In:
PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science (PLoS), Vol. 16, No. 3 ( 2021-3-18), p. e0248320-
Abstract:
Sediment retention is a key ecosystem function provided by floodplains to filter sediments and nutrients from the river water during floods. Floodplain vegetation is an important driver of fine sediment retention. We aim to understand which structural properties of the vegetation are most important for capturing sediments. In a hydraulic flume experiment, we investigated this by disentangling sedimentation on and underneath 96 vegetation patches (40 cm x 60 cm). We planted two grass and two herb species in each patch and conducted a full-factorial manipulation of 1) vegetation density, 2) vegetation height, 3) structural diversity (small-tall vs tall-tall species combinations) and 4) leaf pubescence (based on trait information). We inundated the vegetation patches for 21 h in a flume with silt- and clay-rich water and subsequently measured the amount of accumulated sediment on the vegetation and on a fleece as ground underneath it. We quantified the sediment by washing it off the biomass and off the fleece, drying the sediment and weighting it. Our results showed that all manipulated vegetation properties combined (vegetation density and height, and the interaction of structural diversity and leaf pubescence) explained sedimentation on the vegetation (total R 2 = 0.34). The sedimentation underneath the vegetation was explained by the structural diversity and the leaf pubescence (total R 2 = 0.11). We further found that vegetation biomass positively affected the sedimentation on and underneath the vegetation. These findings are crucial for floodplain management strategies with the aim to increase sediment retention. Based on our findings, we can identify management strategies and target plant communities that are able to maximize a floodplain’s ability to capture sediments.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
1932-6203
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0248320
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0248320.g001
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0248320.g002
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0248320.g003
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0248320.g004
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0248320.g005
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0248320.g006
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0248320.g007
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0248320.t001
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0248320.s001
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0248320.s002
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0248320.s003
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0248320.s004
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0248320.s005
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0248320.r001
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0248320.r002
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0248320.r003
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0248320.r004
Language:
English
Publisher:
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Publication Date:
2021
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2267670-3
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