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Using continuous surface water level and temperature data to characterize hydrological connectivity in riparian wetlands

Environmental Monitoring and Assessment volume 183, pages 485–500 (2011)Cite this article

Abstract

Methods to characterize hydrological connectivity at riparian wetlands are necessary for ecosystem management given its importance over ecosystem structure and functioning. In this paper, we aimed to describe hydrological connectivity at one Ebro River reach (NE Spain) and test a method to perform such characterization. Continuous surface water level and temperature data were recorded at five riparian wetlands during the period October 2006–June 2007. Combining water level and temperature, we classified the examined wetlands in three groups, which mainly differed in the dominant water source during different flood stages. Firstly, a comparison of water level fluctuations in riparian wetlands with those in the river channel during events with different characteristics was used to describe hydrological connectivity. Such comparison was also used to extract quantitative hydrological connectivity descriptors as the wetland response initiation time. Secondly, water temperature series were divided in phases with different average, range and daily oscillation, and these parameters were interpreted for each phase to identify dominant flowpaths. By doing so, a more complete description of hydrological connectivity was achieved. Our method provided useful insights to describe hydrological connectivity using a qualitative approach that can be expanded if required to include quantitative parameters for studies of biotic assemblages or ecosystem processes.

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Affiliations

  1. Central Chemical Laboratory, Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Müggelseedamm 301, 12587, Berlin, Germany

    Alvaro Cabezas

  2. Pyrenean Institute of Ecology—Spanish Research Council, IPE-CSIC, Avda. Montañana 1005, 50080, Zaragoza, Spain

    Maria Gonzalez-Sanchís, Belinda Gallardo & Francisco A. Comín

Authors
  1. Alvaro Cabezas
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  2. Maria Gonzalez-Sanchís
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  3. Belinda Gallardo
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  4. Francisco A. Comín
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Correspondence to Alvaro Cabezas.

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Cabezas, A., Gonzalez-Sanchís, M., Gallardo, B. et al. Using continuous surface water level and temperature data to characterize hydrological connectivity in riparian wetlands. Environ Monit Assess 183, 485–500 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-011-1934-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-011-1934-9

Keywords

  • Hydrological connectivity
  • Riparian wetlands
  • Water level
  • Water temperature
  • Floodplain
  • Ebro