TY - JOUR A1 - Hattermann, Fred A1 - Krysanova, Valentina A1 - Habeck, Anja A1 - Bronstert, Axel T1 - Integrating wetlands and riparian zones in river basin modelling JF - Ecological modelling : international journal on ecological modelling and engineering and systems ecolog N2 - Wetlands, and in particular riparian wetlands, represent an interface between the catchment area and the aquatic environment. They control the exchange of water and related chemical fluxes from the upper catchment area to surface waters like streams and lakes. Their influence on water and nutrient balances has been investigated mainly at the patch scale. In this study an attempt was made (a) to integrate riparian zones and wetlands into eco-hydrological river basin modelling, and (b) to quantify the impacts of riparian wetland processes on water and nutrient fluxes in a meso-scale catchment located in the northeastern German lowland. The investigation was performed by analysing hydro-chemical field data and applying the eco-hydrological model SWIM (Soil and Water Integrated Model), which was extended to reproduce the relevant water and nutrient flows and retention processes at the catchment scale in general, and in riparian zones and wetlands in particular. The main extensions introduced in the model were: (1) implementation of daily groundwater table dynamics at the hydrotope level, (2) implementation of water and nutrient uptake by plants from groundwater in riparian zones and wetlands, and (3) assessment of nutrient retention in groundwater and interflow. The simulation results indicate that wetlands, though they represent relatively small parts of the total catchment area, may have a significant impact on the overall water and nutrient balances of the catchment. The uncertainty of the simulation results is considerably high, with the main sources of uncertainty being the model parameters representing the geo-hydrology and the input data for land use management. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. KW - riparian zones KW - wetlands KW - water quality KW - groundwater dynamics KW - nutrient retention KW - integrated river basin modelling Y1 - 2006 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2005.06.012 SN - 0304-3800 VL - 199 IS - 4 SP - 379 EP - 392 PB - Elsevier CY - Amsterdam ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Natho, Stephanie A1 - Tschikof, Martin A1 - Bondar-Kunze, Elisabeth A1 - Hein, Thomas T1 - Modeling the effect of enhanced lateral connectivity on nutrient retention capacity in large river floodplains BT - how much connected floodplain do we need? JF - Frontiers in Environmental Science N2 - Floodplains have been degraded in Central Europe for centuries, resulting in less dynamic and less diverse ecosystems than in the past. They provide essential ecosystem services like nutrient retention to improve overall water quality and thus fulfill naturally what EU legislation demands, but this service is impaired by reduced connectivity patterns. Along the second-longest river in Europe, the Danube, restoration measures have been carried out and are planned for the near future in the Austrian Danube Floodplain National Park in accordance with navigation purposes. We investigated nutrient retention capacity in seven currently differently connected side arms and the effects of proposed restoration measures using two complementary modeling approaches. We modeled nutrient retention capacity in two scenarios considering different hydrological conditions, as well as the consequences of planned restoration measures for side arm connectivity. With existing monitoring data on hydrology, nitrate, and total phosphorus concentrations for three side arms, we applied a statistical model and compared these results to a semi-empirical retention model. The latter was originally developed for larger scales, based on transferable causalities of retention processes and set up for this floodplain with publicly available data. Both model outcomes are in a comparable range for NO3-N (77-198 kg ha(-1)yr(-1)) and TP (1.4-5.7 kg ha(-1)yr(-1)) retention and agree in calculating higher retention in floodplains, where reconnection allows more frequent inundation events. However, the differences in the model results are significant for specific aspects especially during high flows, where the semi-empirical model complements the statistical model. On the other hand, the statistical model complements the semi-empirical model when taking into account nutrient retention at times of no connection between the remaining water bodies left in the floodplain. Overall, both models show clearly that nutrient retention in the Danube floodplains can be enhanced by restoring lateral hydrological reconnection and, for all planned measures, a positive effect on the overall water quality of the Danube River is expected. Still, a frequently hydrologically connected stretch of national park is insufficient to improve the water quality of the whole Upper Danube, and more functional floodplains are required. KW - floodplain KW - lateral hydrological connectivity KW - Danube KW - restoration KW - reconnection KW - inundation KW - nutrient retention KW - modeling Y1 - 2020 U6 - https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2020.00074 SN - 2296-665X VL - 8 PB - Frontiers Media CY - Lausanne ER -