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| Titel |
Spatio-temporal heterogeneity of riparian soil morphology in a restored floodplain |
| VerfasserIn |
B. Fournier, C. Guenat, G. Bullinger-Weber, E. A. D. Mitchell |
| 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 ; 17, no. 10 ; Nr. 17, no. 10 (2013-10-17), S.4031-4042 |
| Datensatznummer |
250085962
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| Publikation (Nr.) |
 copernicus.org/hess-17-4031-2013.pdf |
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| Zusammenfassung |
Floodplains have been intensively altered in industrialized countries, but
are now increasingly being restored. It is therefore important to assess the
effect of these restoration projects on the aquatic and terrestrial
components of ecosystems. However, despite being functionally crucial
components of terrestrial ecosystems, soils are generally overlooked in
floodplain restoration assessments.
We studied the spatio-temporal heterogeneity of soil morphology in a
restored (riverbed widening) river reach along the River Thur (Switzerland)
using three criteria (soil diversity, dynamism and typicality) and their
associated indicators. We hypothesized that these criteria would correctly
discriminate the post-restoration changes in soil morphology, and that these
changes correspond to patterns of vascular plant diversity.
Soil diversity and dynamism increased 5 yr after the restoration, but
some typical soils of braided rivers were still missing. Soil typicality and
dynamism were correlated to vegetation changes. These results suggest a
limited success of the project, in agreement with evaluations carried out at
the same site using other, more resource-demanding, methods (e.g., soil
fauna, fish diversity, ecosystem functioning).
Soil morphology provides structural and functional information on floodplain
ecosystems. The spatio-temporal heterogeneity of soil morphology represents
a cost-efficient ecological indicator that could easily be integrated into
rapid assessment protocols of floodplain and river restoration projects.
The follow-up assessment after several major floods (≥ HQ20) should take place to allow for testing the
longer-term validity of our conclusion for the
River Thur site. More generally, it would be useful to apply the soil
morphology indicator approach in different settings to test its broader
applicability. |
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