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“Concave islands”: Habitat heterogeneity of parafluvial ponds in a gravel-bed river

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Abstract

Floodplain pond distribution, density, and diversity were investigated along the active river corridor of the Tagliamento River in northeastern Italy, the last major semi-natural river in Central Europe. Along the corridor, ponds peaked in bar- and island-braided floodplains but were absent in constrained sections. Within the main study area, a 1.0-km2 large braided floodplain, the number of ponds containing water-level fluctuations were the most important variables determining pond characteristics and heterogeneity. Results from a PCA on environmental variables distinguished four groups of ponds distributed along a hydrologic and thermal gradient. Parafluvial ponds are short-lived, discrete, aquatic “islands” within the floodplain matrix. They are expected to contribute disproportionately to aquatic biodiversity; however, they are very sensitive landscape elements that disappear as a consequence of river regulation, wood removal, and flow control.

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Correspondence to Ute Karaus.

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Karaus, U., Alder, L. & Tockner, K. “Concave islands”: Habitat heterogeneity of parafluvial ponds in a gravel-bed river. Wetlands 25, 26–37 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1672/0277-5212(2005)025[0026:CIHHOP]2.0.CO;2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1672/0277-5212(2005)025[0026:CIHHOP]2.0.CO;2

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