Future prospects for floodplain vegetation under climate change

摘要: Riparian floodplains belong to the most diverse and productive ecosystems and their important role is emphasized by European directives such as the Water Framework Directive or the NATURA 2000 network. Simultaneously they belong to the most endangered ecosystems in the world due to human impacts such as dyke and dam construction as well as river regulation and training, and land use changes. Climate change is expected to further endanger floodplain ecosystems because of assumed changes of hydrological conditions in the floodplain. Hence, existent vegetation as well as potential restoration measures might be affected. Aim of this study was to assess potential changes in the small-scale habitat distribution of different plant species representing characteristic riparian vegetation types along the Rhine River due to climate change. Hydrological as well as species distribution data were used to …