Self-organization of river vegetation leads to emergent buffering of river flows and water levels.

Proceedings. Biological Sciences
Loreta CornacchiaJohan van de Koppel

Abstract

Global climate change is expected to impact hydrodynamic conditions in stream ecosystems. There is limited understanding of how stream ecosystems interact and possibly adapt to novel hydrodynamic conditions. Combining mathematical modelling with field data, we demonstrate that bio-physical feedback between plant growth and flow redistribution triggers spatial self-organization of in-channel vegetation that buffers for changed hydrological conditions. The interplay of vegetation growth and hydrodynamics results in a spatial separation of the stream into densely vegetated, low-flow zones divided by unvegetated channels of higher flow velocities. This self-organization process decouples both local flow velocities and water levels from the forcing effect of changing stream discharge. Field data from two lowland, baseflow-dominated streams support model predictions and highlight two important stream-level emergent properties: vegetation controls flow conveyance in fast-flowing channels throughout the annual growth cycle, and this buffering of discharge variations maintains water depths and wetted habitat for the stream community. Our results provide important evidence of how plant-driven self-organization allows stream ecosystems to...Continue Reading

References

Feb 25, 2005·The American Naturalist·Johan van de KoppelPeter M J Herman
Jul 26, 2005·Science·Jonathan A FoleyPeter K Snyder
Jan 27, 2006·Nature·William E Dietrich, J Taylor Perron
Feb 8, 2008·Trends in Ecology & Evolution·Max Rietkerk, Johan van de Koppel
Jul 23, 2008·The Science of the Total Environment·Paul FranklinPaul Whitehead
May 26, 2010·The American Naturalist·Ellen J WeermanPeter M J Herman
May 19, 2011·The New Phytologist·Sara PuijalonGudrun Bornette
May 7, 2016·Science·Colin B Phillips, Douglas J Jerolmack
Jul 20, 2016·Nature Communications·William S Kearney, Sergio Fagherazzi

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