Impact of various flood conditions on the CO2 ecosystem exchange as a component of floodplain grassland restoration

Abstract

Beyond flood protection to prevent severe damage, the restored floodplain grassland in Austria provides ecosystem services in terms of carbon balance. Net ecosystem exchange (NEE), gross primary productivity (GPP), and ecosystem respiration (R_eco) were quantified by the eddy covariance (EC) method before, during and after a severe flooding event. Our results show that the carbon balance is heavily influenced by water level in the study site. The diurnal variations influenced by various degree from the flood are analysed, showing the average daily GPP of the floodplain grassland in Marchegg dropping from 1.048 g C m⁻² day⁻¹ before the flood, down to 0.470 g C m⁻² day⁻¹ during the flood. The study demonstrates that the restored floodplain grassland in Marchegg functions as a robust CO2 sink with a cumulative NEE of 38.8 g carbon per m2 over the three-month study period, despite temporary disruptions caused by flooding events. The findings emphasise the considerable potential of floodplain grassland restoration for carbon storage and climate change mitigation, with the new data from the EC station offering valuable insights for future restoration projects. Finally, this supports the adoption of the new EU Nature Restoration Law and the need for restoring wetlands, floodplains and rivers to secure water availability and biodiversity in these unique ecosystems. NBS and more specifically as Soil and Water Bioengineering (SWBE) are methods with ecological advantages and a huge potential for sustainable recreation of near-natural ecosystems. It is of crucial importance to prove these beneficial effects, and to quantify them transparently in terms of quality assurance and use of resources in a sustainable and eco-friendly way.