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Habitat indices for rivers: derivation and applications
Author(s) -
Vaughan Ian P.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
aquatic conservation: marine and freshwater ecosystems
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.95
H-Index - 77
eISSN - 1099-0755
pISSN - 1052-7613
DOI - 10.1002/aqc.1078
Subject(s) - riparian zone , habitat , range (aeronautics) , river ecosystem , channel (broadcasting) , vegetation (pathology) , river management , judgement , index (typography) , hydrology (agriculture) , physical geography , bedrock , environmental science , environmental resource management , geography , ecology , computer science , geology , engineering , medicine , computer network , geotechnical engineering , pathology , world wide web , law , political science , biology , aerospace engineering , geomorphology
1. River Habitat Survey (RHS) is the standard riverine hydromorphology survey in the UK and modified versions have been adopted in several other European Countries. It aims to broadly characterize physical features over 500 m reaches, but in so doing records more than 100 variables, often making interpretation and data analysis challenging. In such instances, synoptic treatment of the data, creating simple indices such as Habitat Modification and Habitat Quality Assessment scores, can prove beneficial. 2. The derivation of seven new indices is described, summarizing nearly half of the variables used by RHS and providing a quantitative overall summary of river reaches. 3. Derived using an objective analysis of the RHS database ( cf expert judgement), one index describes bedrock/boulder channels, two indices describe bank and riparian vegetation and a further two describe aspects of sediment transport and deposition. Two distinct types of modification — bank reinforcement and channel re‐sectioning — are also quantified. 4. Rigorous testing indicates that the indices are reliable across the complete range of conditions and countries in the UK. 5. The new indices are readily interpreted and while providing a simple overview of a river reach, they are objective and quantitative, lending themselves to a range of management and research applications. They have already been used successfully in quantifying riverine bird habitats and this, along with other applications, is discussed. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.