Study

Functional diversity in a large river floodplain: anticipating the response of native and alien macroinvertebrates to the restoration of hydrological connectivity

  • Published source details Paillex A., Dolédec S., Castella E., Mérigoux S. & Aldridge D.C. (2013) Functional diversity in a large river floodplain: anticipating the response of native and alien macroinvertebrates to the restoration of hydrological connectivity. Journal of Applied Ecology, 50, 97-106.

Actions

This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

Action Category

Other biodiversity: Restore habitat along watercourses

Action Link
Mediterranean Farmland
  1. Other biodiversity: Restore habitat along watercourses

    A replicated, before-and-after study in 2003–2008 in 36 riparian sites in France found relatively more alien species, but fewer still-water species, after restoring river flow, compared to before. Invertebrates: Relatively more alien species were found after restoration, compared to before (4% vs 2% of functional diversity), but there were relatively fewer still-water (lentic) species (64% vs 72%) and similar numbers of flowing-water (lotic) species (31% vs 26%). Methods: There were three types of restoration: increasing flow (6 sites), dredging (6 sites), and reconnecting sites to the main river through dredging, (8 sites). Another sixteen sites had no restoration activities. Macroinvertebrates were sampled with four 0.25 x 0.25 m quadrats and nets (500 μm mesh) along a 30 m stretch in each site in spring and summer, one year before restoration and two years after.

     

Output references
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