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Thermal Heterogeneity in River Floodplains

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Abstract

River floodplains are composed of a shifting mosaic of aquatic and terrestrial habitats. Each habitat type exhibits distinct environmental and ecological properties. Temperature is a key property driving ecological processes and controlling the composition and distribution of biota. However, given the size and complexity of floodplains, ground surveys based on point measurements are spatially limited. In this study, we applied thermal infrared (IR) imagery to quantify surface temperature patterns at 12–15 min intervals over 24 h cycles in two near-natural Alpine river floodplains (Roseg, Tagliamento). Furthermore, vertical temperature distribution was measured at 3–5 min intervals in unsaturated gravel sediment deposits (at 1 cm distances; 0–29 cm depth). Each habitat type exhibited a distinct thermal signature creating a complex thermal mosaic. The diel temperature pulse and maximum daily temperature were the main thermal components that differentiated habitat types. In both floodplains, exposed gravel sediments exhibited the highest diel pulse (up to 23°C), whereas in aquatic habitats the pulse was as low as 11°C (main channel in the Roseg floodplain). In the unsaturated gravel sediment deposits, the maximum diel kinetic temperature pulse ranged from 40.4°C (sediment surface) to 2.7°C (29 cm sediment depth). Vertically, the spatiotemporal variation of temperature was about as high as horizontally across the entire floodplain surface. This study emphasized that remotely sensed thermal IR imagery provides a powerful non-invasive method to quantitatively assess thermal heterogeneity of complex aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems at a resolution required to understand ecosystem processes and the distribution of biota.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are indebted to C. Tanner (QC-Expert, Spin-Off of the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Material Testing and Research, EMPA) for his professional support with the thermal data acquisition. We thank two anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments and suggestions that helped to improve the manuscript. This study was supported by the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (EAWAG), the Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), and a Marie Curie Intra-European Fellowship to VA within the 6th European Community Framework Programme.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, IGB, Müggelseedamm 310, 12587, Berlin, Germany

    Diego Tonolla & Klement Tockner

  2. Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, EAWAG, Überlandstrasse 133, 8600, Dübendorf, Switzerland

    Diego Tonolla, Vicenç Acuña, Urs Uehlinger & Klement Tockner

  3. Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Takustrasse 3, 14195, Berlin, Germany

    Diego Tonolla & Klement Tockner

  4. Catalan Institute for Water Research, ICRA, Carrer Emili Grahit 101, Parc Científic i Tecnològic de la Universitat de Girona, 17003, Girona, Spain

    Vicenç Acuña

  5. Swiss Federal Laboratories for Material Testing and Research, EMPA, Überlandstrasse 129, 8600, Dübendorf, Switzerland

    Thomas Frank

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  1. Diego Tonolla
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  2. Vicenç Acuña
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  3. Urs Uehlinger
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Correspondence to Diego Tonolla.

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Author Contributions

DT analyzed the data and compiled the paper. VA contributed to the data analyses and the text. UU managed the field work and collected the data. TF contributed to the IR data analyses and advised on IR methodology. KT initiated and co-designed the study and contributed to the final version of the text.

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Tonolla, D., Acuña, V., Uehlinger, U. et al. Thermal Heterogeneity in River Floodplains. Ecosystems 13, 727–740 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10021-010-9350-5

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