The danube restoration project: Species diversity patterns across connectivity gradients in the floodplain system Export

@article{citeulike:2958819, abstract = {The relationship between hydrological connectivity and species diversity patterns (alpha and beta diversity) of macrophytes, molluscs, odonates and amphibians was investigated in a semi-natural floodplain segment in the 'Alluvial Zone National Park' of the Danube River in Austria. Based on environmental variables, we distinguished four major channel types (inflow channel, parapotamal, plesiopotamal and palaeopotamal) that reflected a lateral connectivity gradient. In addition, a longitudinal environmental gradient along the parapotamal channel was found. Connectivity, rather than the surface area of individual floodplain water bodies, explained local species richness. Species diversity patterns varied among taxa: the highest species richness values for molluscs occurred in the parapotamal channels, for odonates in the para- and plesiopotamal channels, for macrophytes in the plesiopotamal channels and for amphibians in the palaeopotamal channels. Within the parapotamal channels, the species richness of odonates and amphibians increased moving upstream. Beta diversity displayed an almost inverse relationship with alpha diversity, with highest average values in isolated and fragmented floodplain channels. Habitat fragmentation favoured the beta diversity of most groups, although connectivity favoured the beta diversity of amphibians. The highest proportion of endangered species (mainly rheophilic forms) was found in the parapotamal channels. It is concluded that preservation of the high diversity of this alluvial flood plain would be more fully realised by reconstitution of fluvial dynamics and the associated connectivity gradients, rather than by restoration strategies for individual groups or endangered species. Copyright {\copyright} 1999 John Wiley \& Sons, Ltd.}, address = {Institute of Plant Physiology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, A-1090 Vienna, Austria}, author = {Tockner, K. and Schiemer, F. and Baumgartner, C. and Kum, G. and Weigand, E. and Zweimu?ller, I. and Ward, J. V.}, citeulike-article-id = {2958819}, citeulike-linkout-0 = {http://www.scopus.com/record/display.url?view=extended&origin=resultslist&eid=2-s2.0-0033028265}, comment = {Floodplain rivers are characterised by fluvial dynamics creating complex habitat and connectivity gradients. Hydrological connectivity, the exchange of energy and matter, plays a central role in structuring successional patterns in floodplain systems (Amoros and Roux, 1988; Ward and Stanford, 1995a,b). Connectivity, succession and spatio-temporal heterogeneity are interrelated attributes leading to the high biodiversity that characterises floodplain rivers (Junk et al., 1989; D\'{e}camps, 1996; Ward, 1998). (Tockner, K.; Schiemer, F.; Baumgartner, C.; Kum, G.; Weigand, E.; Zweimu?ller, I.; Ward, J. V. (1999): The danube restoration project: Species diversity patterns across connectivity gradients in the floodplain system. In: River Research and Applications, Jg. 15, H. 1-3, S. 245–258, S. 245)}, journal = {River Research and Applications}, keywords = {0note, 0print, 1dipl, 1limno, 1npda, biodiversity, floodplains, pattern, restoration, river}, number = {1-3}, pages = {245--258}, posted-at = {2008-07-03 12:32:24}, priority = {2}, title = {The danube restoration project: Species diversity patterns across connectivity gradients in the floodplain system}, url = {http://www.scopus.com/record/display.url?view=extended&origin=resultslist&eid=2-s2.0-0033028265}, volume = {15}, year = {1999} }

TY - JOUR ID - citeulike:2958819 L3 - citeulike-article-id:2958819 N2 - The relationship between hydrological connectivity and species diversity patterns (alpha and beta diversity) of macrophytes, molluscs, odonates and amphibians was investigated in a semi-natural floodplain segment in the 'Alluvial Zone National Park' of the Danube River in Austria. Based on environmental variables, we distinguished four major channel types (inflow channel, parapotamal, plesiopotamal and palaeopotamal) that reflected a lateral connectivity gradient. In addition, a longitudinal environmental gradient along the parapotamal channel was found. Connectivity, rather than the surface area of individual floodplain water bodies, explained local species richness. Species diversity patterns varied among taxa: the highest species richness values for molluscs occurred in the parapotamal channels, for odonates in the para- and plesiopotamal channels, for macrophytes in the plesiopotamal channels and for amphibians in the palaeopotamal channels. Within the parapotamal channels, the species richness of odonates and amphibians increased moving upstream. Beta diversity displayed an almost inverse relationship with alpha diversity, with highest average values in isolated and fragmented floodplain channels. Habitat fragmentation favoured the beta diversity of most groups, although connectivity favoured the beta diversity of amphibians. The highest proportion of endangered species (mainly rheophilic forms) was found in the parapotamal channels. It is concluded that preservation of the high diversity of this alluvial flood plain would be more fully realised by reconstitution of fluvial dynamics and the associated connectivity gradients, rather than by restoration strategies for individual groups or endangered species. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. IS - 1-3 JF - River Research and Applications AD - Institute of Plant Physiology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, A-1090 Vienna, Austria EP - 258 TI - The danube restoration project: Species diversity patterns across connectivity gradients in the floodplain system VL - 15 SP - 245 KW - 0note KW - 0print KW - 1dipl KW - 1limno KW - 1npda KW - biodiversity KW - floodplains KW - pattern KW - restoration KW - river N1 - Floodplain rivers are characterised by fluvial dynamics creating complex habitat and connectivity gradients. Hydrological connectivity, the exchange of energy and matter, plays a central role in structuring successional patterns in floodplain systems (Amoros and Roux, 1988; Ward and Stanford, 1995a,b). Connectivity, succession and spatio-temporal heterogeneity are interrelated attributes leading to the high biodiversity that characterises floodplain rivers (Junk et al., 1989; Décamps, 1996; Ward, 1998). (Tockner, K.; Schiemer, F.; Baumgartner, C.; Kum, G.; Weigand, E.; Zweimu?ller, I.; Ward, J. V. (1999): The danube restoration project: Species diversity patterns across connectivity gradients in the floodplain system. In: River Research and Applications, Jg. 15, H. 1-3, S. 245–258, S. 245) AU - Tockner, K AU - Schiemer, F AU - Baumgartner, C AU - Kum, G AU - Weigand, E AU - Zweimu?ller, I AU - Ward, JV PY - 1999/// UR - http://www.scopus.com/record/display.url?view=extended&origin=resultslist&eid=2-s2.0-0033028265 ER -