Effects of hydromorphological integrity on biodiversity and functioning of river ecosystems

River channels tend to a dynamic equilibrium driven by the dynamics of water and sediment discharge. The resulting fluctuating pattern of channel form is affected by the slope, the substrate erodibility, and the vegetation in the river corridor and in the catchment. Geomorphology is basic to river b...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Hydrobiologia 2010-12, Vol.657 (1), p.199-215
Main Authors: Elosegi, Arturo, Díez, Joserra, Mutz, Michael
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aquatic ecosystems
Biodiversity
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Biota
Channel morphology
Conservation biology
Ecological effects
Ecological function
Ecology
Freshwater
Freshwater & Marine Ecology
Functioning
Geomorphology
Global Change and River Ecosystems
Hydrology
Hydromorphology
Life Sciences
Riparian ecology
River ecosystem
River regulations
Rivers
Sediment discharge
Sediment yield
Sediments
Urbanization
Zoology
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Summary:River channels tend to a dynamic equilibrium driven by the dynamics of water and sediment discharge. The resulting fluctuating pattern of channel form is affected by the slope, the substrate erodibility, and the vegetation in the river corridor and in the catchment. Geomorphology is basic to river biodiversity and ecosystem functioning since the channel pattern provides habitat for the biota and physical framework for ecosystem processes. Human activities increasingly change the natural drivers of channel morphology on a global scale (e.g. urbanization increases hydrological extremes, and clearing of forests for agriculture increases sediment yield). In addition, human actions common along world rivers impact channel dynamics directly, e.g. river regulation simplifies and fossilizes channel form. River conservation and restoration must incorporate mechanisms of channel formation and ecological consequences of channel form and dynamics. This article (1) summarizes the role of channel form on biodiversity and functioning of river ecosystems, (2) describes spatial complexity, connectivity and dynamism as three key hydromorphological attributes, (3) identifies prevalent human activities that impact these key components and (4) analyzes gaps in current knowledge and identifies future research topics.
ISSN:0018-8158
1573-5117
DOI:10.1007/s10750-009-0083-4