Effects of different weed cutting methods on physical and hydromorphological conditions in lowland streams
Climate change has increased the frequency and intensity of stream flooding events. In response, managing authorities may increase frequency and intensity of aquatic plant removal (weed cutting) to lower the water level in rivers possibly impairing physical and hydromorphological stream conditions....
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2021-01-01
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doaj-3f44d0d8a48847a1baa818a5ddb89f7d2021-03-09T14:30:31ZengEDP SciencesKnowledge and Management of Aquatic Ecosystems1961-95022021-01-0104221010.1051/kmae/2021009kmae200131Effects of different weed cutting methods on physical and hydromorphological conditions in lowland streamsRasmussen Jes Jessen0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5932-3125Kallestrup Helena1Thiemer Kirstine2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3287-9502Baisner Alnøe Anette3Dalsgaard Henriksen Lisbeth4https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1974-4627Larsen Søren Erik5Baattrup-Pedersen Annette6Department of Bioscience, Aarhus UniversityDepartment of Bioscience, Aarhus UniversityDepartment of Bioscience, Aarhus UniversityDepartment of Bioscience, Aarhus UniversityDepartment of Bioscience, Aarhus UniversityDepartment of Bioscience, Aarhus UniversityDepartment of Bioscience, Aarhus UniversityClimate change has increased the frequency and intensity of stream flooding events. In response, managing authorities may increase frequency and intensity of aquatic plant removal (weed cutting) to lower the water level in rivers possibly impairing physical and hydromorphological stream conditions. We studied 32 Danish lowland streams subjected to three different weed cutting practices, representing a gradient in weed cutting intensity, and uncut controls to compare physical and hydromorphological habitat quality parameters among stream groups. Moreover, we measured short-term changes in dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations and suspended sediment (SS) transport in two streams before, during, and just after weed cutting for the least and most pervasive weed cutting method, respectively. Our results indicated a lower habitat quality affiliated with increasing intensity of weed cutting practice, notably an association with silt cover at the expense of hard substrate. DO concentrations were relatively unaltered but an abrupt increase in SS transport comparable to storm events was observed during cutting with the most pervasive method. Our results indicate that ecological and hydromorphological effects of high intensity weed cutting should be carefully studied and considered before large scale implementation.https://www.kmae-journal.org/articles/kmae/full_html/2021/01/kmae200131/kmae200131.htmlstream managementmacrophyte removalphysical habitatsediment transportwater framework directive |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Rasmussen Jes Jessen Kallestrup Helena Thiemer Kirstine Baisner Alnøe Anette Dalsgaard Henriksen Lisbeth Larsen Søren Erik Baattrup-Pedersen Annette |
spellingShingle |
Rasmussen Jes Jessen Kallestrup Helena Thiemer Kirstine Baisner Alnøe Anette Dalsgaard Henriksen Lisbeth Larsen Søren Erik Baattrup-Pedersen Annette Effects of different weed cutting methods on physical and hydromorphological conditions in lowland streams Knowledge and Management of Aquatic Ecosystems stream management macrophyte removal physical habitat sediment transport water framework directive |
author_facet |
Rasmussen Jes Jessen Kallestrup Helena Thiemer Kirstine Baisner Alnøe Anette Dalsgaard Henriksen Lisbeth Larsen Søren Erik Baattrup-Pedersen Annette |
author_sort |
Rasmussen Jes Jessen |
title |
Effects of different weed cutting methods on physical and hydromorphological conditions in lowland streams |
title_short |
Effects of different weed cutting methods on physical and hydromorphological conditions in lowland streams |
title_full |
Effects of different weed cutting methods on physical and hydromorphological conditions in lowland streams |
title_fullStr |
Effects of different weed cutting methods on physical and hydromorphological conditions in lowland streams |
title_full_unstemmed |
Effects of different weed cutting methods on physical and hydromorphological conditions in lowland streams |
title_sort |
effects of different weed cutting methods on physical and hydromorphological conditions in lowland streams |
publisher |
EDP Sciences |
series |
Knowledge and Management of Aquatic Ecosystems |
issn |
1961-9502 |
publishDate |
2021-01-01 |
description |
Climate change has increased the frequency and intensity of stream flooding events. In response, managing authorities may increase frequency and intensity of aquatic plant removal (weed cutting) to lower the water level in rivers possibly impairing physical and hydromorphological stream conditions. We studied 32 Danish lowland streams subjected to three different weed cutting practices, representing a gradient in weed cutting intensity, and uncut controls to compare physical and hydromorphological habitat quality parameters among stream groups. Moreover, we measured short-term changes in dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations and suspended sediment (SS) transport in two streams before, during, and just after weed cutting for the least and most pervasive weed cutting method, respectively. Our results indicated a lower habitat quality affiliated with increasing intensity of weed cutting practice, notably an association with silt cover at the expense of hard substrate. DO concentrations were relatively unaltered but an abrupt increase in SS transport comparable to storm events was observed during cutting with the most pervasive method. Our results indicate that ecological and hydromorphological effects of high intensity weed cutting should be carefully studied and considered before large scale implementation. |
topic |
stream management macrophyte removal physical habitat sediment transport water framework directive |
url |
https://www.kmae-journal.org/articles/kmae/full_html/2021/01/kmae200131/kmae200131.html |
work_keys_str_mv |
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