Riverside forest at the river corridor Lech

Important for the development of societies  Elevation above the river and the water level  Speed of fluid  Suspend matter

Succession of habitats that depend on the type of substratum

Stones and gravelSand Silt, clay, influence of groundwater Salici Myricarietum Erico Pinetum sylvestris Pinetum sylvestris with Alnus incanus Salici Alnetum Salicetum development Erico-Molino- Pinetum Salicetum typicum Salicetum with moss and lichens development

Succession of habitats that depend on the type of substratum

Habitats that depend on type on aggregation of materials DepositAccreteSubside Riverbed gravelSand, fluiding waterSludge, standing water Agrostis alba society Heleocharis-Limosella society Nuphar society Salix bushes Phalaridetum Salicetum albaeDeep Salicetum albaeSalix bushes High Salicetum albaeDeep Salicetum High Alnetum incanaeDeep Alnetum Fraxinus excelsiorisDeep Fraxino – Quercetum Fraxinus – Ulmus – Quercus forest

Habitats that depend on type on aggregation of materials  Connection between the development of soil and vegetation  Regressive naturally development near the river  Anthropogenic degradations  Softwood riverside-forest have a fast pass through succession  Hardwood forests – succession slower

Habitats that depend on type of soil and elevation Typical of soilSocieties Duration of succession phase Brown lime – forest soil Galio Quercetum Galio Carpinetum a Mull-lime Riverside soil Fraxino Ulmetum4000a Grey brown lime soil Alnetum incanae Loniceretosum with Malinia 100a Grey lime soilAlnetum incanae loniceretosum50a Light grey lime soilAlnetum incanae typicum25a Rough lime soilSalicetum albo-fragilis25a Rough soils Alluvial lithosol Senecio fluviatilis5a

Habitats that depend on type on aggregation of materials  Water engraved 1,5 m deeper as a consequence of barriers and dams  Periodical sedimentation of the river decreased; degradation started  Restoration of the river started (2001 Natura 2000 status)

Examples of pioneer societies 1.) Epilobietum fleischeri With dominant herbs:  Linaria alpina  Saxifraga aizoides  Anthlyllis vulneraria  Cerastium pedunculatum

Examples of pioneer societies 1.) Epilobietum fleischeri  Frequently moved gravel  Sand banks  Glacial drifts with an annual influence of the river dynamic  Result of alteration of deposits and accretes

Examples of pioneer societies 2.) Myricario - Chondrilletum With dominant plants:  Chondrilla chondrilloides  Dryas octopetala  Myricaria germanica  Salix purpurea  Salix elaeagnos

Examples of pioneer societies 2.) Myricario - Chondrilletum  Annually flooded gravel banks  Nutrient – poor soil  Provides the stabilization of soil

Examples of pioneer societies 3.) Salici Myricarietum Dominated by:  Myricaria germanica  Salix purpurea  Salix elaeagnos  Pinus sylvestris

Examples of pioneer societies 3.) Salici Myricarietum  Gravel banks  Basic and nutrient poor soil  Endures overflooding and overthrowing  Starts to settle only on silt  0,5 – 1,5 m above the middle water line

Examples of pioneer societies 4.) Salicetum elaeagno purpureae Dominated plants here:  Alnus incana  Salix elaeagnos  Salix purpurea  Rubus caesium  Chaerophyllum hirsutum

Examples of pioneer societies 4.) Salicetum elaeagno purpureae  On higher sites of river foodplaines  2,5 m above the middle water line  Not periodical flooded  Sandy soil with a fine humus layer

Examples of following societies 5.) Softwood riverside forest  Growing on the middle course – on fine-grained alluvial plaines  Occasional flooded rich on nutrients a.) at the middle water line: Salicetum triandro – viminalis b.) above the middle water line: Salicetum albo-fragilis

Examples of following societies 6.) Alnetum incanae  On chalky soil with good ventilation  Above the middle water line

Examples of following societies 7.) Fraxino – Ulmetum  On deep, nutrient-poor loamy soils  Only flooded by extreme high water