GENERAL INDEX - RiuNet

GENERAL INDEX
1 GENERAL INTRODUCTION 1
1.1 OVERVIEW __________________________________________________ 1
1.2 OBJECTIVES AND STRUCTURE OF THE THESIS _______________2
1.3 STUDY AREA: THE JÚCAR RIVER BASIN DISTRICT ____________4
2 DISTRIBUTION PATTERNS OF WOODY RIPARIAN SPECIES
IN MEDITERRANEAN RIVERS. COMPARISON OF REGULATED
AND UNREGULATED SITES 13
2.1 ABSTRACT _________________________________________________ 13
2.2 INTRODUCTION ___________________________________________ 14
2.3 STUDY AREA _______________________________________________ 17
2.4 METHODS _________________________________________________ 21
2.4.1 Geo-referenced sampling of vegetation by transects 21
2.4.2 Comparison of observed and predicted ground surface for the trunk of the tree 23
2.4.3 Definition of variables and vegetation data analysis 25
2.4.4 Soil sampling and analysis 28
2.4.5 Multivariate analysis 31
2.5 RESULTS I __________________________________________________ 34
2.5.1 Comparison of observed and predicted ground surface level for the trunk of
woody riparian shrubs and trees 34
2.5.2 Vegetation description and comparison intra-sites 35
2.6 RESULTS II _________________________________________________ 94
2.6.1 Comparison inter-sites 94
2.6.2 Distribution patterns and soil characteristics of coincident species 97
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2.7 DISCUSSION _______________________________________________ 107
2.7.1 Riparian vegetation composition and zonation 107
2.7.2 Transverse variation across the floodplain: definition of groups 109
2.7.3 Behavior of woody riparian species in regulated and unregulated sites 111
2.7.4 Importance and uncertainty of the variables in the definition of groups 113
2.7.5 Management implications and further research 118
3 RESPONSE CURVES AND HYDROLOGICAL GUILDS OF
WOODY RIPARIAN SPECIES, ORIENTED TO WATER
MANAGEMENT IN MEDITERRANEAN RIVERS 123
3.1 ABSTRACT ________________________________________________ 123
3.2 INTRODUCTION __________________________________________ 124
3.3 STUDY SITES ______________________________________________ 127
3.3.1 Hydrological characterization 128
3.3.2 Riverine characterization 132
3.4 METHODS ________________________________________________ 135
3.4.1 Geo-referenced sampling of vegetation by transects 135
3.4.2 Dendrometric survey 136
3.4.3 Core samples preparation and definition of growth curves 138
3.4.4 Hydrometry 140
3.4.5 Hydraulic modelling 143
3.4.6 Definition of variables 143
3.4.7 Data analysis 147
3.5 RESULTS __________________________________________________ 148
3.5.1 Growth functions 148
3.5.2 Boxplots of hydrological variables and definition of hydrological guilds 150
3.5.3 Curves of hydrological response 155
3.6 DISCUSSION _______________________________________________ 162
3.6.1 Hydrological guilds of woody riparian species 162
3.6.2 Factors affecting the quality and uncertainty of response guilds and curves 164
3.6.3 Implications for management 168
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4 ASSESSING HYDROMORPHOLOGICAL AND FLORISTIC
PATTERNS ALONG A REGULATED MEDITERRANEAN RIVER:
THE SERPIS RIVER 173
4.1 ABSTRACT ________________________________________________ 173
4.2 INTRODUCTION __________________________________________ 175
4.3 METHODS ________________________________________________ 178
4.3.1 Study area 178
4.3.2 Geographical characterisation 180
4.3.3 Biological data collection 184
4.3.4 Hydromorphological characterisation 185
4.3.5 Human impacts and pressures 187
4.3.6 Variable classification 188
4.3.7 Data analyses 188
4.4 RESULTS __________________________________________________ 191
4.4.1 Floristic composition and riparian habitat quality 192
4.4.2 Instream habitat characteristics and fluvial habitat heterogeneity 196
4.4.3 Variable reduction 198
4.4.4 Factors controlling riparian habitat quality 199
4.4.5 Factors controlling instream habitat quality 201
4.5 DISCUSSION _______________________________________________ 203
4.5.1 Riparian and instream habitat quality downstream of the Beniarrés dam 203
4.5.2 Longitudinal variation of the flora and hydromorphological indices 205
4.5.3 Factors controlling riparian and instream habitat quality 207
5 SIX DECADES OF CHANGES IN THE RIPARIAN CORRIDOR
OF A MEDITERRANEAN RIVER: A SYNTHETIC ANALYSIS
BASED ON HISTORICAL DATA SOURCES 213
5.1 ABSTRACT ________________________________________________ 213
5.2 INTRODUCTION __________________________________________ 214
5.3 STUDY AREA AND SITES ___________________________________ 217
5.4 METHODS ________________________________________________ 220
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5.4.1 River flow estimation and characterization of study sites 220
5.4.2 Changes in land cover assessed from aerial images 223
5.4.3 Changes in land cover assessed from field survey 227
5.5 RESULTS __________________________________________________ 229
5.5.1 Changes in river flow regime 229
5.5.2 Changes in the areal extent and distribution of riparian land cover types 233
5.5.3 Riparian landscape structure 236
5.5.4 Land cover transitions 238
5.5.5 Contemporary data (transects) 241
5.6 DISCUSSION _______________________________________________ 244
5.6.1 Use of historical information sources 244
5.6.2 Temporal and spatial changes: the utility of indices and metrics 246
5.6.3 Interpreting the observed riparian dynamics 248
5.6.4 Implications for management 253
6 CONCLUSIONS AND FURTHER RESEARCH 257
6.1 CONCLUSIONS ____________________________________________ 257
6.2 FURTHER RESEARCH _____________________________________ 265
7 REFERENCES 269
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