Riparian vegetation and geomorphological interactions in anabranching rivers: A global review

Abstract

Anabranching rivers are characterized by multiple active channels. Vegetation, flow regime and sediment retention are critical components for the formation, evolution and stability of these rivers; however, the connections relating river dynamics with riparian vegetation development and distribution are still not well known. This review discusses the relationship between anabranching rivers and riparian vegetation, showing examples of how vegetation affects anabranching rivers and how it is also affected by river dynamics. Consequences of poor management and human activities that can disrupt river–vegetation systems are also explored, presenting some examples of modifications to the stability and longevity of anabranching rivers. Challenges to design and implement appropriate policy and management practices in anabranching rivers are most frequently driven by poor experimental evidence due to difficulties in collecting data in these often remote and large river systems. Remote sensing technologies that account for key interactions between riparian vegetation, river flow and morphology changes can provide means to overcome these challenges.

A Green New Balance: Interactions among riparian vegetation plant traits and morphodynamics in alluvial rivers

“…On the other hand, a plant's influence on small‐scale processes within large river systems is important to consider, especially with respect to local topography and habitat creation (Stella et al, 2011). Moreover, most of the world's largest rivers are anabranching (Latrubesse, 2008), and the anabranching channel pattern can be strongly influenced by vegetation–morphodynamic feedbacks (Henriques et al, 2022; Nanson & Knighton, 1996), suggesting nonlinearities in how ecogeomorphic relationships scale with river size (Henriques et al, 2022; Latrubesse, 2008; Nanson & Knighton, 1996).…”

Regional‐scale partitioning of transmission losses and groundwater recharge using satellite estimates of actual evapotranspiration in an arid environment

“…This analysis demonstrates how components of the floodplain water balance can be quantified at different scales. Improved management of riparian vegetation growing in annually (i.e., arid climates) or seasonally (i.e., Mediterranean climates) water‐limited environments requires consideration of these processes across spatial and temporal scales (Henriques et al, 2022; Stella et al, 2013). This water supports the environmental aspects of the catchment, with permanent WHs providing critical ecological refugia during dry times (Bunn et al, 2006; Hamilton et al, 2005) and the riparian vegetation providing habitat for endangered and threatened species, such as the Grey Grass Wren and the Australian Painted Snipe (O'Grady et al, 2020).…”

“…The ~40,000 km 2 of alluvium consists of the main anastomosing channels, smaller mud braids, many permanent WHs and hundreds of ephemeral wetlands spread across the floodplain (Knighton & Nanson, 1994a; Nanson et al, 1986). Understanding how the system works in its unimpeded state is essential to predict the impacts of any future developments (Henriques et al, 2022; Kuiper et al, 2014).…”

Reconstruction of Nineteenth-Century Channel Patterns of Polish Carpathians Rivers from the Galicia and Bucovina Map (1861–1864)

“…This means that even those with an area of several hundred square meters can be identified as inter-channel areas if the river has anabranching characteristics (for example, the Moravka in Czechia [19]). To qualify, these forms must be stabilised by vegetation [66]. According to Nanson and Knighton [62], inter-channel forms should have a surface composed of fine-grained sediments.…”