Abstract:

The hydro-fluctuation belt (HFB) of reservoir tail is a critical area for ecological restoration due to the frequent changes in its water levels and land uses which lead to simplified ecosystem structures and degraded wetland functions. The efficiency of current ecological restoration technologies for managing high water levels in summer and prolonged droughts in autumn and winter in HFB are unsatisfactory. This study proposes a comprehensive restoration model that combines wetland-forest engineering construction and habitat diversification for the HFB in Yutian Lake of Jingdezhen City as a case study. Initially, low weirs and shallow lakes, along with habitat islands, were constructed in the HFB. These structures were then optimized by planting trees (such as Taxodium), shrubs, and grasses on the low weirs and habitat islands. This approach created a nearly natural “tree-shrub-grass” wetland ecosystem in the HFB of Yutian Lake reservoir. Our findings indicate that this comprehensive restoration technology is suitable for reservoir wetland HFB characterized by high water levels in summer and extended dry periods in autumn and winter. After restoration, the landscape quality of the Yutian Lake area has significantly improved. The Shannon biodiversity index reached 1.69, marking a substantial increase in biodiversity. The wetland function and ecosystem health in the HFB have also enhanced. This restoration mode and its effects have important implications for ecological management in similar reservoir wetland HFBs.

Key words: wetland in hydro-fluctuation belt of reservoir tail, comprehensive restoration mode, engineering construction of wetland and forest, habitat diversification, ecological restoration, Yutian Lake reservoir