Investigating and modelling the interaction among vegetation, hydrodynamics and morphology

PhDThe dissertation presented in this manuscript contributes to river science by providing a detailed overview on the state of the art on the interaction between riparian vegetation and hydrogeomorphological processes, by devising a novel model encompassing most of such processes and by proposing a field methodology aimed at providing means for improving the modelling of such interactions. The state of the art is summarized in an extensive review describing riparian vegetation and hydrogeomorphological processes mutual feedbacks. Such review did not simply seek to describe these feedbacks but, compiling from a large array of results from field, laboratory and modelling studies, provides a set of physical thresholds that trigger system changes. Therefore, processes are not only described terms but also explained with a quantitative approach. Processes description provided the conceptual foundation for the development of the novel simulation model while model parameterization was based on the quantitative information collected in the review. Such novel model, encompasses the main relationships entwining riparian woody vegetation and hydrogeomorphological processes and is able of replicating long term riparian landscape dynamics considering disturbance events, environmental stressor and riparian woody vegetation establishment from seeds and large wood. The manuscript presents the model structure and its conceptual validation by means of hydrological scenarios aimed at testing the coherence of the simulation results with expected system behaviour. Examples of such coherences are vegetation growth rate in response to hydrological regime, entrainment and establishment of large wood in an unconfined river system and vegetation effect on erosion and deposition patterns. Analysis of sedimentation patterns from the modelled results suggested that vegetation flow resistance should be modelled with greater detail. These conclusions pointed the dissertation research towards the testing of a novel class of vegetation flow resistance equations, proposed by different authors, able of describing woody vegetation flow resistance on a physical basis. These equations have the advantage of considering flow stage, plants foliation level and species-specific flexibility. However, the use of such equations is limited by the difficulty of measuring the vegetation properties required as equation-inputs. In order to test if these equations could effectively improve sediment dynamics predictions, a field method was formulated and tested. The field method allows to sample vegetation properties that can be used with these novel class of flow resistance equations. In the manuscript, such method is applied and the resulting vegetation properties used in several modelling scenarios. Such scenario proved that hydraulic variables modelled with these novel flow resistance approaches are more realistic and thus that the model developed during the dissertation could benefit from inclusion of such flow resistance equations in its source code.Edmund Mach Foundatio

Modeling the evolution of riparian woodlands facing climate change in three European rivers with contrasting flow regimes

Global circulation models forecasts indicate a future temperature and rainfall pattern modification worldwide. Such phenomena will become particularly evident in Europe where climate modifications could be more severe than the average change at the global level. As such, river flow regimes are expected to change, with resultant impacts on aquatic and riparian ecosystems. Riparian woodlands are among the most endangered ecosystems on earth and provide vital services to interconnected ecosystems and human societies. However, they have not been the object of many studies designed to spatially and temporally quantify how these ecosystems will react to climate change-induced flow regimes. Our goal was to assess the effects of climate-changed flow regimes on the existing riparian vegetation of three different European flow regimes. Cases studies were selected in the light of the most common watershed alimentation modes occurring across European regions, with the objective of appraising expected alterations in the riparian elements of fluvial systems due to climate change. Riparian vegetation modeling was performed using the CASiMiR-vegetation model, which bases its computation on the fluvial disturbance of the riparian patch mosaic. Modeling results show that riparian woodlands may undergo not only at least moderate changes for all flow regimes, but also some dramatic adjustments in specific areas of particular vegetation development stages. There are circumstances in which complete annihilation is feasible. Pluvial flow regimes, like the ones in southern European rivers, are those likely to experience more pronounced changes. Furthermore, regardless of the flow regime, younger and more water-dependent individuals are expected to be the most affected by climate change.This work was supported by the IWRM Era-Net Funding Initiative through the RIPFLOW project (references ERAC-CT-2005-026025, ERA-IWRM/0001/2008, CGL2008-03076-E/BTE), http://www.old.iwrm-net.eu/spip.php. Rui Rivaes benefited from a PhD grant sponsored by UTL - Universidade Tecnica de Lisboa (www.utl.pt) and Patricia Maria Rodriguez-Gonzalez benefited from a post-doctoral grant sponsored by FCT - Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia (www.fct.pt) (SFRH/BPD/47140/2008). The Spanish team would like to thank the Spanish Ministry of the Economy and Competitiveness the support provided through the SCARCE project (Consolider-Ingenio 2010 CSD2009-00065). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. 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Riparian zones - from policy neglected to policy integrated

[EN] 1. Riparian zones are vital areas of interaction between land and rivers and are often degraded by several pressures such as urbanisation, intensive agriculture and river engineering works. 2. This policy brief provides five key policy messages and recommendations to be considered by policy-makers, scientists, managers, and stakeholders to enhance riparian zone management. 3. Adopting an integrated socio-economic and environmentally dynamic view will ensure the sustainable management of riparian zones. 4. In light of climate change, it is critically important to conserve and/or restore the ecological integrity of riparian zones. 5. European Union Directives and national-scale legislation and regulations need updating to ensure coordinated implementation of riparian zone-related policies. 6. Stakeholder knowledge exchange, policy co-creation and adaptive management are key to enhancing riparian zone functions.Funding was provided by COST Action CONVERGES (CA16208) and by the Horizon 2020 Framework Programme of the European Union. GU was partially supported by the Slovenian Research Agency. PR-G was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) through the CEEC Individual Programme (2020.03356. CEECIND), and Forest Research Centre was supported through the FCT UIDB/00239/2020. Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) funded Inês Gomes Marques through a PhD scholarship (SFRH/BD/133162/2017). AA was supported by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia (Grant No. 451-03-68/2022-14/200010).Urbanic, G.; Politti, E.; Rodríguez-González, PM.; Payne, R.; Schook, D.; Alves, MH.; Andelkovic, A.... (2022). Riparian zones - from policy neglected to policy integrated. Frontiers in Environmental Science. 9(5):1-8. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2022.868527189

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

Riparian Zones—From Policy Neglected to Policy Integrated

1. Riparian zones are vital areas of interaction between land and rivers and are often degraded by several pressures such as urbanisation, intensive agriculture and river engineering works. 2. This policy brief provides five key policy messages and recommendations to be considered by policy-makers, scientists, managers, and stakeholders to enhance riparian zone management. 3. Adopting an integrated socioeconomic and environmentally dynamic view will ensure the sustainable management of riparian zones. 4. In light of climate change, it is critically important to conserve and/or restore the ecological integrity of riparian zones. 5. European Union Directives and national-scale legislation and regulations need updating to ensure coordinated implementation of riparian zone-related policies. 6. Stakeholder knowledge exchange, policy co-creation and adaptive management are key to enhancing riparian zone functions

Common vegetation classification adopted for the three case studies.

<p>Common vegetation classification (by succession phase and stage) adopted for the three case studies, according to the existing vegetation series in each case study. Adapted from <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0110200#pone.0110200-GarcaArias1" target="_blank">[74]</a>.</p

Specific area cover anomaly of succession phases.

<p>Specific area cover anomaly (%) of the succession phases in each study site and for the considered scenarios (see <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0110200#pone-0110200-g005" target="_blank">Figure 5</a> for succession phase acronyms).</p

Study site location.

<p>Study site location showing the spatial variation in mean annual air temperature and an altitude profile across the three study sites (Digital Elevation Model and Mean annual air temperature data source: EDIT Geoplatform, [January, 2013], (CC BY-NC-SA 2.5 ES), <a href="http://edit.csic.es/" target="_blank">http://edit.csic.es/</a>).</p

Changes in succession phase cover area according to the considered scenarios.

<p>Succession phase changes (area cover) in accordance with the considered case studies and scenarios. See <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0110200#pone-0110200-g005" target="_blank">Figure 5</a> for succession phase acronyms; percentage values relative to the total modeling area in each case study; Δ stands for scenario variation when compared to the Reference scenario.</p><p>Changes in succession phase cover area according to the considered scenarios.</p

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