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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Borbala Hortobagyi
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Pioneer riparian trees which establish in river active tracts on gravel bars enhance fine sediment retention during high flows within their stands and in their lee side, forming obstacle marks. Fine sediment retention can be accompanied by deposition of seeds transported by water dispersal, i.e. by hydrochory. We tested the hypothesis that pioneer riparian trees significantly control seed deposition on gravel bars by forming sediment obstacle marks. We described the seed bank structure and compared samples collected from obstacle marks and bare coarse-grained bar surfaces. At the surface (at 2 cm depth), seed abundance (N) and richness (S) (expressed as mean ± sd) were significantly higher in areas directly affected by riparian trees, i.e. obstacle marks, (N: 693 ± 391; S: 17 ± 3) than in bare surfaces (N: 334 ± 371; S: 13 ± 5). Surface and sub-surface (at 20 cm depth) samples were also significantly different, with the sub-surface samples almost devoid of seeds (respectively N: 514 ± 413; S: 15 ± 5 and N: 3 ± 6; S: 1 ± 2). These results suggest a biogeomorphic feedback between sediment and associated seed retention mediated by hydrochory, vegetation growth and local seed dispersal mediated by barochory. Such feedback may improve plant diversity resilience on gravel alluvial bars of high-energy rivers.
Author(s): Corenblit D, Vidal V, Cabanis M, Steiger J, Garófano-Gómez V, Garreau A, Hortobágyi B, Otto T, Roussel E, Voldoire O
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Advances in Water Resources
Year: 2016
Volume: 93
Issue: Part B
Pages: 182-192
Print publication date: 01/07/2016
Online publication date: 04/03/2016
Acceptance date: 24/02/2016
ISSN (print): 0309-1708
ISSN (electronic): 1872-9657
Publisher: Pergamon Press
URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.advwatres.2016.02.015
DOI: 10.1016/j.advwatres.2016.02.015
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