A new set of metrics and framework to assess the colonization potential of riverscapes by wind-dispersed plant species.

ABSTRACT: Quantifying the potential of a braided riverscape to be colonized by a plant species is essential for assessing the ecological state of the river and provides an important basis for nature conservation planning and the implementation of restoration measures. Common connectivity indices are largely unsuitable for describing the situation for the mostly wind-dispersed plant species. Our approach provides a set of comparable metrics that allows the quantification of the colonization potential of riverscapes at the patch and riverscape level. We propose a set of cell-based, spatially explicit measures that can easily be implemented. We demonstrate their application using two typical plant species and three riverscapes with different habitat configurations as examples. Our metrics consider shap

SUBMITTER: Wagner TC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10654522 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature