Ecosystem services provided by river-floodplain ecosystems

Abstract

River-floodplain ecosystems (RFEs) provide multiple ecosystem services. However, their importance may be underestimated because they are not summarized yet. In this paper, we review and update the benefits that RFEs provide to society, including supporting, regulating, provisioning, and cultural ecosystem services. Although considered a unique ecosystem service category, we advocate that supporting services, like soil formation, nutrient cycling, primary production, and habitat provisioning can be comprehended as ecosystem processes that generate other services. RFEs provide valuable regulating services, including water regulation, storm protection, erosion control, water purification, waste treatment, and disease control. The society also benefits from provisioning services from RFEs, such as water for drinking and irrigation, food (e.g., fishes and crops), fiber, ornamental and biochemical resources, and energy production. RFEs also provide cultural services including recreation, ecotourism, religiosity, and spirituality. Most ecosystem services from pristine and human-altered RFEs are primarily regulated by the flood pulse because it maintains temporal and spatial habitat variability, high biodiversity, and biotic and abiotic interactions. Despite providing many benefits to society, RFEs are seriously threatened, mainly due to river regulation, land-use changes, pollution and invasive species. Consequently, the multiple demands and uses of RFEs worldwide raise challenges of conservation and restoration.