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© The Author(s) 2018
E. Wohl, Sustaining River Ecosystems and Water Resources, SpringerBriefs in
Environmental Science, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-65124-8
Glossary
Active channel The portion of a river corridor that contains water within a channel
defined by the presence of stream bed and banks, which are typically delineated
by erosional and depositional forms created by river processes; outside of drylands, the active channel typically does not support mature woody vegetation
Allochthonous energy sources Those derived from outside the channel, such as
organic matter falling into the channel from the riparian forest or dissolved material carried into the channel by surface or subsurface runoff
Alternate stable states A conceptual model that describes ecological systems that
can exist in multiple, distinct, and self-reinforcing states in equilibrium under
equivalent environmental conditions
Anabranching A channel planform in which multiple, subparallel channels branch
and rejoin downstream; individual channels are separated by vegetated floodplain or islands
Autochthonous energy sources Those derived from within the channel, such as
photosynthesis by aquatic plants
Avulsion The rapid abandonment of a river channel and formation of a new channel, which is most likely to occur during a flood
Balanced sediment regime A balance between sediment supply and transport
capacity that maintains specific physical processes and forms within the river
corridor
Base level The lowest point in the landscape to which upstream portions of a river
will erode; this can be sea level or an intermediate point within the river network,
such as water level in a lake or the elevation of a main stem river that forms base
level for a tributary channel
Bead (river) A river segment with a wider floodplain that has greater abundance
and diversity of habitat and biota
Biota The animal and plant life of a river ecosystem
Biotic community Here used synonymously with biota
© The Author(s) 2018
E. Wohl, Sustaining River Ecosystems and Water Resources, SpringerBriefs in
Environmental Science, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-65124-8
Glossary
Active channel The portion of a river corridor that contains water within a channel
defined by the presence of stream bed and banks, which are typically delineated
by erosional and depositional forms created by river processes; outside of drylands, the active channel typically does not support mature woody vegetation
Allochthonous energy sources Those derived from outside the channel, such as
organic matter falling into the channel from the riparian forest or dissolved material carried into the channel by surface or subsurface runoff
Alternate stable states A conceptual model that describes ecological systems that
can exist in multiple, distinct, and self-reinforcing states in equilibrium under
equivalent environmental conditions
Anabranching A channel planform in which multiple, subparallel channels branch
and rejoin downstream; individual channels are separated by vegetated floodplain or islands
Autochthonous energy sources Those derived from within the channel, such as
photosynthesis by aquatic plants
Avulsion The rapid abandonment of a river channel and formation of a new channel, which is most likely to occur during a flood
Balanced sediment regime A balance between sediment supply and transport
capacity that maintains specific physical processes and forms within the river
corridor
Base level The lowest point in the landscape to which upstream portions of a river
will erode; this can be sea level or an intermediate point within the river network,
such as water level in a lake or the elevation of a main stem river that forms base
level for a tributary channel
Bead (river) A river segment with a wider floodplain that has greater abundance
and diversity of habitat and biota
Biota The animal and plant life of a river ecosystem
Biotic community Here used synonymously with biota