A method for evaluating the longitudinal functional connectivity of a river–lake–marsh system and its application in China. Issue 26 (30th October 2020) - Liu, Yeling
Abstract: The longitudinal functional connectivity of a river–lake–marsh system (RLMS) refers to the actual water‐mediated transport of material from upstream to downstream areas along a spatial gradient and is fundamental to understand hydrological and biogeochemical cycles. However, due to a lack of consensus on appropriate data and methods, the quantification of connectivity is still a challenge, especially at the catchment scale. We developed a new method to evaluate longitudinal functional connectivity based on fluxes of materials (water, sediment, and chemicals) along a RLMS. The calculation of fluxes is based on the longitudinal pattern of terrain gradient, which influences transport efficiency, and on contributions from hillslopes, which set the initial spatial template of material loading to the RLMS. We evaluate the contributions from hillslopes to RLMS based on a new modified version of the index of sediment connectivity (IC) proposed by Borselli et al. (2008) and revised by Chartin et al. (2017).We applied this method to the Baiyangdian Basin covering an area of 3.4 × 10 4 km 2 in China and quantified longitudinal functional connectivity during normal, wet, and dry periods(April, July and December) in year 2016. We found that areas with good structural connectivity exhibited poor functional connectivity during the normal and dry periods. Modelling testing with discharge data from hydrological stations and measured chemicals from Baiyangdian Lake was satisfactory in test periods. We conclude that public data and Digital Elevation Model‐derived information can be used to reliably map the longitudinal functional connectivity of RLMSs. The proposed method provides a useful tool for monitoring and restoring the longitudinal functional connectivity of RLMSs and our results indicate that efforts aimed at restoring functional connectivity in RLMSs should take into account landscape patterns that can greatly influence fluxes in the watershed. Abstract : 1. Longitudinal functional connectivity was evaluated based on fluxes of materials along ariver‐lake‐marsh system. Integration of gradient power of RLMS with a modified version of the index of runoff and sediment connectivity (IC) to quantify longitudinal functional connectivity. 2. Areas with good structural connectivity exhibited poor functional connectivity during different periods. Longitudinal functional connectivity with different kinds of materials changed a lot in different months. 3. Efforts aimed at restoring functional connectivity in RLMSs should account for landscape patterns.