Flow and Wake Length Downstream of Live Submerged Vegetation Patches: How Do Different Species and Patch Configurations Create Sheltering in Stressful Habitats?

Vegetated canopies modify water conveyance and bed stabilization in aquatic ecosystems, providing shelter for other organisms. The sheltering effect downstream of a canopy is, however, rarely quantified live vegetation, it is unknown how this influenced by vegetation patch configuration characteristics. We measured the different species configurations comparing length steady wake region, defined study as (a) zone where streamwise velocity diminished to more than half incoming (Lw1), (b) distance begins increase (Lw2). Then, we drag experienced plant at locations measure plants growing wake. found that Lw1 channel-spanning cases was longer finite-width extended ≥2.5 lengths from leading edge, while Lw2 patches related smallest dimension between half-width height. Species effects were consistent across definitions: with longest G. densa, followed C. platycarpa V. spiralis, which showed similar cases. Drag reduction flow modification patches, but not ones. results indicate patterns hydrodynamic behind can be complex difficult predict based only on dimensions, especially due covariation characteristics real vegetation.