Effect of enhanced water exchange on ecosystem functions in backwaters of an urban floodplain |
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| Authors: | Elisabeth Bondar-Kunze Stefan Preiner Friedrich Schiemer Gabriele Weigelhofer Thomas Hein |
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| Institution: | (1) Institute of Hydrobiology and Aquatic Ecosystem Management, University for Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, BOKU Vienna Max Emanuelstr. 17, 1180 Vienna, Austria;(2) WasserKluster Lunz GmBH, Interuniversity Center for Aquatic Ecosystem Research, Dr. Carl Kupelwieser Prom. 5, 3293 Lunz/See, Austria;(3) Department of Limnology and Hydrobotany, University of Vienna, Vienna Ecology Center, Althanstrasse 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria; |
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| Abstract: | This study evaluated the effects of a controlled surface water connectivity scheme on several backwaters in an urban floodplain
within the city limits of Vienna, the Upper Lobau. A phosphorus budget and ecosystem metabolism measurements were used to
assess the reaction of two trophically distinct floodplain backwater sections on changed connectivity conditions. The surface
water connection led to a reduction of the retention times in the backwater system. The water column nutrient concentrations
in the individual backwater sections approached those of the source water body. The significance of these effects, however,
depends on the historical and current trophic situation of the respective water bodies. Generally, the surface water connectivity
introduced particulate phosphorus export up to 30% increase over the influent loading and dissolved phosphorus up to 14% increase
over the influent loading. However, in sections with submersed macrophyte development, which provided enhanced filtering capacities
for particulate matter, sediment and phosphorus accumulation rates were increased. At the same time, water transparency increased
resulting in a positive feedback supporting further macrophyte development. Based on these findings, the evaluation of restoration
measures in urban floodplains needs to consider the spatial and temporal dynamics of nutrients and ecosystem processes such
as gross primary production and community respiration to predict long-term development. |
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