The Use of Palaeoecological Techniques to Identify Reference Conditions for River Conservation Management

摘要

It is widely recognized that human activities have resulted in significant changes to the hydromorphology (flow characteristics and fluvial geomorphology) and ecology of riverine ecosystems globally and that' to reinstate morphological diversity, physical river restoration may be required in many instances (Jansson et al., 2007). However, significant questions remain regarding the ecological 'benefits' resulting from physical restoration measures on their own (Harrison et al., 2004). Several species of riverine flora and fauna have been extirpated or disadvantaged by historic channel modifications across much of lowland England (Brown, 2002; Mainstone and Clarke, 2008). In many instances river restoration (physical and ecological) may not be possible without direct intervention or re-establishment of target habitat features and/or organisms (Jones et al., 2009; Thompson and Lake, 2010).