We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.
We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 November 2011
ABSTRACT Flood plains are regions which are strongly dependent on the hydrological conditions induced by the dynamics of the fluvial water system. These regions also exhibit a broad spectrum of different habitats closely interfaced and of large biological diversity.
The objective of this paper is to describe some relationships between the dynamic characteristics of hydrological variables and the spatial variability in fluvial ecosystems. The interrelationships are not well understood but some hydrological key variables can be identified which drive the biological system. The integration of temporal hydrological characteristics with the spatial variability of some abiotic parameters, such as soil type, yields an indication for the spatial variability in the environment. The links between the hydrological system characterized by the soil moisture budget and the vegetation layers in the riverine forest ecosystem are analysed at the patch scale and the regional scale.
The methodology is applied to a flood plain region located along the Austrian section of the Danube. Due to the implementation of a hydropower scheme the backwater region was separated from the main river by impounding dams located along the old river banks. The temporal pattern of the hydrological variables, including the surface water table and the groundwater table, was completely altered. The changes in both the abiotic and biotic systems were monitored over a rather long time and some links between these systems were studied.
INTRODUCTION
Riverine forests constitute habitats exhibiting a high biological diversity.
To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure [email protected] is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.
Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.
Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.
To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.
To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.
