HR: 16:30h
AN: NB14G-04    [Abstracts]
TI: Large-scale River Restoration Enhances Geomorphological Diversity and Benthic Biodiversity
AU: * Matthaei, C D
EM: christoph.matthaei@stonebow.otago.ac.nz
AF: Department of Zoology, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, 9001 New Zealand
AU: * Matthaei, C D
EM: christoph.matthaei@stonebow.otago.ac.nz
AF: Department Biology II, University of Munich, Grosshaderner Str. 2, Planegg-Martinsried, 82152 Germany
AU: Diehl, S
EM: diehl@zi.biologie.uni-muenchen.de
AF: Department Biology II, University of Munich, Grosshaderner Str. 2, Planegg-Martinsried, 82152 Germany
AU: Huber, H
EM: harald.huber@munich-airport.de
AF: Department Biology II, University of Munich, Grosshaderner Str. 2, Planegg-Martinsried, 82152 Germany
AB: An 8-km stretch of the River Isar is being restored within the city limits of Munich; this is one of the largest river restoration projects in Europe. We evaluated effects of the restoration on geomorphological parameters and river invertebrates. Before and after restoration of a channelised 1-km reach, we investigated this reach and two reference reaches (another channelised reach and a natural reach). On four dates before and six dates after restoration, we measured detailed transects of bed topography at each reach to document changes in bed morphology. Sampling periods included 6 (before) and 11 (after) bed-moving floods. On three dates each before and after restoration, we also collected quantitative invertebrate samples. Before restoration, geomorphological diversity (the spatial variability of water depth) was lower at both channelised reaches than at the natural reach. After restoration, diversity at the restored reach became as high as at the natural reach but remained low at the channelised reach. Invertebrate species richness and richness of mayflies, stoneflies and caddis flies also increased at the restored reach relative to both reference reaches, probably as a consequence of enhanced geomorphological diversity, which provided a more distinct spatial patchwork of differing abiotic habitat conditions for invertebrates.
DE: 1821 Floods
DE: 1824 Geomorphology (1625)
DE: 9810 New fields (not classifiable under other headings)
SC: North American Benthological Society [NB]
MN: 2005 Joint Assembly