In the transition from river to land, regular floods and the influence of groundwater create diverse habitats. Floodplains are among the most biodiverse ecosystems in Europe. In the meantime alluvial forests in Germany have become very rare. Straightened and deepened rivers are barely overflowing. The formative change of flooding and dry traps has been lost in many places today. Alluvial forests were cut down and floodplains drained by ditches. Thus, the resulting meadow areas could be used well.
The Aue der Dahme is also riddled with many small ditches. These drain the meadows so that they can be used. But just the change between pastures, meadows and bog forests makes the Dahmeaue so sexy. Sometimes a beaver looks past and leaves its typical traces.
Typical tree species of the alluvial forest are alders, ash and willow. These tree species are well adapted to the difficult living conditions. For example, the black alder (Alnus glutinosa) makes sting roots to breathe. The pasture has similar mechanisms. The oxygen is absorbed above ground via special cells and transported to the deeper roots.
On an information board on the spot there will soon be more to learn about alluvial forests.