Spring ecotone and gradient study of interstitial fauna along two floodplain tributaries of the river rhǒne, France

Abstract

AbstractThe hyporheic zone of two small tributaries of the upper Rhǒne River where they cross the floodplain (approximately 2 km wide) was studied. The streams originate in karstic areas which directly border the floodplain. The surveys were conducted at 11 sites along the course of the two tributaries at a depth of 50 cm in bed sediments. Ten litre samples were collected six times a year with a Bou‐Rouch sampler. The paper examines the distribution of interstitial communities along two transverse (floodplain) profiles, defines the spring ecotone, analyses the heterogeneity, and underlines the importance of the tributaries in the functioning of the floodplain.A comparison between the spatial distributions of fauna and organic matter content along the two profiles underlines the important relationships between the groundwater and surface environment, and makes it possible to differentiate parts of the floodplain where the exchanges are most intense (interstitial spring, karst/floodplain interface). Along the longitudinal course of these streams, we observe the influence of groundwater circulation on community structure/i.e. the interactions between stream channel, alluvial aquifer and adjacent karstic aquifer.