Perspectives on biogeomorphology, ecosystem engineering and self-organisation in island-braided fluvial ecosystems

Using the River Tagliamento, Italy, as an example, we examine the role of self-organisation in the formation and dynamics of vegetated islands in fluvial ecosystems. We consider how various biogeomorphic processes, such as feedbacks between tree growth and sedimentation, influence island self-assembly, as well as the potential influences of island landforms on resource distribution and shifts in ecosystem state. Despite the abundance of island landforms of different sizes and ages in island-braided reaches along the River Tagliamento, island formation is only found within a specific hydrological and sedimentary envelope, and depends upon a delicate balance of biotic-abiotic feedbacks. As a result, island landforms tend to be lost when river functioning is altered by human interventions. We argue that the specific biogeomorphic processes and self-organisation associated with river island dynamics offer an example of biogeomorphic inheritance, in which reciprocal feedbacks between species and geomorphic processes favour engineer species and promote the future development of the landforms. Thus, islands represent extended phenotypes – or external expressions of genetic traits – of key riparian ecosystem engineers. This capacity to modify the physical environment has important implications for landform evolution and riparian biodiversity. In conclusion, we propose several topics that merit investigation to improve our understanding of the biogeomorphology and self-organisation of river island systems.     

Reconstructing the development of sampled sites on fluvial island surfaces of the Tagliamento River,Italy, from historical sources

In parallel with research on surface sediment characteristics of evolving island features (patches) along an island‐braided reach of the Tagliamento River, Italy, the present research reconstructed the development of the sampled sites using historical information coupled with field measurements. Since any field sediment sampling programme inevitably focuses on small areas (of the order of a few metres), the historical sources were assessed bearing in mind their spatial resolution and geographical accuracy in relation to the size of the sampled sites, and the information they could provide regarding the historical evolution of those sites. The analysis combined four sources of information: (i) river stage records revealed flood events that had the potential to reset bar surfaces and float in wood and seeds to initiate vegetation colonization; (ii) oblique ground photographs identified areas of the river's active corridor where riparian vegetation colonization appeared to have been initiated by specific flood events; (iii) dendrochronology was used to estimate the age of sampled sites; (iv) field‐measured geographical locations of the sampled sites were combined with historical vertical areal imagery to further establish sampling site age and changes in vegetation cover from 1944 to 2012. A chronosequence of sampled sites (0, 2, 8, 12, 40 years) was established. Vegetation colonization and island development showed a statistically significant development trajectory among sites of each age across the 40 year period following formative floods in 1965–1966, 2000, 2004 and a flow pulse in 2010. The trajectory progressed through pioneer and building island stages until vegetated areas became part of established islands. Evidence from the younger sites indicates that the pioneer island phase lasts up to eight years. Evidence from the oldest site indicates a building island phase lasting a maximum of 30 years, but probably a lot less. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Trees as riparian engineers: the Tagliamento river,Italy

Pristine river corridors were characterized by island and floodplain development driven by the inter‐play of flows, sediments and woody vegetation. Here we explore these relationships within topographically controlled settings within the upper, middle and lower reaches of a large, semi‐natural alpine to mediterranean river. These reaches have expanding or contracting valley floors within which we show that there are more or less predictable patterns of stream power and rates of vegetation growth, reflecting water availability during dry periods and also the availability of sand and finer sediment. We relate these to the pattern of island distribution that is repeated within the three reaches and is indicative of the engineering role of riparian trees. Islands are shown to develop within thresholds defined by stream power, rates of woody vegetation growth and rates of sedimentation, and to develop most quickly where riparian species include those capable of sprouting from driftwood. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Large wood retention in river channels: the case of the Fiume Tagliamento,Italy

After more than 300 years of widespread and intensive river management, few examples of complex, unmanaged river systems remain within Europe. An exception is the Fiume Tagliamento, Italy, which retains a riparian woodland margin and unconfined river channel system throughout almost the entire 170 km length of its river corridor. A research programme is underway focusing on a range of related aspects of the hydrology, fluvial geomorphology and ecology of the Tagliamento. This paper contributes to that programme by focusing on large wood retention. The paper adopts a simple force:resistance approach at the scale of the entire river corridor in order to identify reaches of the river with a high wood retention potential. Information on the character of the river corridor is derived from 1:10 000 scale topographic maps. A range of indices measured at 330 transects across the river corridor supports a classification of the geomorphological style of the river which reflects the presence and abundance of properties previously identified in the literature as large wood retention sites. This classification provides a qualitative representation of the ‘resistance’ of the corridor to wood movement and thus its overall wood‐retention potential. The map‐derived indices are also used to extrapolate estimates of the ten year return period flood to each of the 330 transects so that the downstream pattern of unit stream power can be quantified as an index representing ‘force’ in the analysis. Although input of wood is an important factor in many river systems, it is assumed not to be a limiting factor along the Tagliamento, where riparian woodland is abundant. Field observations of large wood storage illustrate that wood retention at eight sites along the river reflects the presence and abundance of the features incorporated in the classification of geomorphological style, including the complexity of the channel network, the availability of exposed gravel areas, and the presence of islands. In general at the time of survey in August 1998, open gravel areas were estimated to store approximately 1 t ha⁻¹ of wood in single‐thread reaches and 6 t ha⁻¹ in multiple‐thread reaches. Established islands were estimated to store an average of 80 t ha⁻¹ of wood. Nevertheless, there was considerable variability between sites, and pioneer islands, which are not represented on maps or readily identified from air photographs because of their small size, were estimated to store an order of magnitude more wood than established islands. Furthermore, the wood storage from this sample of eight sites did not reflect variability in estimated unit stream power. A series of areas for further research are identified, which can be explored using field data, and which will throw more light on the processes of wood retention in this extremely dynamic fluvial environment. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Physical environmental controls on riparian root profiles associated with black poplar (Populus nigra L.) along the Tagliamento River,Italy

Tree roots contribute to the resistance of riparian sediments to physical deformation and disintegration. Understanding reinforcement by roots requires information on root distributions within riparian soils and sediments. Continuous‐depth models or curves have been proposed to describe vertical root density variations, providing useful indicators of the types of function that may be appropriate to riparian trees, but have generally been estimated for terrestrial species or broad vegetation types rather than riparian species or environments. We investigated vertical distributions of roots >0.1 mm diameter of a single riparian tree species (Populus nigra L.) along the middle reaches of a single river (Tagliamento River, Italy), where Populus nigra dominates the riparian woodland. Root density (hundreds m^?2) and root area ratio (RAR in cm² m^?2) were measured within 10 cm depth increments of 24 excavated bank profiles across nine sites. Sediment samples, extracted from distinct strata within the profiles, were analysed for moisture content, organic matter content and particle size. Statistical analyses identified two groups of wetter and drier profiles and five sediment types. Following log_e‐transformation of root density and RAR, linear regression analysis explored their variation with depth and, using dummy variables, any additional influence of moisture and sediment type. Significant linear regression relationships were estimated between both root density and RAR and depth which explained only 15% and 8% of the variance in the data. Incorporating moisture and then sediment characteristics into the analysis increased the variance explained in root density to 29% and 36% and in RAR to 14% and 26%. We conclude that riparian tree root density and RAR are highly spatially variable and are poorly explained by depth alone. Complex riparian sedimentary structures and moisture conditions are important influences on root distributions and so need to be incorporated into assessments of the contribution of roots to river bank reinforcement. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Interactions between river flows and colonizing vegetation on a braided river: exploring spatial and temporal dynamics in riparian vegetation cover using satellite data

Field, laboratory, and numerical modelling research are increasingly demonstrating the potential of riparian tree colonization and growth to influence fluvial dynamics and the evolution of fluvial landforms. This paper jointly analyses multi‐temporal, multispectral ASTER data, continuous river stage and discharge data, and field observations of the growth rates of the dominant riparian tree species (Populus nigra) along a 21 km reach of the Tagliamento River, Italy. Research focuses on the period 2004–2009, during which there was a bankfull flood on 24 October 2004, followed by 2 years with low water levels, nearly 2 years with only modest flow pulses, and then a final period from 15 August 2008 that included several intermediate to bankfull flow events. This study period of increasing flow disturbance allows the exploration of vegetation dynamics within the river's active corridor under changing flow conditions. The analysis demonstrates the utility of ASTER data for investigating vegetation dynamics along large fluvial corridors and reveals both spatial and temporal variations in the expansion, coalescence, and erosion of vegetated patches within the study reach. Changes in the extent of the vegetated area and its dynamics vary along the study reach. In sub‐reaches where riparian tree growth is vigorous, the vegetated area expands rapidly during time periods without channel‐shaping flows, and is subsequently able to resist erosion by bankfull floods. In contrast, in sub‐reaches where tree growth is less vigorous, the vegetated area expands at a slower rate and is more readily re‐set by bankfull flood events. This illustrates that the rate of growth of riparian trees is crucial to their ability to contribute actively to river corridor dynamics. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Controls on the sexual and asexual regeneration of Salicaceae along a highly dynamic, braided river system

Salicaceae are key pioneer riparian tree species that have the ability to reproduce sexually and asexually. Recent research has suggested that Salicaceae act as ‘ecosystem engineers’, modifying hydrological and geomorphological processes, resulting in the stabilisation and growth of landforms. Understanding these interactions requires knowledge of the controls on Salicaceae regeneration. This paper describes a study of Salicaceae establishment and growth along a reach of a highly dynamic, island-braided river. The sexual and asexual regeneration of three species were investigated using experimental planting of cuttings and observation of seedlings. Plots were located at a range of elevations, in different habitats associated with the established riparian vegetation and in contrasting sediment types. Survival and growth were monitored over two growing seasons. Asexual regeneration was more successful than sexual regeneration, with cuttings demonstrating faster growth rates and tolerance of broader environmental conditions than seedlings. Cutting survival and growth was highest in sediments with a relatively high organic content and in plots located between patchy Salicaceae stands or in the lee of islands. Seedling mortality was extremely high due to fluvial disturbance, although seedlings in habitats that were protected from fluvial disturbance survived. Seedling growth showed preferences for particular sedimentary conditions, which varied between species. The major control on regeneration was the upstream presence of established Salicaceae, particularly on islands, which provided open sites that were protected from fluvial disturbance and suitable for regeneration. Thus, asexual regeneration facilitated sexual regeneration by rapidly colonising sites that provided habitats protected from fluvial disturbance for seedling establishment. This supports previous work suggesting that Salicaceae can act as ‘ecosystem engineers’.     

Understanding processes of island development on an island braided river over timescales from days to decades

Bar colonization by vegetation and subsequent island formation is a key bio-geomorphological process in fluvial landscape evolution. Here we investigate morphological and ecological evolution of river islands over timescales from single floods to decades, focusing on islands initiated by deposited trees that sprout to form vegetated patches. On a braided reach of the high-energy Tagliamento River, Italy, we monitored 30 pioneer islands of 1 to 17 years age in comparison with unvegetated bar surfaces, open areas between islands, and established island surfaces. We integrated morphological, surface sediment and vegetation properties of islands initiated by different flood events, combining evidence from remotely-sensed and ground observations, flow and climate time series. At a decadal timescale, pioneer islands aggrade rapidly to the elevation of the mean annual flood, showing a steady increase in vegetation canopy height, fining of surface sediments from predominantly gravel to silty-sand with a notable clay and organic fraction. The standing vegetation included over 130 species, with the largest number on island surfaces of intermediate elevation and flood disturbance. As islands age, standing vegetation becomes comprised mainly of competitor species with transient seed banks and typical of woodland, scrub, pasture and wetland habitats, whereas the winter seedbank is dominated on all surfaces by ruderal species with persistent seedbanks, mainly associated with aquatic, wetland, pasture, arable and wasteland habitats. At shorter timescales, the biogeomorphological trajectory of pioneer islands is initiated by large flood events that control the elevation of deposited trees, and subsequent flows that control tree survival and establishment. Island morphological evolution depends on the frequency-magnitude of sediment and seed delivery and redistribution by flood and possibly wind events, whereas island ability to retain sediments reflects the degree of vegetation establishment, which in the short-term may vary with seasonal to annual moisture supply, substrate characteristics and climatic growth conditions. © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Vegetation turnover in a braided river: frequency and effectiveness of floods of different magnitude

This work addresses the temporal dynamics of riparian vegetation in large braided rivers, exploring the relationship between vegetation erosion and flood magnitude. In particular, it investigates the existence of a threshold discharge, or a range of discharges, above which erosion of vegetated patches within the channel occurs. The research was conducted on a 14 km long reach of the Tagliamento River, a braided river in north‐eastern Italy. Ten sets of aerial photographs were used to investigate vegetation dynamics in the period 1954–2011. By using different geographic information system (GIS) procedures, three aspects of geomorphic‐vegetation dynamics and interactions were addressed: (i) long‐term (1954–2011) channel evolution and vegetation dynamics; (ii) the relationship between vegetation erosion/establishment and flow regime; (iii) vegetation turnover, in the period 1986–2011. Results show that vegetation turnover is remarkably rapid in the study reach with 50% of in‐channel vegetation persisting for less than 5–6 years and only 10% of vegetation persisting for more than 18–19 years. The analysis shows that significant vegetation erosion is determined by relatively frequent floods, i.e. floods with a recurrence interval of c. 1–2.5 years, although some differences exist between sub‐reaches with different densities of vegetation cover. These findings suggest that the erosion of riparian vegetation in braided rivers may not be controlled solely by very large floods, as is the case for lower energy gravel‐bed rivers. Besides flow regime, other factors seem to play a significant role for in‐channel vegetation cover over long time spans. In particular, erosion of marginal vegetation, which supplies large wood elements to the channel, increased notably over the study period and was an important factor for in‐channel vegetation trends. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Multi-thread river channels: A perspective on changing European alpine river systems

Rivers are natural systems whose planform pattern in alluvial reaches reflects a balance between three fundamental ingredients: flow energy, sediment calibre and supply, and vegetation. Whilst early research on river channel classification emphasised flow (stream power) and sediment controls, the impact of vegetation is now recognised in increasingly detailed classification schemes. Different planform patterns are more or less sensitive to changes in these three fundamental ingredients, which in the absence of human interventions all respond to changes in climate, allowing different morphological configurations to evolve and in some cases shift from one planform style to another. Multi-thread, braided and transitional river channel styles are common in European regions where conditions for the development of these planform styles, notably high bed material supply and steep channel gradients, exist. However, widespread, intense human impacts on European river systems, particularly over recent centuries, have caused major changes in river styles. Human activities impact on all three major controls on channel pattern: flow regime, sediment regime, vegetation (both riparian and catchment-wide). Whilst the mix of human activities may vary greatly between catchments, research from across Europe on the historical evolution of river systems has identified consistent trends in channel pattern change, particularly within rivers draining the Alps. These trends involve periods of narrowing and widening, and also switching between multi-thread and single-thread styles. Although flow regulation is often the key focus of explanations for human-induced channel change, our review suggests that human manipulation of sediment supply is a major, possibly the dominant, causal factor. We also suggest that “engineering” by riparian trees can accelerate transitions in pattern induced by flow and sediment change and can also shift transition thresholds, offering a new perspective for interpretation of channel change in addition to the focus on flow and sediment regime within existing models. Whilst the development of planform classifications of increasing complexity have been crucial in developing terminology and highlighting the main factors that control channel styles, additional approaches are needed to understand, predict and manage European Alpine river systems. A combination of field, laboratory and numerical modeling approaches are needed to advance the process understanding that is necessary to anticipate river landscape, particularly planform, changes and thus to make ecologically sound management choices.     

The early impact of large wood introduction on the morphology and sediment characteristics of a lowland river

Habitat degradation in river ecosystems has considerably increased over the past decades, resulting in detrimental effects on aquatic and riparian communities. During the last two decades, the value of large wood as a resource for river restoration and recovery has been increasingly documented. However, post-project appraisal of the associations between restored large wood, morphological complexity and river ecology as a result of river restoration is extremely rare and thus scientific knowledge is essential. To investigate restored wood-induced morphological response and sediment complexity in an overwidened reach along a low gradient lowland river (River Bure, UK), two sub-reaches containing 12 jams initiated by wood emplacement in 2008 and 2010 and a sub-reach free of wood were studied. Wood surveys recording the dimensions and number of wood pieces in jams, geomorphological mapping of the reach illustrating the spatial distribution of features in and around the jams and in a section free of wood, and sediment sampling (analysed for particle size, organic content and plant propagule abundance) of five recurring patch types surrounding each jam (two wood-related patches and three representing the broader river environment) were performed. Wood jams partially spanned the river channel and contained large pieces of wood that created more open structures than naturally-formed wood jams. Where no wood was introduced, the channel remains wide and the gravel bed is buried by sand and finer sediment. In the restored reaches, fine sediment has accumulated in and around the wood jams and has been stabilised by vegetation colonisation, enhancing flow velocities in the narrowed channel sufficiently to mobilise fine sediment and expose the gravel bed. Sediment analysis reveals sediment fining with time since wood emplacement, largely achieved within the two wood-related patch types. Fine sediment retained around the wood shows a relatively higher plant propagule content than other patch types, suitable for sustaining plant succession as the vegetated side bars aggrade. Although channel narrowing and morphological adjustment has occurred surprisingly rapidly in this low energy, over-widened reach following wood introduction (2–4 years), sustaining the recovery in the longer term to suitably support flora and fauna communities depends on the continued delivery of wood by ensuring a natural supply of sufficiently large wood pieces from riparian trees both upstream and within the reach.     

Vegetation recruitment in an enhanced floodplain: Ancillary benefits of salmonid habitat enhancement

Widespread loss and degradation of riverine habitats due to dams, diversions, levees, and human development have led to an increase in river habitat enhancement projects in recent decades. These projects typically focus on improving either terrestrial (e.g., riparian vegetation) or aquatic (e.g., fish spawning and rearing) habitats, and do not commonly address the relationship between the two systems. However, there is abundant evidence that fundamental linkages exist between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, and anthropogenic impacts such as urban expansion, agricultural activities, and river impoundment can synergistically degrade both systems. This study examines the effects of adult and juvenile salmonid habitat restoration on recruitment, density, and composition of riparian vegetation in an area heavily impacted by mining and flow regulation. For a year following in-channel coarse sediment placement and floodplain construction in an area previously covered with coarse mine tailings, we compared the abundance, richness and diversity of vegetation across four treatments: the newly constructed floodplain, isolated mine tailings, mine tailings near an access road, and a remnant riparian area that was less impacted by mining. Richness and diversity were higher in the floodplain than in any of the other treatments; we identified a total of 15 plant families in the floodplain treatments, as compared to three to five families in the other treatments. We observed significant differences in plant assemblage composition between treatments, with higher richness of primarily obligate or facultative wetland plant taxa in the floodplain treatment. This study demonstrates that restoring hydrological linkages between aquatic and terrestrial habitats, and redistribution of sediment size classes altered by mining, can create conditions that promote rapid wetland plant colonization, enhancing biodiversity and improving ecosystem function.     

Changes in ecosystem structure,function and hydrological connectivity control water,soil and carbon losses in semi‐arid grass to woody vegetation transitions

Connectivity has recently emerged as a key concept for understanding hydrological response to vegetation change in semi‐arid environments, providing an explanatory link between abiotic and biotic, structure and function. Reduced vegetation cover following woody encroachment, generally promotes longer, more connected overland flow pathways, which has the potential to result in an accentuated rainfall‐runoff response and fluxes of both soil erosion and carbon. This paper investigates changing hydrological connectivity as an emergent property of changing ecosystem structure over two contrasting semi‐arid grass to woody vegetation transitions in New Mexico, USA. Vegetation structure is quantified to evaluate if it can be used to explain observed variations in water, sediment and carbon fluxes. Hydrological connectivity is quantified using a flow length metric, combining topographic and vegetation cover data. Results demonstrate that the two woody‐dominated sites have significantly longer mean flowpath lengths (4 · 3 m), than the grass‐dominated sites (2 · 4 m). Mean flowpath lengths illustrate a significant positive relationship with the functional response. The woody‐dominated sites lost more water, soil and carbon than their grassland counterparts. Woody sites erode more, with mean event‐based sediment yields of 1203 g, compared to 295 g from grasslands. In addition, the woody sites lost more organic carbon, with mean event yields of 39 g compared to 5 g from grassland sites. Finally, hydrological connectivity (expressed as mean flowpath length) is discussed as a meaningful measure of the interaction between structure and function and how this manifests under the extreme rainfall that occurs in semi‐arid deserts. In combination with rainfall characteristics, connectivity emerges as a useful tool to explain the impact of vegetation change on water, soil and carbon losses across semi‐arid environments. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Control of sediment dynamics by vegetation as a key function driving biogeomorphic succession within fluvial corridors

Riparian vegetation responds to hydrogeomorphic disturbances and environmental changes and also controls these changes. Here, we propose that the control of sediment erosion and deposition by riparian vegetation is a key geomorphological and ecological (i.e. biogeomorphic) function within fluvial corridors. In a 3 year study, we investigated the correlations between riparian vegetation and hydrogeomorphic dynamics along a transverse gradient from the main channel to the floodplain of the River Tech, France. Sediment erosion and deposition rates varied significantly along the transverse gradient as a function of the vegetation biovolume intercepting water flow. These effects, combined with the extremely strong mechanical resistance of pioneer woody structures and strong resilience of pioneer labile herbaceous communities, Populus nigra and Salix spp., explain the propensity of biogeomorphic succession (i.e. the synergy between vegetation succession and landform construction) to progress between destructive floods. This geomorphological function newly identified as an ‘ecosystem function’ per se encompasses the coupling of habitat and landform creation, maintenance and change with fundamental ecosystem structural changes in space and in time. Three different biogeomorphic functions, all related to the concept of ecosystem engineering, were identified: (i) the function of pioneer herbaceous communities to retain fine sediment and diaspores in the exposed zones of the active tract near the water resource, facilitating recruitment of further herbaceous and Salicacea species; (ii) the function of woody vegetation to drive the construction of forested islands and floodplains; and (iii) the function of stabilised riparian forests to act as ‘diversity reservoirs’ which can support regeneration after destructive floods. Overall, this study based on empirical data points to the fundamental importance of sediment flow control by pioneer riparian vegetation in defining fluvial ecosystem and landform organisation in time and in space. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Ecomorphodynamics of rivers with converging boundaries

Many rivers worldwide show converging sections where a characteristic limiting front for vegetation establishment on gravel bars is observed. An important conceptual model was advanced in 2006 by Gurnell and Petts, who demonstrated that for the convergent section of the Tagliamento River the downstream front of vegetation establishment can be explained by unit stream power. We introduce a theoretical framework based on 1D ecomorphodynamic equations modified to account for the biological dynamics of vegetation. We obtain the first analytical result explaining the position and river width where vegetation density is expected to vanish in relation to a characteristic streamflow magnitude and both hydraulic and biological parameters. We apply our model to a controlled experiment within a convergent flume channel with growing seedlings perturbed by periodic floods. For a range of timescales where hydrological and biological processes interact, we observe the formation of a front in the convergent section beyond which vegetation cannot survive, the location of which is explained by flow magnitude. This experiment confirms that the timescales of the involved processes and the unit stream power determine the existence and the position of the front within convergent river reaches, respectively. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

In situ measurements of fine sediment infiltration (FSI) in gravel-bed rivers with a hydropeaking flow regime

The overpresence of fine sediment and fine sediment infiltration (FSI) in the aquatic environment of rivers are of increasing importance due to their limiting effects on habitat quality and use. The habitats of both macroinvertebrates and fish, especially spawning sites, can be negatively affected. More recently, hydropeaking has been mentioned as a driving factor in fine sediment dynamics and FSI in gravel-bed rivers. The primary aim of the present study was to quantify FSI in the vertical stratigraphy of alpine rivers with hydropeaking flow regimes in order to identify possible differences in FSI between the permanently wetted area (during base and peak flows) and the so-called dewatering areas, which are only inundated during peak flows. Moreover, we assessed whether the discharge ratio between base and peak flow is able to explain the magnitude of FSI. To address these aims, freeze-core samples were taken in eight different alpine river catchments. The results showed significant differences in the vertical stratification of FSI between the permanently wetted area during base flow and the dewatering sites. Surface clogging occurred only in the dewatering areas, with decreasing percentages of fine sediments associated with increasing core depths. In contrast, permanently wetted areas contained little or no fine sediment concentrations on the surface of the river bed. Furthermore, no statistical relationship was observed between the magnitude of hydropeaking and the sampled FSI rate. A repeated survey of FSI in the gravel matrix revealed the importance of de-clogging caused by flooding and the importance of FSI in the aquatic environment, especially in the initial stages of riparian vegetation establishment. © 2018 The Authors. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.     

Modelling feedbacks between geomorphological and riparian vegetation responses under climate change in a Mediterranean context

Climate change is expected to alter temperatures and precipitation patterns, affecting river flows and hence riparian corridors. In this context we have explored the potential evolution of riparian corridors under a dryness gradient of flow regimes associated with climate change in a Mediterranean river. We have applied an advanced bio‐hydromorphodynamic model incorporating interactions between hydro‐morphodynamics and vegetation. Five scenarios, representing drier conditions and more extreme events, and an additional reference scenario without climate change, have been designed and extended until the year 2100. The vegetation model assesses colonization, growth and mortality of Salicaceae species. We analysed the lower course of the Curueño River, a free flowing gravel bed river (NW Spain), as a representative case study of the Mediterranean region. Modelling results reveal that climate change will affect both channel morphology and riparian vegetation in terms of cover, age distribution and mortality. Reciprocal interactions between flow conditions and riparian species as bio‐engineers are predicted to promote channel narrowing, which becomes more pronounced as dryness increases. Reductions in seedling cover and increases in sapling and mature forest cover are predicted for all climate change scenarios compared with the reference scenario, and the suitable area for vegetation development declines and shifts towards lower floodplain elevations. Climate change also leads to younger vegetation becoming more subject to uprooting and flooding. The predicted reduction in suitable establishment areas and the narrowing of vegetated belts threatens the persistence of the current riparian community. This study highlights the usefulness of advanced bio‐hydromorphodynamic modelling for assessing climate change effects on fluvial landscapes. It also illustrates the need to consider climate change in river management to identify appropriate adaptation measures for riparian ecosystems. Copyright © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Earth Surface Exchanges (ESEX) Commentary on ‘Plants as river system engineers’ by A. Gurnell. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms 39: 4–25, 2014. DOI 10.1002/esp.3397

In a review of the role of plants in river systems, Gurnell (2014) explains how living riparian vegetation can moderate and manipulate river environments by trapping sediment and promoting longer‐term stability. Although the review concentrates on perennial plants in the humid temperate zone, this commentary acts as a reminder that some plants in other kinds of fluvial environment do not act in this way. This is done by describing how Impatiens glandulifera (Himalayan Balsam), a highly invasive annual plant that is now found in many countries on three separate continents, may significantly increase soil erosion along riverbanks and the riparian zone of inland watercourses. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

DAM IMPACTS ON AND RESTORATION OF AN ALLUVIAL RIVER-RIO GRANDE, NEW MEXICO

1 INTRODUCTION The construction of more than 75,000 dams and reservoirs on rivers in the United States (Graf, 1999) has resulted in alteration of the hydrology, geometry, and sediment flow in many of the river channels downstream of dams. Additionally, hydrologic and geomorphic impacts lead to changes in the physical habitat affecting both the flora and fauna of the riparian and aquatic environments. Legislation for protection of endangered species as well as heightened interest in ma…