Abstract
The term environmental flows emphasises the importance of water for the natural environment. For wetland ecosystems, a critical factor is the depth of water on the surface or the level of the water table in the ground. In the UK, scientists have produced quantitative guidelines on the water level requirements of wetland plant communities (according to the UK National Vegetation Classification). For each class, information is provided on a) water supply mechanisms; b) water-regime; c) nutrient regime; d) management regime; e) vulnerability; f) the restorability of the type; and g) gaps in the knowledge. In terms of water-regime parameters, the guidelines indicate the water-depths (maximum, minimum, duration of exposure etc) that are favourable, the depth-ranges that the class can tolerate for short periods, and those that are damaging.
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Acreman, M.C., Mountford, J.O. (2018). Environmental Flows: Wetland Water Levels. In: Finlayson, C.M., et al. The Wetland Book. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-9659-3_349
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-9659-3_349
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