grass cushion slows the dispersal and penetration of seeds into the vegetation; and (2) by limiting seedling establishment because the grass competes for space and light. Our results show that even where the grass is native, slower growing, seed‐dependent species may struggle to compete and establish. If grass cover is increasing, these swamps are very vulnerable to a decrease in area because it is very difficult for them to regenerate naturally.

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Importance of landscape context for post‐restoration recovery of riparian vegetation

Cited by 5 publications

References 69 publications

Variation in hydrochory among lakes and streams: Effects of channel planform, roughness, and currents

Variation in hydrochory among lakes and streams: Effects of channel planform, roughness, and currents

Effects of a Large Irrigation Reservoir on Aquatic and Riparian Plants: A History of Survival and Loss

Effect of the grass Leersia hexandra on the dispersal, seed germination, and establishment of Pachira aquatica seedlings

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