Plants as agents of hydromorphological recovery in lowland streams

Abstract

This applied study investigated the recovery trajectory of a channelized, lowland stream following removal of channel dredging and livestock grazing. Fine-scale relationships between macrophyte establishment and key physical descriptors (flow velocity, water depth and substrate) were analysed to explain channel adjustments and associated pioneer landform development. Through a process of biogeomorphic succession, macrophytes regulated the cohesiveness, erosion and transport of sediments, thereby affecting morphological responses and improving physical habitat diversity. The observations and analysis in this study capture the role of flow-sediment-vegetation interactions in self-organisation of a lowland stream, and demonstrate how better understanding of this phenomenon may inform river management and restoration science. Coupled relationships between macrophyte succession, flow and sediment patterns promoted hydromorphological recovery and re-naturalisation of the stream form. This dynamic was reflected in greater depth and substrate diversity characterised by increasing substrate coarseness and higher mean velocities. By regulating variations in local flow velocities, macrophytes created both low velocity-fine bed substrate and high velocity-coarser substrate habitat patches, and a range of shallow and deeper depth habitat patches. The process encouraged landform development on the channel margins and extension of the riverbank into the channel, thereby enhancing planform sinuosity as a two-stage channel formed. Such natural progression towards more heterogeneous habitat may sustain greater species diversity than artificially simplified rivers and deserves greater attention in restoration science.