Reconstructing the development of sampled sites on fluvial island surfaces of the Tagliamento River, Italy, from historical sources

In parallel with research on surface sediment characteristics of evolving island features (patches) along an island-braided reach of the Tagliamento River, Italy, the present research reconstructed the development of the sampled sites using historical information coupled with field measurements. Since any field sediment sampling programme inevitably focuses on small areas (of the order of a few metres), the historical sources were assessed bearing in mind their spatial resolution and geographical accuracy in relation to the size of the sampled sites, and the information they could provide regarding the historical evolution of those sites. The analysis combined four sources of information: (i) river stage records revealed flood events that had the potential to reset bar surfaces and float in wood and seeds to initiate vegetation colonization; (ii) oblique ground photographs identified areas of the river's active corridor where riparian vegetation colonization appeared to have been initiated by specific flood events; (iii) dendrochronology was used to estimate the age of sampled sites; (iv) field-measured geographical locations of the sampled sites were combined with historical vertical areal imagery to further establish sampling site age and changes in vegetation cover from 1944 to 2012. A chronosequence of sampled sites (0, 2, 8, 12, 40 years) was established. Vegetation colonization and island development showed a statistically significant development trajectory among sites of each age across the 40 year period following formative floods in 1965–1966, 2000, 2004 and a flow pulse in 2010. The trajectory progressed through pioneer and building island stages until vegetated areas became part of established islands. Evidence from the younger sites indicates that the pioneer island phase lasts up to eight years. Evidence from the oldest site indicates a building island phase lasting a maximum of 30 years, but probably a lot less. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.