Ecological Implications of Water Quality and Hydrological Factors on Plant Diversity in the Aquatic-Land Interface Zone of Yuhangtang River

Abstract

Abstract Certain urban river riparian exhibit complex and diverse geomorphology, where environmental and anthropogenic factors regularly impact plant diversity in the aquatic-land interface zones. This phenomenon has given rise to a distinctive ecosystem at the confluence of aquatic and terrestrial habitats. The study aims to explore the correlation between plant diversity in aquatic-land interface zones and environmental factors, encompassing water quality and hydrology. Data were collected from 8 sites with 48 samples in the Yuhangtang River Basin in Hangzhou, P. R. China, through in-situ field surveys. Ridge regression analysis was employed to examine the relationship between different factors. The findings suggest a strong positive correlation between water quality factors, particularly water conductivity, and plant diversity in these zones. Meanwhile, significant negative correlations were observed between nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations and Simpson's and Shannon's indices of plant diversity. Temperature had a significant effect on the plant diversity index of the aquatic-land interface zone. Additionally, plant diversity indices of samples located near the shore were generally higher than those located close to the water. This empirical study provides insights into the relationships between plant diversity and environmental factors in the interface zone between aquatic and terrestrial habitats. It highlights the importance of water quality and hydrological factors in the understanding of the aquatic ecosystems of urban rivers. Consequently, further in-depth investigations are necessary.