Floodplains are natural inundation areas along streams. They form the transition area between water and land and thus have great importance for the connectivity of these habitats. The alternation of flooding and drought creates numerous different habitats in floodplains, which are characterized by high dynamics and biodiversity.

When people think of floodplains, they usually imagine extensive floodplains along large rivers such as the Rhine, Elbe or Danube. However, floodplains also exist along small streams such as creeks, where they often cover only a few square meters.

The following questions are addressed within this PhD project:

• What are the effects of different land uses on the biodiversity and connectivity of floodplains of small streams?
• What is the influence of flooding dynamics on the intensity and spatial extent of floodplain connectivity of small streams?

The research project is complemented by knowledge transfer, which focuses on the importance of floodplains of small streams and their ecological condition.

To implement the objectives, this project conducted a large-scale field study in 2021 (Subproject 1) and a field experiment at the floodplain basins of the Eusserthal Ecosystem Research Station. In addition to publications in scientific journals, the results will help raise awareness among the general public about the importance of floodplains, including those of small streams.

Third-party-funding: Wolfgang-Staab-Naturschutzfond

Duration: 10/2020 – 10/2023