Contents
Foreword ix Preface xi Acknowledgments xv
1 Introduction to the Riverine Ecosystem Synthesis
Background and scope 1
Conceptual cohesiveness 1
Organization of this book 2 Basic concepts in the riverine ecosystem synthesis 4
Hydrogeomorphic patches and functional process zones 4
Ecological attributes of functional process zones 5
Hierarchical patch dynamics 6
Bicomplexity tenets 7
2 Historical and Recent Perspectives on Riverine Concepts
Introduction 9
Patterns along a longitudinal dimension in river networks 10
Longitudinally ordered zonation 10 The river as a continuum - a clinal perspective 11
Hydrogeomorphic patches vs a continuous riverine cline 13
Network theory and the structure of riverine ecosystems 15
The lateral dimension of rivers - the riverine landscape 15 Temporal dimension: normality or aberration? 17
Vertical dimension: the bulk of the iceberg! 19
Other important riverine concepts 20
3 Hierarchical Patch Dynamics in Riverine Landscapes
Hierarchical patch dynamics model - brief introduction 21
Hierarchy theory 22
Patch dynamics defined 29
Hierarchical patch dynamics in riverine research 29 :
Selective spatiotemporal scales 29
The nature of patches and their study in riverine landscapes 30
Element I: nested, discontinuous hierarchies of patch mosaics 32
Element II: ecosystem dynamics as a composite of intra- and interpatch dynamics 33
Element III: linked patterns and processes 34
Element IV: dominance of nonequilibrial and stochastic processes
Vi Contents
Element V: formation of a quasi-equilibrial, metastable state 36
Metapopulations 37
The RES as a research framework and field applications of hierarchical patch dynamics 38
4 The Spatial Arrangement of River Systems: The Emergence of Hydrogeomorphic Patches
Introduction 41
The spatial arrangement of riverine landscapes 43
River characterization 45
A characterization scheme for the RES SO
Application of the characterization framework 51
Example 1: rivers within the Murray-Darling Basin 52
Example 2: the rivers of the Kingdom of Lesotho 59 What scale to choose and its relevance to riverine landscapes 63 Summary 67
5 Defining the Hydrogeomorphic Character of a Riverine Ecosystem
Introduction 69
Background philosophies and approaches 70
Determining the character of river networks: top-down vs bottom-up approaches 73
Top-down approaches 73
Bottom-up approaches 80
Comparing top-down vs bottom-up approaches: an example 88 Some common functional process zones 90
A brief review of functional process zones 90
Confined valley functional process zones 91
Partially confined functional process zones 93
Unconfined functional process zones 94 Summary 101
6 Ecological Implications of the Riverine Ecosystem Synthesis: Some Proposed Biocomplexity Tenets (Hypotheses)
Introduction 103
Distribution of species 104 .
Model tenet 1: hydrogeomorphic patches 104
Model tenet 2: importance of functional process zone over clinal position 105
Model tenet 3: ecological nodes 106
Model tenet 4: hydrologic retention 107
Community regulation 108
Model tenet 5: hierarchical habitat template 108
Model tenet 6: deterministic vs stochastic factors 110
Model tenet 7: quasi-equilibrium 114
Model tenet 8: trophic complexity 115
Model tenet 9: succession 117
Ecosystem and riverine landscape processes 118
Model tenet 10: primary productivity within functional process zones 118
Model tenet 11: riverscape food web pathways 119
Model tenet 12: floodscape food web pathways 123
Model tenet 13: nutrient spiraling 124
Model tenet 14: dynamic hydrology 126
Model tenet 15: flood-linked evolution 127
Model tenet 16: connectivity 128
Model tenet 17: landscape patterns of functional process zones 129
7 Ecogeomorphology of Altered Riverine Landscapes: Implications for Biocomplexity Tenets
Introduction 133 Distribution of species 135
Model tenet 1: hydrogeomorphic patches 135
Model tenet 2: importance of functional process zone over clinal position 136
Model tenet 3: ecological nodes 139
Model tenet 4: hydrologic retention 140 Community regulation 142
Model tenet 5: hierarchical habitat template 142
Model tenet 6: deterministic vs stochastic factors 143
Model tenet 7: quasi-equilibrium 144
Model tenet 8: trophic complexity 146
Model tenet 9: succession 148 Ecosystem and riverine landscape processes 150
Model tenet 10: primary productivity within functional process zones 150
Model tenet 11: riverscape food web pathways 151
Model tenet 12: floodscape food web pathways 154
Model tenet 13: nutrient spiraling 155
Model tenet 14: dynamic hydrology 158
Model tenet 15: flood-linked evolution 159
Model tenet 16: connectivity 160
Model tenet 17: landscape patterns of functional process zones 162
8 Practical Applications of the Riverine Ecosystem Synthesis in Management and Conservation Settings
Introduction 165
Revisiting hierarchy and scales 166
The relevance of scale in river management 167
Focus on catchment-based approaches to management 168
Application of functional process zones 169 Prioritization for conservation purposes 169
River assessments and the importance of the functional process zone scale 170
Determining environmental water allocations 175
Summary 177
Concluding Remarks 179 Literature Cited 181
Index 203