Bringing the margin to the focus: 10 challenges for riparian vegetation science and management

[EN] Riparian zones are the paragon of transitional ecosystems, providing critical habitat and ecosystem services that are especially threatened by global change. Following consultation with experts, 10 key challenges were identified to be addressed for riparian vegetation science and management improvement: (1) Create a distinct scientific community by establishing stronger bridges between disciplines; (2) Make riparian vegetation more visible and appreciated in society and policies; (3) Improve knowledge regarding biodiversity¿ ecosystem functioning links; (4) Manage spatial scale and context-based issues; (5) Improve knowledge on social dimensions of riparian vegetation; (6) Anticipate responses to emergent issues and future trajectories; (7) Enhance tools to quantify and prioritize ecosystem services; (8) Improve numerical modeling and simulation tools; (9) Calibrate methods and increase data availability for better indicators and monitoring practices and transferability; and (10) Undertake scientific validation of best management practices. These challenges are discussed and critiqued here, to guide future research into riparian vegetation.COST Action CONVERGES, Grant/Award Number: CA16208; Horizon 2020 Framework Programme of the European Union; Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology, Grant/Award Number: 2020/03356/CEECIND;PTDC/ASP-SIL/28593/2017;UIDB/00239/2020; CSIC: PTIECOBIODIVRodríguez-González, PM.; Abraham, E.; Aguiar, F.; Andreoli, A.; Bale Entiene, L.; Berisha, N.; Bernez, I.... (2022). Bringing the margin to the focus: 10 challenges for riparian vegetation science and management. Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews Water. 9(5):1-14. https://doi.org/10.1002/wat2.16041149

Bringing the margin to the focus: 10 challenges for riparian vegetation science and management

Riparian zones are the paragon of transitional ecosystems, providing critical habitat and ecosystem services that are especially threatened by global change. Following consultation with experts, 10 key challenges were identified to be addressed for riparian vegetation science and management improvement: (1) Create a distinct scientific community by establishing stronger bridges between disciplines; (2) Make riparian vegetation more visible and appreciated in society and policies; (3) Improve knowledge regarding biodiversity—ecosystem functioning links; (4) Manage spatial scale and context-based issues; (5) Improve knowledge on social dimensions of riparian vegetation; (6) Anticipate responses to emergent issues and future trajectories; (7) Enhance tools to quantify and prioritize ecosystem services; (8) Improve numerical modeling and simulation tools; (9) Calibrate methods and increase data availability for better indicators and monitoring practices and transferability; and (10) Undertake scientific validation of best management practices. These challenges are discussed and critiqued here, to guide future research into riparian vegetation

De l'aménagement des ruisseaux & petits fleuves côtiers à leur restauration écologique

De l'aménagement des ruisseaux et petits fleuves côtiers à leur restauration écologique

Suivi de la recolonisation végétale spontanée des berges remaniées de la Sélune (Normandie, France) avant l’arasement de deux grands barrages : élaboration d’un protocole pour la mise en place de l’observatoire ORSER

Dans le cadre de la restauration de la continuité écologique de la Sélune (Normandie, France), les grands barrages de Vezins et de la Roche-qui-boit seront arasés d’ici 2021. Afin de maintenir une bonne qualité des eaux en aval et d'éviter le charriage d'une grande quantité de sédiments dans la baie du Mont-Saint-Michel, ceux-ci sont retirés du lit mineur dans la retenue de Vezins, redonnant au fleuve son profil originel. Déposés sur certains tronçons de berges, à commencer par l’amont en 2017, les sédiments sont structurés en une banquette de débordement surmontée d’un talus d’environ 1 m de haut. Ces travaux d’ingénierie sont réalisés conjointement à la vidange progressive du lac. Les sédiments ainsi exondés constituent un milieu favorable à une végétation pionnière. La recolonisation végétale spontanée est suivie dès les premiers stades pour s'assurer du maintien des sédiments, mais aussi, suivre l’évolution des populations d’espèces rares initialement présentes, comme la limoselle (Limosella aquatica L.). Ces espèces liées au marnage et à l’exondation temporaire des berges, donc fortement menacées par l’ampleur des travaux, font l’objet de mesures de compensation ex situ. Cependant, un potentiel de conservation in situ mérite d’être étudié puisque des populations sont présentes sur un site finalement conservé en l’état et sur des mares apparues sur l’un des nouveaux talus. Ces enjeux justifient un suivi à long terme de la dynamique de repousse de la végétation des rives de la Sélune dont un protocole adapté à la diversité des contextes a pu être mis en place suite à des relevés floristiques effectués en octobre 2017 sur 5 sites impactés par les travaux. Cet Observatoire de la Revégétalisation des rives de la Sélune en Ecologie de la Restauration (ORSER) permettra de déterminer si la restauration passive de la vallée est envisageable, en tenant compte des nouveaux usages du territoire

Sustainable management and restoration of Mediterranean riparian zones.

International audienc

Headwaters ecological restoration at landscape scales.

Headwaters ecological restoration at landscape scales

A tool for interdiciplinary research in a eco-hydrological perspective : the Research Observatory of Lotic Ecosystems (OREL) at the National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA), France

A tool for interdiciplinary research in a eco-hydrological perspective : the Research Observatory of Lotic Ecosystems (OREL) at the National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA), France. Multifunctionality of Landscapes - Analysis, Evaluation, and Decision Suppor

Effects of perturbations on the aquatic vegetation of regulated river.

National audienceMacrophytes of the River Rance were studied according to the sampling methods of the French Water Agencies (>) : survey of 50 m length stations along the river gradient; the sectorisation of the river was done considering abiotic factors such as drainage order, slope, geology and pollution points. Spatio-temporal variations of the floristic communities were described through species richness, diversity and evenness indexes, macrophyte index and cover of the types and the biological groups. For its first application in regulated parts, MEV protocol gave quite a good result. Floristic structure changed according to the management of the hydroelectric dam of Rophemel. Upstream, chemical industrial and agricultural pollution modified the vegetation too. The more obvious modification occurred for the hydraulic perturbation. This response was obtained with the French macrophyte index too (Indice Biologique Macrophytique : IBM) : The low waters of September decreased the notes of the index. Several propositions are discussed to improve the index according to the English methodology developed trough the Mean Trophic Rank. Great macrophytes cover was observed at the low water level of the end of the summer. Perturbed parts were more affected. The balance between community structures gave a functional indication of the River Rance. The comparison of seasonal variations occurs to be a way of study of the biological response to perturbation. According to the great response of the vegetation downstream from the dam, perspectives are proposed in using regulated parts of the river as an in situ experimental tool to increase the understanding of ecological mechanisms

Strategies of Potamogeton pectinatus L. (Sago pondweed) under variable artificially flooded water regimes in river.

Strategies of Potamogeton pectinatus L. (Sago pondweed) under variable artificially flooded water regimes in river.. International Symposium on Aquatic Vascular Plants : 25 Years afte

Restauration de l’habitat de l’azuré des mouillères (Phengaris alcon) et ses hôtes, Gentiana pneumonanthe et les fourmis du genre Myrmica, dans le parc naturel d’Alvao, Portugal.

Restauration de l’habitat de l’azuré des mouillères (Phengaris alcon) et ses hôtes, Gentiana pneumonanthe et les fourmis du genre Myrmica, dans le parc naturel d’Alvao, Portugal.Restauration de l’habitat de l’azuré des mouillères (Phengaris alcon) et ses hôtes, Gentiana pneumonanthe et les fourmis du genre Myrmica, dans le parc naturel d’Alvao, Portugal