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The return of degraded stream ecosystems by using positive impacts from near‐natural sections: a new practical guide for restorations
Author(s) -
Gellert Georg,
Behrens Stefan,
Raschke Monika
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
water and environment journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.437
H-Index - 37
eISSN - 1747-6593
pISSN - 1747-6585
DOI - 10.1111/j.1747-6593.2012.00307.x
Subject(s) - streams , habitat , environmental science , ecosystem , species richness , natural (archaeology) , ecology , organic matter , nutrient , upstream and downstream (dna) , upstream (networking) , habitat destruction , degradation (telecommunications) , stream restoration , hydrology (agriculture) , geography , biology , geology , computer science , computer network , telecommunications , geotechnical engineering , archaeology
Streams in N orth R hine‐ W estphalia ( G ermany) are frequently impacted by hydromorphological degradation leading to a loss of sensitive species and a reduction in diversity. These findings mean that the final objective of the E uropean W ater F ramework D irective to achieve the good ecological status will be failed for a large number of streams. In a holistic approach, a new concept, considering the cost efficiency, has been developed to enhance habitats by morphological changes. This guide serves as a basis for stream restoration projects. The theoretical background is that near‐natural sections influence adjacent sections of medium habitat quality positively by migration of type‐specific sensitive organisms. The preconditions are a local taxa richness in the catchment area, the reduction of nutrients and organic matter, and the guarantee of free movement. This so‐called ‘spreading effect’ can be measured upstream and downstream. The length of by these means valourized sections depends on the stream type and on the biological quality component.