Do riparian plant functional groups from northern Sweden respond differently to hydropeaking?

Abstract: In recent years, global warming awareness has resulted in an increased demand for clean sources of energy such as hydropower. As a consequence, its impact on riparian vegetation must be studied. In this research, I aimed to assess how different functional riparian groups from northern Sweden respond to hydropeaking (i.e. short-term flow regime changes due to differences in the daily energy requirements). I selected seedlings of eight species natural from Swedish riparian ecosystems which can be grouped in three different guilds (forbs, graminoids and woody) according to their habitat and morphological traits.  A seven week greenhouse experiment in which the seedlings were subjected to two watering treatments that simulated prolonged and deep submergence and frequent and short shallow submergence conditions was developed. I measured the root, stem and leaf biomass, followed leaf changes and stem growth over the weeks and evaluated the health status. The study showed how some species and guilds responded differently to the treatments although survival rates were similar. Forbs was the most resilient group unlike the woody guild.  Graminoids grew longer and thinner roots in frequent submergence situations. Small seedlings appeared to be more sensitive to prolonged submergence. No significant differences were found for leaf variables. Collectively, these results suggest that hydropeaking could significantly modify the riparian vegetation. More and longer studies are needed in order to understand the capacity that hydropower has to modify the riparian vegetation and therefore the riverine ecosystems.