Effects of river fragmentation on plant dispersal and riparian flora

We evaluated the effects of river fragmentation by dams on hydrochory (i.e. plant dispersal by water) and on plant distribution by comparing two adjacent rivers in northern Sweden, one free‐flowing and the other regulated. We collected stranded drift material from both rivers in order to quantify the drift material and its species content. We also estimated the floristic continuity along the two rivers by comparing the drift flora with the riparian flora further upstream. The drift amount deposited on the riverbank, its species richness and its contribution to the species pool were higher in the free‐flowing than in the regulated river. The floristic continuity was also higher in the free‐flowing than in the regulated river. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Sorting of seeds by hydrochory

The species composition of riparian vegetation is determined by a variety of processes, including the dispersal of seeds. The seed types that end up at certain locations are determined by their particular characteristics as well as the prevailing hydrology and the physical characteristics of the river channel. A conceptual model is proposed to identify the hydraulic processes involved in the hydrochory pathway that may lead to differential response of different seed types and hence their sorting. The results of a series of laboratory experiments are presented to demonstrate the sorting between seed types by these processes. The behaviour of non‐buoyant seeds during settling and entrainment is shown to be consistent with that of mineral sediments, and their sorting can therefore be described by existing sediment transport theory. Significant sorting of buoyant seed types takes place during transport under the influence of wind and during ingress into marginal emergent vegetation, trapping by vegetation and stranding during receding flows on sloping channel banks. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

No evidence for cottonwood forest decline along a flow-augmented western U.S. river

In contrast to many other arid region rivers, streamflow in the South Platte River is heavily augmented by trans-basin water imports and irrigation return flows. Hydrological changes began in the 1880s, resulting in channel narrowing and the development of a continuous Populus-Salix forest by the mid-twentieth century. We assessed the composition, structure and regeneration status of the riparian forest and identified environmental variables affecting annual Populus deltoides tree growth. We sampled forest structure at four sites in 2015, and conducted dendroecological analysis at seven additional sites in 2019. The riparian forest was dominated by P. deltoides, which occurred at all sites, comprising 79% of total tree basal area and 62% of total tree density. Age structure data indicated ongoing though episodic recruitment of P. deltoides, at least over the past ~130 years. We tested 14 linear mixed effects models to describe the effect of climate and streamflow on individual tree growth (modeled as the log of BAI, n = 237 trees). The most parsimonious model selected with AICc explained 28.6% of BAI variability, and included hydrology and climate factors during the growing season (i.e., June–August streamflow, June–July PDSI), some aspects of off-season (i.e., previous November and March) streamflow, along with tree age and study site effects. The riparian forest developed in response to, and has been maintained by, current climate conditions and water management regimes. It may be negatively affected by future climate change and increased urban water demand in the basin.     

The potential role of tributaries as seed sources to an impoundment in Northern Sweden: a field experiment with seed mimics

Fragmentation and flow regulation of rivers by large dams are known to obstruct the longitudinal dispersal of waterborne plant propagules between impoundments, and to affect plant community composition. However, even several decades after a dam has been built, impoundments may still have a relatively species‐rich riparian flora. We hypothesized that free‐flowing tributaries act as the major gene pools for such impoundments, thus alleviating the fragmenting effect large dams have on the main channel. The importance of tributaries as seed sources was tested by releasing wooden seed mimics in three different‐sized (0.22–6.93 m³ s^?1) tributaries of an impoundment in the Ume River in Northern Sweden. In each tributary seed mimics were released, during the spring flood peak, from three points approximately 1, 2 and 3 km upstream the outlet in the impoundment. The importance of a tributary as a seed source increased with tributary size. Of the 9000 released seed mimics 1.5% reached the impoundment; 1.2% of the 9000 originated from the largest tributary and 0.3% from the middle‐sized one. The smallest tributary retained all its mimics. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A review of hydroecological results of the Northern River Basins Study,Canada. Part 1. Peace and Slave rivers

During the early 1990s a multi‐component research programme was initiated by the Northern River Basins Study (NRBS) in Canada to answer the question: How does and how could flow regulation affect the aquatic ecosystem? Research focused on the major headwaters of the Mackenzie River, the Peace and Slave rivers, which became regulated in 1968 by the W.A.C. Bennett Dam in the Rocky Mountains. The lack of knowledge about the hydroecology of large northern rivers as well as a paucity of data for this relatively isolated basin required that studies be undertaken to assess how flow regulation had modified the physical template of this system. Research focused on quantifying the regulation effects on the flow regime, ice conditions, fluvial geomorphology and riparian vegetation of the Peace and Slave rivers and the Slave River Delta. Results of the NRBS studies indicate that regulation of the Peace River has shifted the pattern of seasonal flows and damped flow extremes creating a less variable annual regime. Increased winter releases from the reservoir have virtually eliminated the formation of a complete winter ice cover for a significant distance below the dam and delayed ice‐cover formation farther downstream. Higher ice levels that accompany increased winter flows are thought to affect the frequency and magnitude of ecologically important ice‐induced floods that occur during the spring. Although more difficult to link solely to the effects of flow regulation, pronounced morphologic and vegetation changes have been observed along the Peace River, including channel narrowing via the abandonment of secondary/backwater channels and in‐channel shoaling along the lower reaches. Vegetation succession has been especially evident on abandoned bar surfaces. Morphological changes were also observed in the Slave River Delta, particularly along the ecologically sensitive outer margin of the delta. Copyright © 2002 Environment Canada. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Giant hogweed at its northern distribution limit in North America: Experiments for a better understanding of its dispersal dynamics along rivers

We studied the reproduction and dispersal of giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum) at its northern distribution limit in North America (Québec, 2014–2016) to better understand the invasion dynamics of the species along rivers. Seeds were collected from a riparian population to conduct germination, floatation, and dispersal experiments. Data were analysed in comparison with a real invasion case that was initiated about 10 years ago along a river system. In Québec, giant hogweed individuals produce on average 14,000 to 16,000 seeds with a germination rate of 75–85%. Seeds with endosperm that fall in water likely sink within 5 hr. Along a small brook, most disperse over short distances (<40 m) in summer, although some can travel 100–300 m. These data suggest that late‐summer or early‐fall water dispersal of seeds would not explain the magnitude and rapidity of the invasion patterns observed along streams. We suggest that late‐fall and, especially, spring floods are the most efficient dispersal vectors for giant hogweed seeds and are likely responsible for the establishment of populations kilometres downstream from introduction points along river systems. The spread of giant hogweed would consequently be less influenced in the near future by a rise in temperature than by a change in the magnitude or timing of flood events.     

Spatial patterns of fish communities in the Upper Mississippi River System: assessing fragmentation by low‐head dams

We assessed the similarity of fish communities among river reaches to assess community‐level fragmentation by low‐head dams in the Upper Mississippi River System (UMRS). The spatial coverage of standardized electrofishing sampling used in the Long Term Resource Monitoring Program (LTRMP) was extended for three of the six regional trend areas (RTA; pools 4, 13, and the Open River Reach) to include river reaches (outpools) immediately upstream and downstream from the standard RTA from 15 June to 31 October 2000. Additionally, pools 19 and 20 were sampled in September 2000. Cluster analysis and non‐metric multidimensional scaling of community composition and structure data revealed two major groups, upper and lower reaches, and four (for composition) or five (for structure) sub‐groupings of river reaches. In general, all outpools grouped with the nearest RTA for both community composition (no exception) and community structure (one exception). This suggests that fragmentation of fish communities from low‐head dams is minimal. Mantel correlations demonstrated strong inverse association between the similarity of fish communities with the distance between reaches. Habitat variables measured during electrofishing collections were significantly correlated with spatial variation of fish composition and community structure, but provided only marginal improvements to correlations with distance between reaches alone. Furthermore, habitat variability among river reaches also was related to distance between reaches. Determining the extent to which variation of fish communities is related to habitat or demographic processes (e.g. migration, larval drift, source‐sink dynamics) will be challenging for this system. Although low‐head dams on the UMRS may restrict movements for individuals and populations of certain fish species, we found little evidence that these effects have led to substantial, community‐level fragmentation. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Flow regulation by dams affecting ichthyoplankton: the case of the Porto Primavera Dam,Paraná River,Brazil

The effects of a dam closure (Porto Primavera Dam) on reproduction of the main species that use the floodplain located below a nursery area were determined. Specifically, we examined, before and after the closure of the dam, the spatial distribution of larvae and the differences in density according to life strategy (migratory and non‐migratory species). Fifteen points distributed along the channels of the Paraná, Ivinheima and Paranapanema rivers were sampled, between 1997 and 2001, (October 1997 to December 1998—pre; and between January 1999 to March 2001—post closure), during the spawning period of most fish species found in the region (October to March). Samplings were always conducted at night, using a conical‐cylindrical plankton net (0.5 mm mesh) with a flowmeter attached. There were significant differences in larvae densities between pre and post dam closure for several species. Also, there were significant differences between the pre and post‐closure periods for densities of migratory and non‐migratory species, and between sampling sites. These findings indicate decline in densities and number of taxa caught after the closure of the dam. Larvae of migratory species, formerly common in the entire study area, were registered only in points influenced by the non dammed rivers (such as the Ivinheima River), indicating that the closure of Porto Primavera caused negative impacts on fish reproduction downstream of the dam. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.