RAPID: A massive floodplain reconnects: physical and biotic responses of the Birds Point levee breach in the Mississippi River

这一快速提案将遵循生态系统的变化，发生作为一个长期断开的密西西比河洪泛平原在鸟点堤坝成为淹没洪水从历史性的高流量的2011年春天。研究人员将调查生态系统的新陈代谢（初级生产和呼吸）和次生生产力的洪泛区系统在淹没期间（预计将持续到2011年夏末）。研究人员将把他们的发现与过去的研究中关于河流生态系统代谢的数据进行比较。自20世纪30年代以来，密西西比河上发生的这种规模的事件还没有见过（当时没有研究其生态系统影响）。像这样的极端事件要求质疑过去限制河流和防止洪泛区淹没的决定。研究将为评估替代管理战略提供基础，以适应未来气候下可能更频繁发生的极端洪水事件。

This RAPID proposal will follow the ecosystem changes that occur as a long-disconnected floodplain of the Mississippi River at the Birds Point Levee becomes inundated with floodwaters from the historic high flows of spring 2011. The researchers will investigate ecosystem metabolism (primary production and respiration) and secondary productivity of the floodplain system during the inundation period (expected to last until end of summer 2011). The researchers will compare their findings with data on ecosystem metabolism of the river from past studies.An event of the magnitude that is now occurring on the Mississippi River has not been seen since the 1930's (when its ecosystem effects were not studied). Extreme events like these call to question past decisions to constrain the river and prevent floodplain inundation. Research will provide a basis for evaluating alternative management strategies to accommodate extreme flooding events which may occur more frequently under future climates.