城镇化背景下深圳典型流域鱼类群落特征及驱动因子

理解城镇的快速发展对河流鱼类群落结构的影响,是城镇河流科学管理和生物多样性保护的关键基础。本研究于2019年丰水期（8月）和枯水期（11月）,选取我国城镇化典型城市-深圳域内两个处于不同城镇化程度的代表性流域,应用多重统计方法比较分析了流域间鱼类群落结构的差异,并探讨了驱动鱼类群落变异的关键环境要素。结果发现,城镇化程度高的观澜河流域其鱼类种类组成、优势类群、生物多样性指数与城镇化程度低的坪山河流域有明显差别。 具体表现为：城镇化程度高的流域土著敏感种类如异鱲、吸鳅等几近消失,优势类群为外来入侵耐受种类,其物种多样性显著低于城镇化程度低的流域（P<0.05）。同时,外来鱼类在城镇河段其数量占比平均达92.5%,广泛分布于深圳城镇河流中。在环境因素方面,城镇化程度高的观澜河流域水体理化指标总氮、总磷、氨氮、化学需氧量、生化需氧量、高锰酸盐指数均显著性高于城镇化程度低的坪山河流域（P<0.05）。基于Bray-Curtis距离的冗余分析显示：城镇用地占比和总氮是影响观澜河和坪山河流域鱼类群落差异的主要因素。城镇化进程中河流生境的改变已影响到土著鱼类的生物多样性。因此,推动以恢复土著鱼类生物多样性的河流生态治理与保护是今后水生态目标管理的重要方向。     

鱼类群落多样性研究的理论与方法

我国水域面积巨大,生物多样性居世界第三。然而因水体污染、水生植被破坏、湖泊围垦、江湖阻隔、过度捕捞等因素影响,目前我国许多水体的鱼类群落多样性不断下降,水生生态系统功能逐渐退化。通过鱼类群落多样性的相关研究,可在群落水平上反映水域生态系统结构与功能对生态环境变化的响应。为此,综述了鱼类群落研究中水下观察、蹦网、罩网、刺网、电捕、拖网、围网、定置张网等各种采样方法的特点,测度鱼类群落多样性的各种指数类型,距岸距离、水生植物、水深、底质、溶氧、温度、盐度等环境因子对鱼类群落多样性的影响,以及鱼类群落多样性与生态系统功能间的关系,旨在为鱼类群落多样性的研究提供理论参考,推动渔业生产与环境保护的协调发展。     

新疆开都河流域水生植物多样性及其影响因素

河流是一个连续的、流动的、独特而完整的系统,研究河流生态系统中水生植物的多样性分布格局及其影响因素对河流生态学研究具有重要意义。本文通过野外调查,研究了新疆开都河流域水生植物多样性、主要水生植物群落特征及与环境因子之间的关系,并利用水分-能量动态假说和栖息地异质性假说对该流域水生植物物种多样性的地理格局进行解释。结果表明: 开都河流域共有水生植物71种,隶属于24科39属;聚类分析可将开都河流域水生植物群落划分为10个主要群落类型,其中芦苇群落物种丰富度最高,狭叶香蒲群落和金鱼藻群落物种丰富度最低;流域水生植物群落Shannon指数与pH呈显著负相关,Simpson指数与pH、经度呈显著负相关,与海拔呈显著正相关;流域水生植物群落类型主要受海拔、水深及水温的影响;流域水生植物物种多样性随经纬度无明显变化规律。水分-能量动态假说和栖息地异质性假说共解释开都河流域水生植物多样性格局变量的31.4%,表明这两个假说对于该流域水生植物多样性格局的解释力并不高。     

基于稳定同位素技术的辽宁浑太河流域水生食物网研究

为探究辽宁省浑太河流域水生生物营养结构特征及其变化,分别于2020年秋季(10月)和2021年春季(5月)对该流域开展渔业资源调查,依据主要消费者及饵料生物样品的碳、氮稳定同位素值(δ¹³C和δ¹⁵N),利用SIBER和MixSIAR模型分析渔获物群落营养结构的时空差异,并初步构建该流域的食物网。结果表明,主要渔获物的δ¹³C和δ¹⁵N值分别为–37.18‰—–19.28‰和7.98‰—16.51‰,且季节性差异不显著(P>0.05),但δ13C值空间差异极显著(P<0.01)。浑太河流域渔获物的营养级为1.71—4.39,同种鱼类营养级具有极显著的时空差异(P<0.01)。与春季相比,鱼类在秋季摄食的食物资源更丰富、所占的生态位更宽,同时太子河的各项群落营养结构指标均优于浑河。基础食源分析结果表明水生植物与陆生植物分别为浑太河两个季度的主要碳源,陆生植物和POM分别为浑河和太子河中鱼类的主要碳源。研究填补了对浑太河流域水生生物食物网及群落营养结构研究的空缺,为该流域后续的保护、修...     

黄龙山不同白桦林群落结构特征研究

在黄龙山林区以4种不同白桦林群落类型为研究对象,共设置20 m×20 m的样地15块,从林分特征、物种组成、物种多样性、灌木和草本生物量及乔木蓄积量等方面,对不同白桦林群落类型结构特征进行调查分析.结果显示：（1）群落B林（白桦＋茶条槭昆交）中白桦林分状况为最好,其次为群落A（油松＋白桦混交林）,群落D（自桦纯林）最差;（2）不同群落中植物种类分别为群落A（51种）＞群落B（49种）＞群落D（48种）＞群落C（38种）;（3）物种多样性指数为群落A＞群落B＞群落C＞群落D;（4）不同群落内草本和灌木总生物量排序为群落D（73.19t·hm^-2）＞群落B（65.07 t·hm^-2）＞群落C（59.93 t·hm^-2）＞群落A（44.82 t·hm^-2）,乔木蓄积量为群落A（123.50 m^3·hm^-2）＞群落D（69.50 m^3·hm^-2）＞群落B（53.25 m^3·hm^-2）＞群落C（50.25 m^3·hm^-2）.研究结果表明,黄龙山不同白桦林群落中混交林在生长状况、物种组成、物种多样性和生物量方面均优于纯白桦林.表明白桦混交林对保持黄龙山森林群落稳定性,提高林分质量,实现白桦林向松栎林的逐渐过渡有重要意义.     

牛山湖两种不同生境小型鱼类的种类组成、多样性和密度

研究了2003年春季浅水草型湖泊牛山湖小型鱼类空间分布（种类组成、多样性和密度等）与生境异质性之间的关系.根据水生植被状况、离岸距离和水深,选择了两种差异较大且有代表性的生境类型,即近岸沉水植物茂密的生境A和远岸沉水植物稀疏的生境B.使用围网（180 m²）在这两种生境中进行小型鱼类的采样,采用多次标志回捕法和Zippin去除法估算了围网内小型鱼类的密度.结果表明,两种不同生境中小型鱼类的种类组成、多样性度量值和密度估算值均存在一定程度的差异：1）生境A中的渔获物由5科14种小型鱼类组成,优势种类为生活在中、下水层的高体鳑鲏、彩副鱊和麦穗鱼;生境B中的渔获物由3科9种小型鱼类组成,优势种类为生活在湖底的子陵吻鰕虎鱼和小黄黝鱼.2）生境A和生境B小型鱼类群落间的Bray-Curtis指数为0.222,结构相似性较低;但二者的物种等级丰度分布则无显著差异,均属于对数级数分布.3）生境A中高体鳑鲏、彩副鱊、麦穗鱼等9种小型鱼类的总密度值为8.71 ind·m^-2,生境B中子陵吻鰕虎鱼、小黄黝鱼等5种小型鱼类的总密度值只有3.54 ind·m^-2.小型鱼类在这两种不同生境中的空间分布差异可能与其逃避捕食、觅食和繁殖等生态习性的生境需求有关,因此,水生植被生境对小型鱼类资源合理开发和多样性保护具有重要意义.     

河岸无脊椎动物多样性维持机制研究进展

河岸是河流与陆地之间重要的生态界面,生物多样性丰富,但受到人为活动的严重威胁。无脊椎动物在河岸生物多样性中占有重要地位,发挥着非常重要的生态功能,也是水生生态系统和陆地生态系统之间物质和能量联系的重要纽带。尽管已有很多学者对河岸无脊椎动物群落进行了研究,但缺乏对河岸无脊椎动物多样性维持机制的总结。本文结合洪水和干旱、营养物质、微生境多样性、河岸植被、微气候梯度、食物资源以及河流空间梯度等影响因素,初步讨论和归纳了河岸无脊椎动物多样性的维持机制。周期性洪水和干旱引发了无脊椎动物的繁殖和迁移等行为,增加了河岸无脊椎动物群落周转率,为无脊椎动物创造了理想的条件。充足的营养物质使河岸具有较高的初级生产力,支撑了较高的无脊椎动物多样性。较高的微生境多样性为无脊椎动物提供了多样的生态位空间,孕育了特殊的河岸无脊椎动物种类。复杂的河岸植物群落不但是河岸无脊椎动物的食物来源之一,也为河岸无脊椎动物提供了多样的生态位空间和重要的避难场所。微气候环境的空间分异提供了复杂多样的生境条件,为水生无脊椎动物和陆生无脊椎动物种类在河岸共存创造了条件。跨越界面的资源补给增加了河岸无脊椎动物的食物可利用率,为河岸无脊椎动物提供了特殊的食物来源。这些因素在空间上呈现出明显的纵向梯度和侧向梯度,从更大尺度上为河岸无脊椎动物的多样化提供了条件。因此,探讨河岸无脊椎动物多样性的维持机制对于河岸生物多样性保护以及河流生态系统综合管理具有重要的指导意义。     

海南岛尖峰岭热带山地雨林的群落结构特征

本文讨论了海南岛尖峰岭热带山地雨林乔木层的群落结构的一些基本特征,结果表明：热带山地雨林种类成份复杂,生物多样性指标高,原始林的Shannon－Wiener多样性指数（乔木层）为5．8—6．3,而更新林则在4．5—4．8之间,均匀度指标均在81％以上,反映了优势种群不明显的特点。群落组成种类以热带成份占优势,达80％以上。乔木层的胸径和树高分布均合理;群落组成种群的频度分布不同于RaunKiaer提出的频度定律,而是以A＞＞B＞C＞DE→0（原始林）和A＞＞B＞C＞D→0＜E（天然更新林）的形式存在,并且以A级频度占绝对优势,反映了热带林在世界植被中的特殊性。     

珠江水系广西江段鱼类多样性空间分布特征

研究对珠江水系广西江段15个站位的鱼类群落展开了调查, 共采集渔获物67985尾, 隶属于23科134种, 鲤形目种类(92种)最多, 占总数69%。采集到外来生物11种, 其中, 罗非鱼几乎遍布整个广西水域, 说明广西江段外来水生生物入侵严重。各江段以小型鱼类居多, 鱼类小型化严重。空间分布呈现一级河流物种多样性指数高, 均匀度高; 二级河流多样性指数低, 均匀度低的趋势。特别是经过十级水电开发后的红水河江段, 渔业资源量最低, 鱼类群落结构与其他江段具有显著的差异(P<0.05)。研究结果是珠江水系自然渔业资源长期调查的一部分, 将对广西渔业资源多样性的保护管理和可持续利用提供科学依据。     

西凉湖水生植物多样性研究

研究了江汉湖群西凉湖水生植物多样性的现状及其变化 ,讨论了西凉湖水生植物多样性丧失的原因和保护的途径。主要结果是 :( 1 )西凉湖现有水生植物 3 2科 5 6属 77种 ,优势种类为微齿眼子菜、密齿苦草、轮叶黑藻、菹草、野菱、双角菱、金鱼藻、凤眼莲和菰等。 ( 2 )西凉湖现有水生植物群落类型 1 3个 ,全湖水生植被覆盖率约为 61 %,平均生物量为 1 4 70 .5 g/m2 。 ( 3 )物种多样性指数最高的群落是“凤眼莲 +野菱 +双角菱群丛”(D =0 .8499,H =2 .975 8) ,其次为“菰—凤眼莲群丛”与“野菱 +双角菱群丛”(D =0 .840 1 ,H =2 .82 35 ;D =0 .83 2 4,H =2 .888) ,以微齿眼子菜群丛的多样性指数最低 (D =0 .2 2 81 ,H =0 .782 3 )。 ( 4 )二十年来 ,西凉湖水生植物多样性严重丧失 :植被覆盖率和全湖平均单位面积生物量分别下降了 3 8.80 %与 77.87%,先后有 8种水生植物 (水葱、荸荠、莲子草、乌菱、细果野菱、萍蓬草、睡莲、小眼子菜 )和 4个水生植物群落类型(荇菜群落、乌菱群落、马来眼子菜群落、穗花狐尾藻群落 )从西凉湖消失。 ( 5 )多样性丧失的原因是围网养殖、过度收获水草、耙捞蚌类螺类等人为干扰     

汉江中下游水生植物群落及演替

水生植物是河流生态系统的重要组成部分, 研究河流水生植物群落组成及演替对于河流生态系统健康诊断具有重要意义。该研究采用野外生态学研究方法, 于2013年9月和2014年6月2次对汉江中下游12个典型代表性江段的水生植物群落的组成、分布和生物量等进行调查。调查结果表明, 现阶段汉江中下游的主要水生植物共有69种, 隶属28科49属, 其中优势种主要是穿叶眼子菜(Potamogeton perfoliatus)、竹叶眼子菜(P. malaianus)、芦苇(Phragmites australis)、南荻(Triarrhena lutarioriparia)和喜旱莲子草(Alternanthera philoxeroides)等。结合早期的研究表明, 汉江中游江段沉水植物优势群落变化明显; 下游则呈现出由沉水植物群落向挺水植物群落演替的格局。挖沙和污染等人类干扰以及水位波动、河流底质和植物繁殖策略等自然因素可能是导致汉江中下游水生植物优势种变化和群落演替的主要因素。该研究结果可为汉江中下游的水生植物多样性保护和生态修复提供科学依据。     

Fish habitat rehabilitation using wood in the world

To provide river managers and researchers with practical knowledge about fish rehabilitation, various studies of fish habitat rehabilitation that used wood were reviewed. The review focuses on fish responses, wood installation methods, and geomorphic features of the rehabilitation sites. Most studies were conducted in moderately sized (small and medium) streams with relatively high bed gradients and aimed to improve the habitats of salmonid species. In this stream type, structures spanning the full (log dam) and partial (log deflector) width of the river were most common, and wood structures that created pools and covers were successful in improving fish habitat. Some projects were conducted in moderately sized low-gradient streams, in which wooden devices used to create instream cover were effective for fish assemblages. There were few studies in other aquatic ecosystems. However, well-designed large wood structures, known as engineered log jams, were used in rehabilitation projects for large rivers. In slack-water or lentic systems such as side-channels, estuaries, and reservoirs, small and large wood structures that created cover were used to improve habitat for many fish species. For successful fish habitat rehabilitation projects, the hydrogeomorphic conditions of rehabilitation sites should be carefully examined to avoid physical failure of wood structures. Although artificial wood structures can be used to improve fish habitat in various aquatic ecosystems, they should be considered to be a complementary or interim habitat enhancement technique. The recovery of natural dynamic processes at the watershed scale is the ultimate target of restoration programs.     

Fungal Endophytes of Aquatic Macrophytes: Diverse Host-Generalists Characterized by Tissue Preferences and Geographic Structure

Most studies of endophytic symbionts have focused on terrestrial plants, neglecting the ecologically and economically important plants present in aquatic ecosystems. We evaluated the diversity, composition, host and tissue affiliations, and geographic structure of fungal endophytes associated with common aquatic plants in lentic waters in northern Arizona, USA. Endophytes were isolated in culture from roots and photosynthetic tissues during two growing seasons. A total of 226 isolates representing 60 putative species was recovered from 9,600 plant tissue segments. Although isolation frequency was low, endophytes were phylogenetically diverse and species-rich. Comparisons among the most thoroughly sampled species and reservoirs revealed that isolation frequency and diversity did not differ significantly between collection periods, among species, among reservoirs, or as a function of depth. However, community structure differed significantly among reservoirs and tissue types. Phylogenetic analyses of a focal genus (Penicillium) corroborated estimates of species boundaries and informed community analyses, highlighting clade- and genotype-level affiliations of aquatic endophytes with both sediment- and waterborne fungi, and endophytes of proximate terrestrial plants. Together these analyses provide a first quantitative examination of endophytic associations in roots and foliage of aquatic plants and can be used to optimize survey strategies for efficiently capturing fungal biodiversity at local and regional scales.     

Natural‐Channel‐Design Restorations That Changed Geomorphology Have Little Effect on Macroinvertebrate Communities in Headwater Streams

Stream restorations that increase geomorphic stability can improve habitat quality, which should benefit selected species and local aquatic ecosystems. This assumption is often used to define primary restoration goals; yet, biological responses to restoration are rarely monitored or evaluated methodically. Macroinvertebrate communities were inventoried at 6 study reaches within 5 Catskill Mountain streams between 2002 and 2006 to characterize their responses to natural‐channel‐design (NCD) restoration. Although bank stability increased significantly at most restored reaches, analyses of variation showed that NCD restorations had no significant effect on 15 of 16 macroinvertebrate community metrics. Multidimensional scaling ordination indicated that communities from all reach types within a stream were much more similar to each other within any given year than they were in the same reaches across years or within any type of reach across streams. These findings indicate that source populations and watershed‐scale factors were more important to macroinvertebrate community characteristics than were changes in channel geomorphology associated with NCD restoration. Furthermore, the response of macroinvertebrates to restoration cannot always be used to infer the response of other stream biota to restoration. Thus, a broad perspective is needed to characterize and evaluate the full range of effects that restoration can have on stream ecosystems.     

Alien aquatic macroinvertebrates along the lateral dimension of a large floodplain

Floodplains are simultaneously among the most species-rich and the most threatened ecosystems. Alien aquatic macroinvertebrates contribute to this threat but remain scarcely studied in the lateral dimension of floodplains. We modelled the realized ecological niches of the alien species occurring in 24 floodplain channels of the Rhône River. Environmental variables depicting the ecological niches were associated to the lateral hydrological connectivity and light availability, both being modified during floodplain restoration works. Eight alien species were observed and they demonstrated either ubiquity or a restricted niche, with no link to the date of introduction. For most of them, the main river channel appeared as an important dispersal route in the lateral dimension of the floodplain. An increase of both lateral connectivity and light availability favoured most of the modelled species. Consequently, we recommend that sector-scale restoration programmes preserve varying levels of lateral connectivity for floodplain channels to prevent the expansion of alien aquatic macroinvertebrates.     

Distribution pattern, threats and conservation of fish biodiversity in the East Tiaoxi, China

East Tiaoxi River is one of the largest inflowing rivers into Taihu Lake, and the fish fauna in the river is poorly understood. In the present study, an extensive survey of fish was conducted in October and November 2009, May and September 2010 and May 2011 covering a total of 55 sites along the whole river. A total of 84 freshwater fish species belonging to 8 orders, 18 families and 52 genera have been recorded. Among these are 35 species endemic to China, and 3 newly recorded exotic species. The fish composition varies greatly from headwaters to downstream. Based on cluster analysis with presence-absence data, the East Tiaoxi River is divided into four regions, specifically, the upper reach, middle-up reach, middle reach and lower reach. It is observed that species richness and the proportion of omnivorous species increased from upstream to downstream while the proportion of invertivorous species decreased consequently. Habitat alteration, overfishing, pollution and inland navigation adversely affect the fish diversity and ecosystem functioning in the East Tiaoxi River. To protect fish diversity more effectively in the area, the conservation of fish biodiversity in the North Tiaoxi River and Middle Tiaoxi River should be considered as a priority. Meanwhile, shallow zones or backwater areas should be created in the middle-lower reaches. Furthermore, river restoration, in terms of habitat creation, should be considered to protect the structure and diversity of fish communities, halt the progressive deterioration of freshwater ecosystems and sustain a valuable ecological resource for humans.     

The state of the art of aquatic and semi-aquatic ecological restoration projects in the Netherlands*

The Netherlands are a small, low-lying delta in W. Europe (42000 km²; 50°–54° N; 3°–8° E), mainly consisting of alluvial deposits from the North Sea and from the large rivers Rhine and Meuse. The country was `created by man'. The conversion of natural aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems into drained agricultural land was a major cultural operation over the past 1000 years. Roughly 55% of the country's surface area is still agricultural land. Some decades ago, The Netherlands' landscape was characterised by an armoured coastline and bridled estuaries, a drastically reduced area of saline and freshwater marshes, fully regulated rivers and streams, and numerous artificial lakes. The aquatic ecosystems beyond the influence of the large rivers, the Pleistocene raised bogs and moor lands, have almost been completely annihilated in the past. Acidification and eutrophication led to the deterioration of the remaining softwater lake vegetation. Last but not least, an artificial drainage system was constructed, leading to an unnatural water table all over the country, high in summer, low in winter. Only very recently, some 25 years ago, the tide has been turned and ecological rehabilitation and restoration of disturbed ecosystems are in full swing now, enhanced by the European Union policy to set aside agricultural land in the Netherlands in favour of the development of `nature'. The state of the art of aquatic and semi-aquatic ecological restoration projects in the Netherlands is given. Starting from the conceptual basis of restoration ecology, the successes and failures of hundreds of restoration projects are given. Numerous successful projects are mentioned. In general, ecological restoration endeavours are greatly benefiting from progressive experience in the course of the years. Failures mainly occur by insufficient application of physical, chemical or ecological principles. The spontaneous colonisation by plants and animals, following habitat reconstruction, is preferred. But sometimes the re-introduction of keystone species (e.g. eelgrass; salmon; beaver) is necessary in case the potential habitats are isolated or fragmented, or when a seed bank is lacking, thus not allowing viable populations to develop. Re-introduction of traditional management techniques (e.g. mowing without fertilisation; low intensity grazing) is important to rehabilitate the semi-natural and cultural landscapes, so characteristic for the Netherlands. For aquatic ecosystems proper (estuaries, rivers, streams, larger lakes) the rule of thumb is that re-establishment of the abiotic habitat conditions is a pre-requisite for the return of the target species. This implies rehabilitation of former hydrological end geomorphological conditions, and an increase in spatial heterogeneity. The `bottom-up' technique of lake restoration, viz. reduction in nutrient loadings, and removal of nutrient-rich organic sediment, is the preferred strategy. The `top-down' approach of curing eutrophicated ecosystems, that is drastic reduction of fish stock, mainly bream, and introduction of carnivorous fish, may be considered as complementary. For semi-aquatic ecosystems (river-fed and rain-fed peat moors, brook valleys, coastal dune slacks) it also counts that the abiotic constraints should be lifted, but here the species-oriented conservation strategy, the enhancement of the recovery of characteristic plant and animal species, is mainly followed. An important pre-requisite for the rehabilitation of the original natural or semi-natural     

Human development modifies the functional composition of lake littoral invertebrate communities

Free-floating plants are important components of aquatic ecosystems in tropical climates, playing a key role in the structure and spatial distribution of fish communities. This study aims at elucidating the potential effects of free-floating vegetation on fish community structure in a tropical floodplain lake, using an experimental approach based on natural and artificial devices (Eichhornia crassipes), in high and low (LT) turbidity waters. A total of 32 fish species were found, richness, abundance, biomass, mean fresh body weight, and standard length were all significantly higher in the LT regions. Although no significant differences of community traits were found between artificial and natural substrates, regardless of water turbidity, fish composition differences between devices were observed in clear waters. Benthivorous fishes were the most widespread trophic group, with higher abundance and biomass in LT, while no differences were found among plant types. The results confirmed the structural role played by free-floating plants in the fish community by offering a refuge to smaller bodied fish species and younger specimens of larger species, independently of turbidity conditions. However, the effect was stronger in clear waters. The evidence also supported the hypothesis that the fish community forages within the plant beds. Turbidity spatial gradients or turbid regimes in tropical shallow lakes, as well as important floating macrophyte coverage could have strong impacts on the fish community structure.     

Limited Effects of Large‐Scale Riparian Restoration on Seed Banks in Agriculture

I examined the effect of riparian forest restoration on plant abundance and diversity, including weed species, on agricultural lands along the Sacramento River in California (United States). Riparian forest restoration on the Sacramento River is occurring on a large‐scale, with a goal of restoring approximately 80,000 ha over 160 km of the river. In multiuse habitats, such as the Sacramento River, effects of adjoining habitat types and movement of species across these habitats can have important management implications in terms of landscape‐scale patterns of species distributions. Increased numbers of pest animals and weeds on agricultural lands associated with restored habitats could have negative economic impacts, and in turn affect support for restoration of natural areas. In order to determine the distribution and abundance of weeds associated with large‐scale restoration, I collected seed bank soil samples on orchards between 0 and 5.6 km from adjacent restored riparian, remnant riparian, and agricultural habitats. I determined the abundance, species richness, and dispersal mode of plant species in the seed bank and analyzed these variables in terms of adjacent habitat type and age of restored habitat. I found that agricultural weed species had higher densities at the edge of restored riparian habitat and that native plants had higher densities adjacent to remnant riparian habitat. Weed seed abundance increased significantly on walnut farms adjacent to restored habitat with time since restored. I supply strong empirical evidence that large areas of natural and restored habitats do not lead to a greater penetration of weed species into agricultural areas, but rather that weed penetration is both temporally and spatially limited.     

Impact of flooding on potential and realised grassland species richness

In order to reduce flood risk, river management policies advise floodplain restoration and the recreation of water retention areas. These measures may also offer opportunities for the restoration of species-rich floodplain habitats through rewetting and the restoration of flood dynamics. The potential to enhance biodiversity in such flood restoration areas is, however, still subject to debate. In this paper we investigate whether flooding along a small altered lowland river can contribute to the potential and realised species richness of semi-natural meadows. We compare the seed bank and vegetation composition of flooded and non-flooded semi-natural meadows and test the hypothesis that flooding contributes to an input of diaspores into the meadow seed banks, thereby promoting seed density and potential species richness. Furthermore we hypothesise that, where habitat conditions are suitable, flooding leads to a higher realised species richness. Results showed that seed densities in flooded meadows were significantly higher than in non-flooded meadows. The seed banks of flooded meadows also contained a higher proportion of exclusively hydrochorous species. However, the seed bank species richness, as well as the species richness realised in the vegetation did not differ significantly between flooded and non-flooded meadows. Finally, the seed bank and standing vegetation of flooded sites showed larger differences in species composition and Ellenberg nitrogen distribution than non-flooded sites. From these results we conclude that, although flooding does contribute to the density and composition of the seed bank, most imported seeds belong to only a few species. Therefore, it is unlikely that flooding substantially enhances the potential species richness. Furthermore, even if new species are imported as seeds into the seed bank, it seems unlikely that they would be able to establish in the standing vegetation. However, it is unclear which factors impede the establishment of imported species in the vegetation. The implications of our findings for flood meadow restoration are discussed.