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| Titel |
Local and regional impact of anthropogenic drainage on fen contiguity |
| VerfasserIn |
A. H. Loon, P. P. Schot, M. F. P. Bierkens, J. Griffioen, M. J. Wassen |
| Medientyp |
Artikel
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| Sprache |
Englisch
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| ISSN |
1027-5606
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| Digitales Dokument |
URL |
| Erschienen |
In: Hydrology and Earth System Sciences ; 13, no. 10 ; Nr. 13, no. 10 (2009-10-12), S.1837-1848 |
| Datensatznummer |
250012021
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| Publikation (Nr.) |
 copernicus.org/hess-13-1837-2009.pdf |
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| Zusammenfassung |
| Knowledge of the hydrological mechanisms behind habitat fragmentation of fen
plant communities in intensively managed regions like The Netherlands is
essential to improve currently utilized fen restoration and conservation
strategies. In this study, we analysed the local and regional impact of
anthropogenic drainage on the groundwater supply of fens. For this purpose,
we developed fine-scale groundwater flow models and collected empirical data
to analyse (1) the differences in groundwater supply between an
anthropogenically drained fen and a poorly drained fen in The Netherlands,
and (2) the local and regional effects of the elimination of drainage
ditches on the groundwater supply of fens. Our results consistently
indicated the presence of recently infiltrated precipitation on top of
upwelling groundwater across the anthropogenically drained fen, and a mixing
gradient of recently infiltrated precipitation and upwelling groundwater
across the poorly drained fen. Furthermore, our results showed that the
elimination of drainage ditches from the anthropogenically drained fen
increased the area and the flux of groundwater supply of both the
anthropogenically drained fen and the poorly drained fen. We conclude that
anthropogenic drainage not only causes a lowering of groundwater tables, but
also (1) enhances the infiltration of local precipitation across fens while
simultaneously preventing upwelling groundwater from entering the fen root
zone, and (2) reduces the groundwater supply of adjacent fens by
intercepting groundwater that is potentially directed to downstream regions.
These insights support the need to reconsider the current priorities in
hydrological fen restoration strategies. |
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