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Interactions between submerged aquatic vegetation and flow : applications of ecohydraulics and biomechanics to ecological questions
Interactions between submerged aquatic vegetation and flow in rivers and streams are complex. Flowing water induces hydrodynamic stress on aquatic plants colonizing these habitats, which can, in some cases, cause mechanical failures such as breakage and uprooting. Additionally, aquatic plant beds have a significant impact on their physical habitat by deflecting flow and modifying water velocity and turbulence. This talk will present research on the interactions between aquatic vegetation and flow. It will cover hydrodynamic and biomechanical responses of plants to flow, at both the individual plant and patch scale. It will also present how aquatic vegetation modifies flow conditions and contributes to the functioning of flowing ecosystems.