scholarly journals SPECIAL ISSUE “Roles of Revegetation for Preventing Sediment Disaster ” Driftwood retention function of riparian forest during a large flood disturbance

2015 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 391-397
Author(s):  
Hitoshi SAKIO ◽  
Kanako MATSUZAWA
Keyword(s):  
Riparian Forest ◽  
Retention Function ◽  
Special Issue ◽  
Flood Disturbance ◽  
Sediment Disaster

scholarly journals Flood disturbance affects morphology and reproduction of woody riparian plants

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Fischer ◽  
Joe Greet ◽  
Christopher Walsh ◽  
Jane Catford
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Reproduction ◽  
Asexual Reproduction ◽  
Woody Plants ◽  
Riparian Forest ◽  
Good Condition ◽  
Riparian Forests ◽  
Flood Disturbance ◽  
Riparian Plants ◽  
Flood Regime ◽  
Sexual And Asexual Reproduction

Abstract Riparian forests are structured and maintained by their hydrology. Woody riparian plants typically adapt to the local flood regime to maximise their likelihood of survival and reproductive success. Understanding how extant trees form and reproduce in response to flood disturbance is crucial for predicting vegetation changes and informing restoration. Working in a temperate evergreen riparian forest, we aim to determine whether disturbance-based responses of plants found in other ecosystems also typify woody plants in riparian forests where disturbances are non-lethal, annual events. Using plant surveys and 20-year modelled hydrological data, we examined whether i) the morphology (main stem diameter, height, crown width, crown extent, stem leaning) and ii) reproduction type (sexual and asexual reproduction) and extent of three dominant woody species (Eucalyptus camphora, Leptospermum lanigerum and Melaleuca squarrosa) vary with flood regime (flood frequency and flood duration); and iii) whether different morphology is associated with different reproductive strategies. Increased flooding generally resulted in increased stem numbers and greater stem leaning – morphologies associated with asexual reproduction – of our study species. More frequent flooding also reduced plant size and sexual reproduction in E. camphora. Sexual reproduction in the studied species was more common in taller plants with single, more upright stems in good condition. Flexible morphology and plastic reproductive strategy may constitute an adaptation to mild or chronic disturbance in floodplains. Our findings suggest that woody plants respond to physical disturbance in consistent ways regardless of the nature of the disturbance – be it fires, hurricanes or floods.

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