Book chapter
F1.5 Seasonal lowland rivers
The IUCN global Ecosystem Typology 2.0: Descriptive profiles for biomes and ecosystem functional groups, p.107
IUCN
2020
Abstract
These large riverine systems (stream orders 5–9) can be highly productive with trophic structures and processes shaped by seasonal hydrology and linkages to floodplain wetlands. In combination with biophysical heterogeneity, this temporal variability promotes functional diversity in the biota. Although trophic networks are complex due to the diversity of food sources and the extent of omnivory amongst consumers, food chains tend to be short and large mobile predator,s such as otters, large piscivorous waterbirds, sharks, dolphins and crocodilians (in the tropics), can have a major impact on the food webs. Benthic algae are key contributors to primary productivity, although macrophytes become more important during the peak and late wet season when they also provide substrate for epiphytic algae.
Details
- Title
- F1.5 Seasonal lowland rivers
- Authors/Creators
- Richard Kingsford (Author)Belinda J Robson (Author) - Murdoch University, Centre for Sustainable Aquatic EcosystemsPaul Giller (Author)Angela Arthington (Author)David Keith (Author)
- Contributors
- D. A. Keith (Editor)J.R. Ferrer-Paris (Editor)E. Nicholson (Editor)R.T. Kingsford (Editor)
- Publication Details
- The IUCN global Ecosystem Typology 2.0: Descriptive profiles for biomes and ecosystem functional groups, p.107
- Publisher
- IUCN
- Identifiers
- 991005555067107891
- Copyright
- © 2020 IUCN, International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
- Murdoch Affiliation
- Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Ecosystems; School of Environmental and Conservation Sciences
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Book chapter
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