Publication

A case-study evaluating river rehabilitation alternatives and habitat heterogeneity using the hydromorphological index of diversity

Anton Schleiss, Walter Gostner
2019
Journal paper
Abstract

Concurrent rehabilitation alternatives were evaluated for a 1900 m reach of the River Etsch in northern Italy using a recently developed Hydro Morphological Index of Diversity (HMID) model. HMID is a new tool enabling quantitative assessments of river restoration alternatives on ecologically relevant scales. The model is able to characterize both the spatial and temporal hydrodynamic variability, in relation to morphological characteristics, and thereby to assess the overall physical habitat variability imparted by different restoration alternatives. Three habitat alternatives were evaluated (boulder clusters, groynes, alternating bars) and compared to existing conditions where a prismatic channel exists. The placement of boulder clusters represented the simplest and cheapest option to implement but produced marginal improvements in the aquatic habitat. Installation of groynes resulted in moderate increases to spatial habitat variability, resulting in the largest capital investment. The introduction of alternating bars within a modestly increased channel width produced the greatest increase in physical habitat diversity and thus morphodynamic complexity while resulting in moderate capital investment construction costs compared to a full geomorphic restoration. The alternating bar rehabilitation alternative also supported the greatest habitat diversity and lowest variation in hydraulic conditions under low-flow conditions.

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Related concepts (35)
Habitat
In ecology, habitat refers to the array of resources, physical and biotic factors that are present in an area, such as to support the survival and reproduction of a particular species. A species habitat can be seen as the physical manifestation of its ecological niche. Thus "habitat" is a species-specific term, fundamentally different from concepts such as environment or vegetation assemblages, for which the term "habitat-type" is more appropriate. The physical factors may include (for example): soil, moisture, range of temperature, and light intensity.
Restoration ecology
Restoration ecology is the scientific study supporting the practice of ecological restoration, which is the practice of renewing and restoring degraded, damaged, or destroyed ecosystems and habitats in the environment by active human interruption and action. Ecological restoration can reverse biodiversity loss, combat climate change and support local and global economies.
Biodiversity
Biodiversity or biological diversity is the variety and variability of life on Earth. Biodiversity is a measure of variation at the genetic (genetic variability), species (species diversity), and ecosystem (ecosystem diversity) level. Biodiversity is not distributed evenly on Earth; it is usually greater in the tropics as a result of the warm climate and high primary productivity in the region near the equator. Tropical forest ecosystems cover less than 10% of earth's surface and contain about 90% of the world's species.
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