RAPID: Short term effects of initial flood disturbance on restoration projects

季节性洪水维持着洪泛区-河流生态系统的生物生产力和多样性，但罕见的大洪水对这些生态系统的影响却鲜为人知。在河流生态系统已经开发和洪泛区正在恢复的地方，了解这种洪水的影响至关重要，因为在利用恢复的洪泛区维持本地物种和自然功能与利用它们减少对生命和财产的威胁之间可能存在权衡。2013年4月，伊利诺伊河发生了创纪录的洪水，淹没了大自然保护协会的两个洪泛区恢复项目;这两个项目在2013年之前都没有收到河水。有两种截然不同的洪水状况：1）在Merwin现场，堤坝决口导致河水突然持续涌入。 这种洪水模式代表了在故意破坏以减少洪峰期间发生的情况; 2）在Albuquon，堤坝保持不变，但河水流入该地区，使该地区充满营养物质和生物。 在Escquon的模式典型的季节性洪水或洪水管理，以优化物种恢复和自然功能。 在这两个地点，将测量营养物和沉积物浓度、沉积物反硝化作用以及藻类生物量、细菌群落和浮游动物产量变化方面的快速反应。 将通过比较2013年洪水后的数据和现有的长期数据集来确定植被、鱼类和水鸟的长期反应。 该项目的成果，包括短期和长期数据集和分析，将有助于洪泛区管理人员和决策者。本计画将资助三位研究生之论文研究，并提供三位本科生之河川生态学研究经验。 将通过出版物和实地讲座/讲习班，与公众、政府和私营组织分享所吸取的经验教训，并通过三个河流实地站的既定方案，为学生和访问团体举办讲习班。

Seasonal floods maintain the biological productivity and diversity of floodplain-river ecosystems, but the effect of infrequent, great floods on these ecosystems are less well known. Knowing the effect of this type of flood is critical where river ecosystems have been developed and where floodplains are now being restored because there are likely trade-offs between using restored floodplains to maintain native species and natural functions and using them to reduce threats to lives and property. The record flood of April 2013 on the Illinois River flooded two floodplain restoration projects undertaken by The Nature Conservancy; neither project had received river water prior to 2013. There were two contrasting flood regimes: 1) at the Merwin site, the levee breached resulting in a sudden and sustained influx of river water. This flood pattern typifies what happens during intentional breaching to reduce a flood crest; 2) at Emiquon, the levee held but river water flowed into the site inoculating the area with nutrients and organisms. The pattern at Emiquon typifies a seasonal flood or a flood managed to optimize species recovery and natural functions. At both sites, rapid responses will be measured in nutrient and sediment concentrations, sediment denitrification, and change in algal biomass, bacterial communities and zooplankton production. Longer-term responses of vegetation, fish, and water birds will be determined by comparing post flood 2013 data to existing long-term data sets. Results from this project, including both short and long-term data sets and analyses, will assist floodplain managers and policymakers. This project will support the dissertation research of three graduate students and provide research experiences for three undergraduate students in river ecology. Lessons learned will be shared with the public and government and private organizations through publications and field-based lectures/workshops for students and visiting groups through established programs at three river field stations.