Multiple floods interactions shape riparian plant communities and diversity

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Community Ecology
• Disturbance Ecology

Background:

• Ecological disturbances are key drivers of community formation.
• Interactions among multiple disturbances are increasingly recognized but often overlooked.
• Riparian plant communities are shaped by periodic and large-scale flooding events.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of disturbance interactions on riparian plant community structure.
• To assess the effects of a large-scale flood (Typhoon Hagibis) and subsequent periodic floods on the Akigawa River riparian zone.
• To examine how the interaction of same-type disturbances influences community diversity.

Main Methods:

• Comparative analysis of land cover before and after Typhoon Hagibis.
• Plant community surveys conducted one and two years post-typhoon.
• Assessment of alpha- and beta-diversity in relation to disturbance regimes.

Main Results:

• One year after the typhoon, plant communities reflected the intensity of the large-scale flood.
• Two years post-typhoon, community structures shifted, indicating influence from periodic flood interactions.
• Disturbance interactions, even of the same type, appeared to enhance community diversity.

Conclusions:

• The interaction between large-scale and periodic floods significantly influences riparian plant community development.
• Same-type disturbance interactions can promote greater community diversity in riverine ecosystems.
• Understanding these interactions is crucial for predicting riparian ecosystem responses to disturbances.