River plants counter both flooding and drought to protect biodiversity
Friday, July 17, 2020 - 09:20
in Earth & Climate
"Water plants are a nuisance in streams, blocking the flow. You should remove them." This notion has for many years determined how streams were managed to prevent flooding during high rainfall events. Research by NIOZ scientist Loreta Cornacchia, published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, in cooperation with Utrecht University and British and Belgian partners, shows how vegetation in streams can actually buffer water levels, by adjusting vegetation cover. By adapting the patterning of plant clumps to changes in discharge, river plants can both counter flooding as well as prevent drying out, thereby protecting biodiversity. Cornacchia: "They provide a natural buffer against hydrological changes."