Interactions between riparian vegetation and fluvial processes within tropical Southeast Asia

Abstract

Research on the interaction between vegetation and hydrological and geomorphological processes has made a significant advancement in river and floodplain research. While this work is strongly dominated, both conceptually and empirically, from studies in northern temperate systems, it has been instrumental in shaping understanding at a global scale. There are, however, regions of the world such as tropical Southeast Asia which have received relatively little research attention, but could offer an important contribution to knowledge in this field. In a first step to address this issue, this paper synthesizes current research on vegetation and geomorphology and hydrology within tropical Southeast Asia, to consider the applicability of current (temperate-based) models and the potential contribution that processes within these systems could make to global understanding. While research within the region is sparse, observations suggest a reciprocal relationship between vegetation and fluvial processes. While there are some synergies with temperate systems, processes within this region also present interesting differences which could, with further investigation, advance current understanding of these processes globally and expand and enhance current concepts. The paper concludes with the identification of the pertinent research questions for the field within the region.