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