Differences in flooding tolerance between species from two wetland habitats with contrasting hydrology: implications for vegetation development in future floodwater retention areas.
OBJECTIVE
Plants need different survival strategies in habitats differing in hydrological regimes. This probably has consequences for vegetation development when former floodplain areas that are currently confronted with soil flooding only, will be reconnected to the highly dynamical river bed. Such changes in river management are increasingly important, especially at locations where increased water retention can prevent flooding events in developed areas. It is therefore crucial to determine the responses of plant species from relatively low-dynamic wetlands to complete submergence, and to compare these with those of species from river forelands, in order to find out what the effects of such landscape-scale changes on vegetation would be.


METHODS
To compare the species' tolerance to complete submergence and their acclimation patterns, a greenhouse experiment was designed with a selection of 19 species from two contrasting sites: permanently wet meadows in a former river foreland, and frequently submerged grasslands in a current river foreland. The plants were treated with short (3 weeks) and long (6 weeks) periods of complete submergence, to evaluate if survival, morphological responses, and changes in biomass differed between species of the two habitats.


RESULTS
All tested species inhabiting river forelands were classified as tolerant to complete submergence, whereas species from wet meadows showed either relatively intolerant, intermediate or tolerant responses. Species from floodplains showed in all treatments stronger shoot elongation, as well as higher production of biomass of leaves, stems, fine roots and taproots, compared with meadow species.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a strong need for the creation of temporary water retention basins during high levels of river discharge. However, based on the data presented, it is concluded that such reconnection of former wetlands (currently serving as meadows) to the main river bed will strongly influence plant species composition and abundance.
Banach
Katarzyna
K
Department of Biochemistry and Environmental Chemistry, The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Al. Kraśnicka 102, 20-718 Lublin, Poland.
Banach
Artur M
AM
Lamers
Leon P M
LP
De Kroon
Hans
H
Bennicelli
Riccardo P
RP
Smits
Antoine J M
AJ
Visser
Eric J W
EJ
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D018533:Biomass; D055868:Floods; D063245:Plant Development; D018520:Plant Shoots / Q000254:growth & development; D045483:Rivers; D013045:Species Specificity; D053833:Wetlands