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The Effects of Extreme Floods on the Biophysical Heterogeneity of River Landscapes

2005; Wiley; Volume: 3; Issue: 9 Linguagem: Inglês

10.2307/3868636

1540-9309

Melissa Parsons, Craig A. McLoughlin, Karen Kotschy, Kevin H. Rogers, Mark W. Rountree,

Cryospheric studies and observations

Frontiers in Ecology and the EnvironmentVolume 3, Issue 9 p. 487-494 Review The effects of extreme floods on the biophysical heterogeneity of river landscapes Correction(s) for this article Erratum Volume 4Issue 1Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment pages: 51-51 First Published online: February 1, 2006 Melissa Parsons, Melissa Parsons Centre for Water in the Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, WITS 2050, South Africa ( E-mail: melissap@gecko.biol.wits.ac.za)Search for more papers by this authorCraig A. McLoughlin, Craig A. McLoughlin Centre for Water in the Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, WITS 2050, South Africa ( E-mail: melissap@gecko.biol.wits.ac.za)Search for more papers by this authorKaren A. Kotschy, Karen A. Kotschy Centre for Water in the Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, WITS 2050, South Africa ( E-mail: melissap@gecko.biol.wits.ac.za)Search for more papers by this authorKevin H. Rogers, Kevin H. Rogers Centre for Water in the Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, WITS 2050, South Africa ( E-mail: melissap@gecko.biol.wits.ac.za)Search for more papers by this authorMark W. Rountree, Mark W. Rountree Centre for Water in the Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, WITS 2050, South Africa ( E-mail: melissap@gecko.biol.wits.ac.za)Search for more papers by this author Melissa Parsons, Melissa Parsons Centre for Water in the Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, WITS 2050, South Africa ( E-mail: melissap@gecko.biol.wits.ac.za)Search for more papers by this authorCraig A. McLoughlin, Craig A. McLoughlin Centre for Water in the Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, WITS 2050, South Africa ( E-mail: melissap@gecko.biol.wits.ac.za)Search for more papers by this authorKaren A. Kotschy, Karen A. Kotschy Centre for Water in the Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, WITS 2050, South Africa ( E-mail: melissap@gecko.biol.wits.ac.za)Search for more papers by this authorKevin H. Rogers, Kevin H. Rogers Centre for Water in the Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, WITS 2050, South Africa ( E-mail: melissap@gecko.biol.wits.ac.za)Search for more papers by this authorMark W. Rountree, Mark W. Rountree Centre for Water in the Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, WITS 2050, South Africa ( E-mail: melissap@gecko.biol.wits.ac.za)Search for more papers by this author First published: 01 November 2005 https://doi.org/10.1890/1540-9295(2005)003[0487:TEOEFO]2.0.CO;2Citations: 48Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat Abstract Studies of large infrequent disturbances, such as the Mount St Helens volcanic eruption, the 1988 Yellowstone National Park fires, and Hurricane Hugo, show that such events leave a heterogeneous imprint on a landscape, and that this imprint subsequently influences ecological response. But what imprint does a large infrequent flood disturbance leave on a river landscape, and how does the imprint influence river ecosystem response to disturbance? We used a landscape ecological framework to examine the associations between the imprint of an extreme flood and the response of woody riparian vegetation in the Sabie River (Kruger National Park, South Africa) landscape. We found that the flood left a heterogeneous imprint, consisting of remnant vegetated patches, remnant physical patches, and newly created physical patches. The structure and composition of riparian vegetation assemblages subsequently differed among these patches. Heterogeneity of the river landscape mosaic may result in multiple trajectories of ecological response to the flood, with important consequences for biodiversity conservation in Kruger National Park. Citing Literature Volume3, Issue9November 2005Pages 487-494 RelatedInformation