Strengthening the ‘bio’ in biome: Living river biomes as a concept to leverage public engagement for river health

This Perspective argues for an expansion of conventional concepts of river biomes to better encapsulate the emerging social understanding of ‘biomes’ as living systems with unique macro- and micro-biotic ecological and biological signatures. We approach this by firstly examining recent interpretations of river biomes that have evolved from original zonal conceptions. We then postulate on the social/public understanding on ‘biomes’ through the popularity of two rich debates: human health via gut microbiomes and soil health via the soil microbiome. With these concepts in mind, we define the river biome as ‘A living flowing aquatic ecosystem, indicative of its environmental context, comprising unique biological, ecological, hydrologic and health characteristics that shape and are shaped by macro- and micro-biotic signatures and functions’. With this definition the term river biome is more aligned with ideas of river health and ecosystem functioning, which we believe may evoke greater public understanding of rivers as complex living systems. Enhanced public understanding of complex natural systems should be encouraged as a means by which to propel policy, funding and research as well as to improve specialist to non-specialist communication and relations.     

河流生态修复的适应性管理方法

适应性管理方法是保证河流生态修复工程成功的关键环节。文中对适应性管理方法的主要内容、关键环节进行了论述,对河流生态修复适应性管理的特征和面临的挑战进行了分析,指出了为加强适应性管理所应采取的对策措施。     

Instream flow methods: a comparison of approaches

Minimum flows in rivers and streams aim to provide a certain level of protection for the aquatic environment. The level of protection is described by a measure such as a prescribed proportion of historic flows, wetted perimeter or suitable habitat. Conflicting minimum flow assessments from different instream flow methods are arguably the result of different environmental goals and levels of protection. The goals, the way in which levels of protection are specified, and the relationship between levels of protection and the aquatic environment are examined for three major categories of flow assessment methods: historic flow, hydraulic geometry and habitat. Basic conceptual differences are identified. Flow assessments by historic flow and hydraulic methods are related to river size and tend to retain the ‘character’ of a river. Habitat-based methods make no a priori assumptions about the natural state of the river and flow assessments are based primarily on water depth and velocity requirements. Flow and hydraulic methods assume that lower than natural flows will degrade the stream ecosystem, whereas habitat methods accept the possibility that aspects of the natural ecosystem can be enhanced by other than naturally occurring flows. Application of hydraulic and habitat methods suggests that the environmental response to flow is not linear; the relative change in width and habitat with flow is greater for small rivers than for large. Small rivers are more ‘at risk’ than large rivers and require a higher proportion of the average flow to maintain similar levels of environmental protection. Habitat methods are focused on target species or specific instream uses, and are useful where there are clear management objectives and an understanding of ecosystem requirements. Flow and hydraulic methods are useful in cases where there is a poor understanding of the ecosystem or where a high level of protection for an existing ecosystem is required. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

有关河流生态系统的恢复生态学研究综述

长久以来,人们忽略了河流的生态功能,破坏了河流的各种生态过程,导致河流污染严重、生态作用越来越小。在评述恢复生态学定义及有关认识的基础上,结合分析国内外河流生态恢复的研究现状和特点,提出在河流生态恢复中应注意的几个方面,从而达到人与自然的和谐。     

河流生态水文学研究现状

生态水文学是一门新兴的边缘交叉学科,是生态保护的重要理论基础和技术支撑。河流生态水文学作为其一个重要分支,在河流生态恢复中被寄予厚望,以协调河流开发与河流生态系统保护之间的矛盾。本文简要回顾了生态水文学研究的发展历程,并从河流生态学理论、河流水文情势生态效应评价方法、河流生态流量及河流生态修复等方面重点介绍了河流生态水文学领域的研究进展。     

Channel response to sediment replenishment in a large gravel‐bed river: The case of the Saint‐Sauveur dam in the Buëch River (Southern Alps,France)

The Saint‐Sauveur dam was built in 1992 in the middle section of the Buëch River. Downstream of the dam, a channel incision by several meters was observed. A gravel replenishment operation was planned in order to restore the active channel. An equivalent of two times the mean annual bedload‐transport capacity (43,500 m³) was replenished downstream of the dam in September 2016. The aim of this paper is to quantify morphological change associated with sediment remobilization in order to evaluate the efficiency of the restoration works. The monitoring was based on a combination of (a) change detection using sequential high‐resolution digital elevation models (from airborne LiDAR data), (b) bedload tracing using active ultrahigh‐frequency radio‐frequency identification technology, and (c) complementary field surveys of channel grain‐size distribution and morphology for bedload‐transport computation. Field monitoring allows us to capture a net aggradation along a 2‐km reach after the first post‐replenishment flood. A sediment balance analysis was performed to back‐calculate bedload supply coming from the sluicing operation during the flood. Although the sediment replenishment operation clearly had a positive impact on the morphological conditions of the starved river reach, the effective bedload supply from artificial berms (22,650 m³) was insufficient to initiate substantial channel shifting along the restored reach and a subsequent amplification of the sediment recharge. The combination of high‐resolution topographic resurveys and sediment tracing was successful to evaluate the downstream propagation of sediment replenishment effects.     

河流修复技术研究

河流修复是维护河流健康的重要措施,根据修复重点可分为近自然生态工法、水文模式修复法、河流分类法3类。河流修复具有时间和空间变异特征,包括系统条件和河流水文、结构、物质以及物种3个层面,修复的重点是创建多样性河流形态和改善河流水文条件,本文给出了河流形态多样性修复的主要内容和修复的概念性框架。考虑自然河流径流过程和河道生态保护目标,给出了河道不同保证率条件下的最小生态补水量、适宜生态补水量以及平滩补水量的计算方法,以为水库生态调度提供依据。     

Hydrologically Based Environmental Flow Methods Applied to Rivers in the Maritime Provinces (Canada)

The demand for water withdrawal continues to increase worldwide. These water withdrawals from rivers can affect fish habitat and aquatic life. As such, environmental flow assessment methods are used in order to protect rivers against excessive water withdrawals. The concept of environmental flow relates to the quantity of water required in rivers to sustain an acceptable level of living conditions for aquatic biota at various phases of their development. For many agencies, environmental flow methods are essential in environmental impact assessments and in the protection of important fisheries resources. The present study deals with the evaluation of hydrologically based environmental flow methods within the Maritime Province of Canada. In total, six hydrologically based environmental flow methods were compared using data from 52 hydrometric stations across the region. Some methods provided adequate environmental flow protection (e.g. 25% mean annual flow and Q₅₀ flow duration method); however, other methods did not provide adequate flow protection (e.g. Q₉₀ flow duration method and 7Q10 and 7Q2 low‐flow frequency). The 70% Q₅₀ method provided adequate flow protection only under good baseflow conditions and should be applied with extreme caution. The present study shows the importance of the hydrologic flow regime, particularly as it pertains to the baseflow component, as a significant determinant in the level of instream flow protection. © 2014 Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada. River Research and Applications © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.