Context Floodplains are complex adaptive ecosystems that provide an array of ecosystem services. Despite the growing focus on resilience as a fundamental feature of floodplain ecosystems, and as an aim in floodplain management, few studies have quantified the resilience of floodplain landscapes over meaningful timescales. Objectives This study examines the resilience of floodplain vegetation communities over medium (decadal) and long term (multi-decadal) times scales through an analysis of the spatial organisation of different vegetation communities. The floodplain vegetation landscape is conceived as having two basins of attraction represented by; (1). Natural vegetation, which incorporates two domains of flood dependent (FD) and non-flood dependent (NFD) vegetation communities; and, (2). Cleared vegetation (CL). Methods We examine change in the spatial organisation of vegetation communities on the Yanga floodplain, located on the Murrumbidgee River, Australia, over a forty-year period (1965–2005). Detailed vegetation community maps, constructed from orthorectified aerial photographs for the years 1965, 1973, 1997 and 2005, were used. Results Substantial changes in the extent and spatial configuration of vegetation communities occurred over the 40-year period. Many changes were bidirectional transitions between FD and NFD vegetation communities, representing transitions in response to variations in flood frequency. However, the predominant unidirectional transition of the FD and NFD vegetation communities were to CL. Conclusions The dynamic character of the Yanga Floodplain vegetation landscape is shown by 91 detectable transitions among vegetation community types. Despite large areas of the floodplain vegetation landscape having undergone persistent community change, some areas of the floodplain display resilience over the 40-year period. This suggests floodplain vegetation communities are well adapted to substantial changes in environmental conditions as a result of episodic flooding and drying. However, large net changes and an increase in CL, which did not revert back to previous vegetation community types, suggest a transition to a different basin of attraction, and a loss of system resilience.

中文翻译：

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洪泛区植被景观的恢复力

背景 洪泛区是复杂的适应性生态系统，可提供一系列生态系统服务。尽管人们越来越关注恢复力作为洪泛区生态系统的基本特征以及洪泛区管理的目标，但很少有研究在有意义的时间尺度上量化洪泛区景观的恢复力。目标 本研究通过对不同植被群落空间组织的分析，检验了洪泛区植被群落在中（十年）和长期（多个十年）时间尺度上的恢复能力。泛滥平原植被景观被认为具有两个吸引力盆地，分别为：(1). 自然植被，包括洪水依赖 (FD) 和非洪水依赖 (NFD) 植被群落两个领域；和，（2）。清除植被 (CL)。方法 我们研究了位于澳大利亚穆伦比吉河的 Yanga 洪泛区植被群落空间组织在四十年间（1965-2005 年）的变化。详细的植被群落地图是根据 1965 年、1973 年、1997 年和 2005 年的正射校正航空照片构建的。结果 40 年间植被群落的范围和空间配置发生了重大变化。许多变化是 FD 和 NFD 植被群落之间的双向转换，代表响应洪水频率变化的转换。然而，FD 和 NFD 植被群落的主要单向过渡是向 CL。结论 Yanga 洪泛区植被景观的动态特征通过植被群落类型之间的 91 个可检测转变来显示。尽管大面积的洪泛区植被景观经历了持续的群落变化，但洪泛区的一些区域在 40 年的时间里显示出恢复能力。这表明洪泛区植被群落很好地适应了由于间歇性洪水和干旱而导致的环境条件的重大变化。然而，大的净变化和 CL 的增加，并没有恢复到以前的植被群落类型，表明向不同的吸引力盆地过渡，以及系统恢复力的丧失。洪泛区的一些地区在 40 年间显示出复原力。这表明洪泛区植被群落很好地适应了由于间歇性洪水和干旱而导致的环境条件的重大变化。然而，巨大的净变化和 CL 的增加，并没有恢复到以前的植被群落类型，表明向不同的吸引力盆地过渡，以及系统恢复力的丧失。洪泛区的一些地区在 40 年间显示出复原力。这表明洪泛区植被群落很好地适应了由于间歇性洪水和干旱而导致的环境条件的重大变化。然而，大的净变化和 CL 的增加，并没有恢复到以前的植被群落类型，表明向不同的吸引力盆地过渡，以及系统恢复力的丧失。