ON THE DISSOLVED SOLIDS OF THE PONGOLO FLOOD PLAIN PANS

SUMMARY

The water retained in the Pongolo flood plain pans differs from that of the Pongolo River not only in having a higher TDS, but also in the composition of the solutes, which approximate to seawater in their equivalent ionic proportions at high concentrations. These solutes are shown to originate from very highly mineralised seepage water characteristic of soils overlying Cretaceous sediments of marine origin found elsewhere in South Africa. This feature of the soils of the flood plain precludes the use of irrigation seepage water to maintain the water levels in the pans, and stresses the need for the release of simulated floods from the Pongolo-poort Dam to flush the system if the present biological characteristics of the pans are to be maintained.     

ELEVENTH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE LIMNOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF SOURTHERN AFRICA

SUMMARY

The classification of highveld pans by Geldenhuys (1982) emphasized the spatial diversity of morphology, vegetation and fauna. However, since the characteristics of individual pans also change seasonally and over longer term wet/dry cycles, he called for more detailed limnological studies to improve predictive and management potential. Marked changes occurred in the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of Rolfes pan in response to winter drawdown following dry (1983) and wet (1986) summers. The constancy of physical and chemical conditions during 1986 contrasted with rapid changes in temperature, turbidity, conductivity and salinity as benthic plants disappeared in 1983. The abundance of emergent vegetation provided breeding sites for certain wetland birds in 1986 but shallow water and submerged plants attracted wading birds in 1983. Changes within and between years highlighted the importance of three distinctive limnological characteristics of pans; large surface area to volume ratio, large littoral zone to open water ratio and an endorheic hydrological regime. Conservation of pans, beginning with inventory and classification, must focus on describing systems on the basis of these three characteristics, recognizing that activities in the catchment act through them to alter ecosystem properties.     

Lateral hydrological connectivity differentially affects the community characteristics of multiple groups of aquatic invertebrates in tropical wetland pans in South Africa

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Can a benthic diatom community complement chemical analyses and discriminate between disturbed and undisturbed saline wetland habitats? A study of seven soda pans in Serbia

Soda pans are protected in the European Union as Natura 2000 areas in the category of “Pannonic saline steppes and marshes”. There are at least six soda pans of reference status in Serbia and only a half have strict legal protection. The number of similar, but disturbed (modified) habitats that could be reconstructed is still unknown. We conducted sampling in five natural and two disturbed soda pans aiming to compare a difference in physical and chemical water properties and benthic diatom communities. In addition, we tried to apply recently developed Diatom Index for Soda Pans (DISP) and Trait-based index (TBI) to test the applicability of taxonomic and trait-based approaches in ecological status assessment of soda pans in the southern part of the Carpathian Basin. In contrast to natural soda pans, lower pH and nutrients levels were recorded in disturbed pans. A total of 86 taxa of benthic diatoms, including 11 new for diatom flora of Serbia, were identified. A lower species richness and Shannon index was recorded in natural soda pans. Nitzschia austriaca, N. supralitorea, Navicula veneta and N. wiesneri were dominant diatoms in soda pans of the reference status. Both diatom indices were in average lower in disturbed pans, and this difference was statistically significant for DISP index. We concluded that two indices, supplemented with indicator values for some local diatom species, can be a promising tool for soda pan conservation in this part of the Carpathian Basin.

     

OBSERVATIONS ON THE COEXISTENCE OF FRESH AND SALTWATER INVERTEBRATES IN AN INLAND SALTWORKS

SUMMARY

The fauna of three excavated trenches in the floor of the dry salt-pan in the Brandfort district of the Orange Free State was investigated. Two were found to contain typical saline water invertebrate fauna such as Artemia sp. and the saltwater rotifer Brachionus plicatilis and were without vegetation, while the third supported dense stands of Ruppia maritima, the salt water rotifer Brachionus plicatilis and a variety of freshwater macro-invertebrates. We concluded that certain freshwater macro-invertebrates are able to tolerate saline water, and that this would give them a competitive advantage over stenohaline invertebrates in semi-arid and arid areas where a range of salinities occur within and among the endorheic pans in the region.     

Floating Aquatic Macrophytes Can Substantially Offset Open Water CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> Emissions from Tropical Floodplain Lake Ecosystems

Tropical floodplain lake ecosystems are recognized as important sources of carbon (C) from the water to the atmosphere. They receive large amounts of organic matter and nutrients from the watershed, leading to intense net heterotrophy and carbon dioxide (CO₂) emission from open waters. However, the role of extensive stands of floating macrophytes colonizing floodplains areas is still neglected in assessments of net ecosystem exchange of CO₂ (NEE). We assessed rates of air-lake CO₂ flux using static chambers in both open waters and waters covered by the widespread floating aquatic macrophyte (water hyacinth; Eichornia sp.) in two tropical floodplain lakes in Pantanal, Brazil during different hydrological seasons. In both lakes, areas colonized by floating macrophytes were a net CO₂ sink during all seasons. In contrast, open waters emitted CO₂, with higher emissions during the rising and high water periods. Our results indicate that the lake NEE can be substantially overestimated (fivefold or more in the studied lakes) if the carbon fixation by macrophytes is not considered. The contribution of these plants can lead to neutral or negative NEE (that is, net uptake of CO₂) on a yearly basis. This highlights the importance of floating aquatic macrophytes for the C balance in shallow lakes and extensive floodplain areas.     

Fish mediate high food web connectivity in the lower reaches of a tropical floodplain river

High levels of hydrological connectivity during seasonal flooding provide significant opportunities for movements of fish between rivers and their floodplains, estuaries and the sea, possibly mediating food web subsidies among habitats. To determine the degree of utilisation of food sources from different habitats in a tropical river with a short floodplain inundation duration (~2 months), stable isotope ratios in fishes and their available food were measured from three habitats (inundated floodplain, dry season freshwater, coastal marine) in the lower reaches of the Mitchell River, Queensland (Australia). Floodplain food sources constituted the majority of the diet of large-bodied fishes (barramundi Lates calcarifer, catfish Neoarius graeffei) captured on the floodplain in the wet season and for gonadal tissues of a common herbivorous fish (gizzard shad Nematalosa come), the latter suggesting that critical reproductive phases are fuelled by floodplain production. Floodplain food sources also subsidised barramundi from the recreational fishery in adjacent coastal and estuarine areas, and the broader fish community from a freshwater lagoon. These findings highlight the importance of the floodplain in supporting the production of large fishes in spite of the episodic nature and relatively short duration of inundation compared to large river floodplains of humid tropical regions. They also illustrate the high degree of food web connectivity mediated by mobile fish in this system in the absence of human modification, and point to the potential consequences of water resource development that may reduce or eliminate hydrological connectivity between the river and its floodplain.     

Macrophytes and groundwater drive extremely high organic carbon concentration of soda pans

1. Endorheic soda pans are among the highest dissolved organic carbon (DOC) content aquatic systems on the planet with concentrations up to 1 g/L. Considering the importance of inland waters in the global carbon cycle, understanding the drivers of such outstanding organic carbon pools is eminent. The soda pans of the Carpathian Basin present a wide variability of biotic and abiotic characteristics that provide an adequate system to assess the determinants of extreme high DOC concentrations. Here, we demonstrate through a multi-site comparison, a multi-year seasonal monitoring, and a laboratory experiment that the dissolved organic matter content of the highest DOC concentration soda pans is primarily of groundwater and emergent macrophyte origin.
2. More precisely, the multi-site comparison of 14 soda pans revealed that variation of coloured dissolved organic matter (CDOM) content of the surface water of soda pans is partially explained by the CDOM content (22% of variation) of local groundwater, indicating the significant role of allochthonous terrestrial DOC sources. Further 23% of CDOM variation could be accounted for by Bolboschoenus maritimus species-specific emergent macrophyte cover, while the contribution of Phragmites australis cover was only minor.
3. In line with the results of the multi-site comparison, our decomposition experiment demonstrated that both B. maritimus and P. australis have the potential to release substantial amount of organic matter into soda pans. However, the organic matter release of B. maritimus leads to twice as high DOC and 3.5-times higher CDOM concentrations than P. australis. Considering previous organic matter release studies, we concluded that P. australis is a relatively low organic matter releaser emergent macrophyte, and therefore the species composition of emergent macrophytes has to be carefully considered in autochthonous plant-derived DOM estimations.
4. Finally, the multi-year seasonal monitoring of two distinctive soda pans showed that the high organic matter concentrations depend not only on their intrinsic characteristics but also on interannual variability. More precisely, we demonstrated that the highest CDOM and DOC concentrations that occurred in a coloured (i.e. brown, low total suspended solids) soda pan with extensive (95%) macrophyte cover dominated by B. maritimus were measured in a period characterised by high pH and low water levels, which were presumably the consequence of increased evaporation due to decreased precipitation and above average temperature.
5. Our results indicate that considering climate change trends common for most endorheic regions (i.e. increased temperature and modified precipitation regimes), extremely high organic matter concentrations might become more frequent in the near future in local water bodies, particularly in those highly influenced by groundwater inflow. Furthermore, soda pans with vast specific macrophyte cover and substantial groundwater inflow might become organic carbon processing hotspots.

     

Priming the productivity pump: flood pulse driven trends in suspended algal biomass distribution across a restored floodplain

1. Chlorophyll a (Chl a) distribution across a 0.36 km² restored floodplain (Cosumnes River, California) was analysed throughout the winter and spring flood season from January to June 2005. In addition, high temporal‐resolution Chl a measurements were made in situ with field fluorometers in the floodplain and adjacent channel. 2. The primary objectives were to characterise suspended algal biomass distribution across the floodplain at various degrees of connection with the channel and to correlate Chl a concentration and distribution with physical and chemical gradients across the floodplain. 3. Our analysis indicates that periodic connection and disconnection of the floodplain with the channel is vital to the functioning of the floodplain as a source of concentrated suspended algal biomass for downstream aquatic ecosystems. 4. Peak Chl a levels on the floodplain occurred during disconnection, reaching levels as high as 25 μg L^?1. Chl a distribution across the floodplain was controlled by residence time and local physical/biological conditions, the latter of which were primarily a function of water depth. 5. During connection, the primary pond on the floodplain exhibited low Chl a (mean = 3.4 μg L^?1) and the shallow littoral zones had elevated concentrations (mean = 4.6 μg L^?1); during disconnection, shallow zone Chl a increased (mean = 12.4 μg L^?1), but the pond experienced the greatest algal growth (mean = 14.7 μg L^?1). 6. Storm‐induced floodwaters entering the floodplain not only displaced antecedent floodplain waters, but also redistributed floodplain resources, creating complex mixing dynamics between parcels of water with distinct chemistries. Incomplete replacement of antecedent floodplain waters led to localised hypoxia in non‐flushed areas. 7. The degree of complexity revealed in this analysis makes clear the need for high‐resolution spatial and temporal studies such as this to begin to understand the functioning of dynamic and heterogeneous floodplain ecosystems.     

Influence of predation by fish and water turbidity on a Daphnia gessneri population in an Amazonian floodplain lake,Brazil

The population behavior of Daphnia gessneri Herbst, 1967 in a floodplain lake (Lago Grande) of the lower Rio Solimões was investigated between April 1979 and March 1980 with regard to 1) predation by the fish called tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum, Characidae), 2) water level fluctuation and 3) water transparency. Zooplankton density samples were collected at two sites near mid-lake, where water depth and Secchi disc transparency were measured. In addition, qualitative samples of zooplankton and fish collections were taken at several sites in the adjacent floodplain areas. The author concludes that fluctuations in Daphnia gessneri populations correlate most with intense predation by fish and water turbidity.     

Assessment of the impacts of hydrological fluctuations and salt pans abandonment on Greater flamingos in the Camargue, South of France

Flamingos forage in both commercial salt pans and natural marshes and lagoons along the French Mediterranean coast. In order to assess the impact of changes in management of commercial salt pans and hydrological fluctuations on this flagship species, we evaluated the foraging areas of breeding flamingos using the resightings of 283 breeding flamingos marked with dye at the colony in 1987 and 1989, two years with contrasting hydrological conditions. Teams of observers searched all suitable habitats within 80 km of the colony during the four days following marking and recorded presence of off-duty flamingos. About one-third of the birds were found within 10 km of the colony, but some were seen up to 70 km away. About 24–54% of the birds were found in permanent brackish lagoons and 18–60% in the salt pans, the two most important habitats. In 1989, a dry year with lower water levels in the natural wetlands, the proportion of breeding flamingos using salt pans was twice as high [53%, range (47–60%)] as in 1987 [26%, range (18–29%)], this habitat thus acting as a refuge. Most of the feeding areas shown to be important for flamingos breeding in the Camargue are thus susceptible to variations according to rainfall and to transformations or drying out if the salt pans are abandoned. Our results provide essential benchmarks to reconsider the conservation of this flagship species when management of commercial salt pans changes.     

Seasonal variation in alkalinity in pans in Central Africa

Summary The alkalinity and pH of lakes (pans) in Central Africa on Kalahari Sand, varies with the physical nature of the pan. Natural pans show a range of pH from 6.1 to 8.7, and of total alkalinity from 10 mg/l to 580 mg/l. This range is attributable to local soil differences. Some pans have been deepened or have had water pumped into them to provide drinking points for game animals. The alkalinity of pumped pans is determined by the alkalinity of the water pumped into the pan and the time during which this has taken place. All these types of pan show cyclic seasonal variation in alkalinity and pH. The range in these factors is similar from one year to the next. Animals living either in permanent (deepened or pumped) pans or in temporary (natural) pans have to withstand a wide range of alkalinity fluctuation in the course of the year.     

Fish Communities in Central Amazonian White- and Blackwater Floodplains

In Amazonian floodplains, the flood cycle of the river is becoming the dominant seasonal factor, and fish communities are found to fluctuate greatly over the year. During inundation, fish migrate into floodplain forests to feed on fruits and seeds, in an area more than 300000km² in size. To document patterns of species diversity, distribution, abundance and temporal dynamics and in order to describe the ecological importance of the inundated forest, floodplain fish were captured using variously sized gill nets in white and black water areas inside and outside the floodplain forests during low, rising, high and falling water level in 1990 and 1991. Dominance varies to some extent in white water between floodplain forest (0.06) and open water (0.11) while it is unchanged in black water (0.04). Black water fish communities were more diverse. Most abundant among white water fish were Liposarcus pardalis, Pygocentrus nattereri, and Pellona flavipinnis, for example, or Plagioscion squamsissimus, Serrasalmus rhombeus, and Serrasalmus manueli in black water. Among the most abundant white water fish, Colossoma macropomum, Mylossoma duriventre and Osteoglossum bicirrhosum occurred almost exclusively in inundated forests. Of the black water species there were a large number of species which were captured only in inundated forest, such as Geophagus cf. altifrons, Hoplias malabaricus, Osteoglossum bicirrhosum and Uaru amphiacanthoides. Catches varied with sample site, water level and direction of water level change. The average CPUE in white and black water was 190 and 41g fishm^–2 and day, respectively, with maximum yields at low water and minimum yields at high water. Comparing rising and falling water levels, a significantly higher quantity of fishes was captured at falling water level. In black water, fish catches from the floodplain forest exceeded the open water catch by 183 to 550%, depending on season. Differences in respect of white water are smaller (106–281%). Fish communities in the area under investigation seem to be stochastically assembled, with significant differences between white and black water only. Many fishes move into the floodplain forest not only to feed but probably also for other reasons – to seek shelter, for example.     

Salt lakes of the northern agricultural region,Western Australia

A survey of 11 sites covering three large (>10 km long, 6 sites) playa lakes and four pans (<1 km², 5 sites) of the Yarra Yarra salt lake system in the Northern Agricultural Region of Western Australia commenced in 2001. These salt lakes are shallow and ephemeral, with inundation being more regular following winter rainfall, but summer inundation also occurred in 2001. Salinity was generally higher in playas (156–368 g l⁻¹) than pans (30–284 g l⁻¹), but salinity responded noticeably to heavy rainfall events, especially in pans. pH values in the playa lakes (6.68–7.82) were less variable than in the pans (6.81–8.08). The range of dissolved oxygen concentrations was greater in pans (3.7–14.4 mg l⁻¹) than in playas (3.9–8.2 mg l⁻¹). Cationic concentrations generally followed the pattern of sea water cation dominance. Benthic microbial communities comprised either cohesive to loosely mucilaginous mats, or thin films of diatoms. Five genera of diatom and two species of filamentous cyanobacteria were recorded. Guest Editor: John M. Melack Saline Waters and their Biota     

Fish recruitment in a large,temperate floodplain: the importance of annual flooding,temperature and habitat complexity

1. Large river floodplains are considered key nursery habitats for many species of riverine fish. The lower Volga River floodplains (Russian Federation) are still relatively undisturbed, serving as a suitable model for studying the influence of flooding and temperature on fish recruitment in floodplain rivers. 2. We examined the interannual variability in recruitment success of young‐of‐the‐year (YOY) fish in the lower Volga floodplain in relation to flood pulse characteristics and rising water temperatures in the spring. We sampled four areas with different flooding regimes, in three consecutive years (2006–2008). 3. Extensive areas with a long duration of flooding accommodated high densities of young fish. This suggests that extended inundation improves the recruitment success of river fish. In areas with extensive flooding, the biomass of YOY of most fish species was about three times higher in 2006 and 2007 than in 2008. We hypothesise that low spring temperatures in 2008 may have caused this reduced recruitment and that a flood synchronised with rising temperature enhances recruitment success. 4. Extensive flooding was particularly favourable for species characterised by large body size, delayed maturation, high fecundity and low parental investment, such as pike Esox lucius, roach Rutilus rutilus and ide Leuciscus idus. Gibel carp Carassius gibelio, a species tolerant of high temperature and hypoxia, did particularly well in small waterbodies in the driest parts of the floodplain. 5. Structural characteristics of floodplain waterbodies explained much of YOY fish density. These species–environment associations varied from year to year, but some species such as common bream Abramis brama, roach and gibel carp showed consistent relationships with structural habitat characteristics in all years, despite large interannual fluctuations in flood pulse and spring temperature.     

Ecological impacts of dams,water diversions and river management on floodplain wetlands in Australia

Australian floodplain wetlands are sites of high biodiversity that depend on flows from rivers. Dams, diversions and river management have reduced flooding to these wetlands, altering their ecology, and causing the death or poor health of aquatic biota. Four floodplain wetlands (Barmah‐Millewa Forest and Moira Marshes, Chowilla floodplain, Macquarie Marshes, Gwydir wetlands) illustrate these effects with successional changes in aquatic vegetation, reduced vegetation health, declining numbers of water‐birds and nesting, and declining native fish and invertebrate populations. These effects are likely to be widespread as Australia has at least 446 large dams (>10 m crest height) storing 8.8 × 10⁷ ML (10⁶ L) of water, much of which is diverted upstream of floodplain wetlands. More than 50% of floodplain wetlands on developed rivers may no longer flood. Of all of the river basins in Australia, the Murray‐Darling Basin is most affected with dams which can store 103% of annual runoff and 87% of divertible water extracted (1983–84 data). Some floodplain wetlands are now permanent storages. This has changed their biota from one tolerant of a variable flooding regime, to one that withstands permanent flooding. Plans exist to build dams to divert water from many rivers, mainly for irrigation. These plans seldom adequately model subsequent ecological and hydrological impacts to floodplain wetlands. To avoid further loss of wetlands, an improved understanding of the interaction between river flows and floodplain ecology, and investigations into ecological impacts of management practices, is essential.     

Flood pulse trophic dynamics of larval fishes in a restored arid-land, river-floodplain, Middle Rio Grande, Los Lunas, New Mexico

Rio Grande water is intensively managed and regulated by international and interstate compacts, Native American treaties, local water rights, and federal, state, and local agencies. Legislation and engineering projects in the early twentieth century brought about water impoundment projects and channelization of the Rio Grande which led to the eventual loss of floodplain habitats. In particular, current water management practices in the Middle Rio Grande (MRG) have altered the natural flood regime altering the riparian community and floodplain dynamics which may be causing the demise of many fish species by altering food web processes. The Rio Grande silvery minnow (Hybognathus amarus), a federally endangered species, has been classified as an herbivore, detritivore, or carnivore. During low flow conditions H. amarus is primarily an algivore; however, during flood conditions, hydrodynamic scouring reduces or eliminates benthic algal food sources. The objective of this study was to identify and characterize food resources and trophic interactions for H. amarus on a restored floodplain during an extended flood-pulse release from reservoirs using stable isotope analyses (δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N) and paleolimnology techniques. Results from stable isotope ratios indicate that H. amarus obtained carbon primarily from chironomids while aquatic invertebrates (including chironomids) obtained their carbon from macrophytes. Results from the GLIMMIX procedure indicate that the range of isotopic signatures for prey items was much broader at parallel habitats (i.e. floodplain flow parallel to main stem flow) than perpendicular (i.e. floodplain flow perpendicular to main stem flow) or leeward habitats (i.e. leeward sides of island where flow was near zero) indicating a wider selection of food resources. This study suggests that increased duration of floodplain inundation in the MRG provides vital habitats for spawning, nursery, and recruitment of threatened and endangered fish species. A combination of allochthonous and autochthonous resources best describes the nutrient and energy transfers for the Los Lunas, NM restored floodplain.     

Zooplankton abundance and transport in a tropical white-water river

Zooplankton abundance and transport were studied in the Apure River of western Venuzuela over a 15-month period. Much of the lower portion of the drainage basin, which is an extensive savanna of low relief, is subject to seasonal flooding. Although more than 50 zooplankton species were recorded during the study, nine rotifer species accounted for more than 90% of total density (mean, 138 individuals · L^-1). Copepods were represented primarily by Mesocyclops decipiens. Most cladocerans were planktonic, but cladocerans were not abundant. Crustaceans comprised 46% of annual mean zooplankton biomass (1.9 gC·L^-1) but only 2% of zooplankton numbers. The annual transport of zooplankton biomass from the watershed was 29 300 kgC. Zooplankton abundance showed a strong, inverse relationship to discharge. Secondary branches (caños) of the braided channel appeared to be the primary source areas, but populations of some species also reproduced in the main channel at low water. As the river began to rise, caños were flushed and thus abruptly ceased to serve as source areas. Zooplankton transport fell sharply and remained low until the river inundated the floodplain. Secondary production in the floodplain was exported to the river as long as a connection existed. After drainage ceased from the floodplain, transport fell to very low levels until caños again became suitable habitat. Seasonal fluctuations in river level regulate the development of source areas suitable for zooplankton growth and control the export of plankton from the source areas. Plankton in the running waters reproduce only at low water.     

Nucleation and facilitation in salt pans in Mediterranean salt marshes

Abstract. Arthrocnemum macrostachyum is a perennial species acting as a primary colonizer of salt pans in Mediterranean high salt marshes. Salicornia ramosissima, an annual, occurs in salt pans under Arthrocnemum canopies and in open areas. The aim of this study was to analyse, in wild populations and a transplant experiment, how S. ramosissima population dynamics and growth are affected by A. macrostachyum. The environmental conditions within the patches of Arthrocnemum were less stressful than in the open areas, with lower radiation levels and salinity concentrations. In the inner areas of A. macrostachyum patches, density‐dependent mortality processes of S. ramosissima seedlings led to low densities of adult individuals with greater morphological development and reproductive success than in open areas. However, at the edges of Arthrocnemum patches facilitation of seedling survival favoured high densities. Environmental stress hindered development, decreased reproduction and premature death. These results are in agreement with the general theory of factors controlling vegetation distribution that biotic interactions dominate in low stress environments, while abiotic interactions dominate under harsher environmental conditions. A. macrostachyum plays an essential role in the succession in these salt pans, facilitating seed production and stimulating nucleation processes in S. ramosissima.     

Effects of Reduced Summer Precipitation on Productivity and Forage Quality of Floodplain Meadows at the Elbe and the Rhine River

BackgroundFloodplain meadows along rivers are semi-natural habitats and depend on regular land use. When used non-intensively, they offer suitable habitats for many plant species including rare ones. Floodplains are hydrologically dynamic ecosystems with both periods of flooding and of dry conditions. In German floodplains, dry periods may increase due to reduced summer precipitation as projected by climate change scenarios. Against this background, the question arises, how the forage quantity and quality of these meadows might change in future.MethodsWe report results of two field trials that investigated effects of experimentally reduced summer precipitation on hay quantity and quality of floodplain meadows at the Rhine River (2011-2012) and at two Elbe tributaries (2009-2011). We measured annual yield, the amount of hay biomass, and contents of crude protein, crude fibre, energy, fructan, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.ResultsThe annual yield decreased under precipitation reduction at the Rhine River. This was due to reduced productivity in the second cut hay at the Rhine River in which, interestingly, the contents of nitrogen and crude protein increased. The first cut at the Rhine River was unaffected by the treatments. At the Elbe tributaries, the annual yield and the hay quantity and quality of both cuts were only marginally affected by the treatments.ConclusionWe conclude that the yield of floodplain meadows may become less reliable in future since the annual yield decreased under precipitation reduction at the Rhine River. However, the first and agriculturally more important cut was almost unaffected by the precipitation reduction, which is probably due to sufficient soil moisture from winter/spring. As long as future water levels of the rivers will not decrease during spring, at least the use of the hay from the first cut of floodplain meadows appears reliable under climate change.