Rights statement: This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Wilkes MA, Gittins JR, Mathers KL, et al. Physical and biological controls on fine sediment transport and storage in rivers. WIREs Water. 2018;e1331. https://doi.org/10.1002/wat2.1331 which has been published in final form at https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/wat2.1331 This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance With Wiley Terms and Conditions for self-archiving.
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Final published version
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Physical and biological controls on fine sediment transport and storage in rivers
AU - Wilkes, Martin A
AU - Gittins, Joshua R.
AU - Mathers, Kate L
AU - Mason, Richard
AU - Casas-Mulet, Roser
AU - Vanzo, Davide
AU - Mckenzie, Morwenna
AU - Murray-Bligh, John
AU - England, Judy
AU - Gurnell, Angela
AU - Jones, J. Iwan
N1 - This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Wilkes MA, Gittins JR, Mathers KL, et al. Physical and biological controls on fine sediment transport and storage in rivers. WIREs Water. 2018;e1331. https://doi.org/10.1002/wat2.1331 which has been published in final form at https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/wat2.1331 This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance With Wiley Terms and Conditions for self-archiving.
PY - 2019/3
Y1 - 2019/3
N2 - Excess fine sediment, comprising particles <2 mm in diameter, is a major cause of ecological degradation in rivers. The erosion of fine sediment from terrestrial or aquatic sources, its delivery to the river, and its storage and transport in the fluvial environment are controlled by a complex interplay of physical, biological and anthropogenic factors. Whilst the physical controls exerted on fine sediment dynamics are relatively well-documented, the role of biological processes and their interactions with hydraulic and physico-chemical phenomena has been largely overlooked. The activities of biota, from primary producers to predators, exert strong controls on fine sediment deposition, infiltration and resuspension. For example, extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) associated with biofilms increase deposition and decrease resuspension. In lower energy rivers, aquatic macrophyte growth and senescence are intimately linked to sediment retention and loss, whereas riparian trees are dominant ecosystem engineers in high energy systems. Fish and invertebrates also have profound effects on fine sediment dynamics through activities that drive both particle deposition and erosion depending on species composition and abiotic conditions. The functional traits of species present will determine not only these biotic effects but also the responses of river ecosystems to excess fine sediment. We discuss which traits are involved and put them into context with spatial processes that occur throughout the river network. Whilst strides towards better understanding of the impacts of excess fine sediment have been made, further progress to identify the most effective management approaches is urgently required through close communication between authorities and scientists.
AB - Excess fine sediment, comprising particles <2 mm in diameter, is a major cause of ecological degradation in rivers. The erosion of fine sediment from terrestrial or aquatic sources, its delivery to the river, and its storage and transport in the fluvial environment are controlled by a complex interplay of physical, biological and anthropogenic factors. Whilst the physical controls exerted on fine sediment dynamics are relatively well-documented, the role of biological processes and their interactions with hydraulic and physico-chemical phenomena has been largely overlooked. The activities of biota, from primary producers to predators, exert strong controls on fine sediment deposition, infiltration and resuspension. For example, extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) associated with biofilms increase deposition and decrease resuspension. In lower energy rivers, aquatic macrophyte growth and senescence are intimately linked to sediment retention and loss, whereas riparian trees are dominant ecosystem engineers in high energy systems. Fish and invertebrates also have profound effects on fine sediment dynamics through activities that drive both particle deposition and erosion depending on species composition and abiotic conditions. The functional traits of species present will determine not only these biotic effects but also the responses of river ecosystems to excess fine sediment. We discuss which traits are involved and put them into context with spatial processes that occur throughout the river network. Whilst strides towards better understanding of the impacts of excess fine sediment have been made, further progress to identify the most effective management approaches is urgently required through close communication between authorities and scientists.
U2 - 10.1002/wat2.1331
DO - 10.1002/wat2.1331
M3 - Journal article
VL - 6
JO - WIREs WATER
JF - WIREs WATER
SN - 2049-1948
IS - 2
M1 - e1331
T2 - British Ecological Society-funded Workshop
Y2 - 27 July 2017 through 27 July 2017
ER -