The hydrochorous dispersal of plant propagules in a giant river reservoir: implications for restoration of riparian vegetation

The riparian vegetation of many rivers around the world is impacted by flow regulation for hydropower. Water levels behind dams are being raised to generate electric energy, forming river reservoirs. River regulation has a large impact on the riparian vegetation which influences both the adjacent aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Therefore, restoration of degraded riparian vegetation in river reservoirs has been of increasing research interest.
Propagules dispersed from connected tributaries via water (hydrochory) are considered a vital source for the recovery of riparian vegetation in regulated rivers. However, the hydrochorous dispersal of plant propagules in river reservoirs is unclear. We explored the dispersal distance and deposition patterns of hydrochorous propagule mimics in three tributaries that are regulated by the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) in China.
In eight out of nine release experiments, 95% of propagule mimics were found within 3 km downstream from the release point...