A remote sensing–based assessment of long-term vegetation dynamics following dam construction in a Mediterranean watershed (Cyprus)

A remote sensing–based assessment of long-term vegetation dynamics following dam construction in a Mediterranean watershed (Cyprus) | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article A remote sensing–based assessment of long-term vegetation dynamics following dam construction in a Mediterranean watershed (Cyprus) Marzia Gabriele, Eleni Loulli This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8649186/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 12 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract This study presents a methodological framework to assess the impact of dam construction on vegetation dynamics, using the Klirou–Malounta–Akaki Dam in Cyprus as a case study. Unlike many dams that incorporate controlled flood pulses, this structure lacks a designed flood regime, raising the question of whether observed changes in riparian vegetation are primarily driven by localized microclimatic or geomorphological factors rather than direct hydrological alterations. A temporal analysis covering 20 years before and after dam construction (1984–2024) was implemented to distinguish baseline vegetation conditions from post-construction shifts. The analysis focused on a downstream area within the Serrahis River watershed. Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) time series, derived from Landsat 5, 7, and 8 and processed via Google Earth Engine and R, were harmonized using a Random Forest cross-sensor calibration approach. Pixel-wise trend analysis at 30 m resolution revealed cluster areas of vegetation increase, suggesting localized greening effects. However, ground-truthing surveys revealed that such increases were often associated with the spread of non-native Eucalyptus spp., a drought-tolerant species adapted to stable or intermittent surface flows. While the EVI trends may imply ecosystem recovery, they also indicate a shift in species composition, potentially favouring resilient non-native taxa at the expense of native species reliant on seasonal flooding. These findings underscore the importance of interpreting vegetation indices in post-dam riverine ecological contexts. Although stabilized hydrology may enhance water storage, it can drive biodiversity loss, highlighting the need for balanced water management strategies in water scarce Mediterranean environments. Landsat time series GEE Mediterranean watershed Riparian vegetation dynamics Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted Reviews received at journal 06 May, 2026 Reviews received at journal 29 Apr, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 12 Apr, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 09 Apr, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 09 Apr, 2026 Reviews received at journal 07 Apr, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 07 Apr, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 07 Apr, 2026 Reviewers invited by journal 02 Feb, 2026 Editor assigned by journal 28 Jan, 2026 Submission checks completed at journal 28 Jan, 2026 First submitted to journal 20 Jan, 2026 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-8649186","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":584898418,"identity":"d92982ac-43e8-4352-9100-e700e6efdd31","order_by":0,"name":"Marzia Gabriele","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAABB0lEQVRIiWNgGAWjYLCCBBAhwcBwgKGAQY6BgbnhAIMBAw+RWgwYjBkYGCFa8OuBamEAqkxsAGoBC+DSott+9vGHBzUMdv2zex8e+GBgk76dvbHx0I0CBhl7HFrMzqQbGCQcY0iecee4wcEZBmm5O3sONhzOweMwswNpDAkJbAzJDDfSGA7zGBzO3XAjkYCW888YDiT8Y0iWB2n5Y/A/3YCglhtpjA2JbQx2BiAtDAYHEojQ8oyZIbFPIsHwzjGGgz0GyYZQv0jw8BzA5bA05o8/vtnYy91uY/7wo8JO3py9+fDnnD829uwNOKyBAIlEuLwBVASvehBARIIBQbWjYBSMglEw0gAAbtBeXhXqGYQAAAAASUVORK5CYII=","orcid":"","institution":"Politecnico di Milano","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Marzia","middleName":"","lastName":"Gabriele","suffix":""},{"id":584898419,"identity":"74a4fb5c-7404-4665-b0c8-21d1217605df","order_by":1,"name":"Eleni Loulli","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"ERATOSTHENES Centre of Excellence","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Eleni","middleName":"","lastName":"Loulli","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2026-01-20 12:39:43","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8649186/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8649186/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":101881433,"identity":"ca6952cf-d031-476c-948b-f309d69b106c","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-02-04 15:12:08","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":3309930,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"KLIROUMGREV2.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8649186/v1_covered_db937089-6748-47b1-99b4-bb66d672a654.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"A remote sensing–based assessment of long-term vegetation dynamics following dam construction in a Mediterranean watershed (Cyprus)","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"applied-geomatics","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"agmj","sideBox":"Learn more about [Applied Geomatics](http://link.springer.com/journal/12518)","snPcode":"12518","submissionUrl":"https://submission.nature.com/new-submission/12518/3","title":"Applied Geomatics","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Hybrid","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false},"keywords":"Landsat time series, GEE, Mediterranean watershed, Riparian vegetation dynamics","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8649186/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8649186/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"This study presents a methodological framework to assess the impact of dam construction on vegetation dynamics, using the Klirou–Malounta–Akaki Dam in Cyprus as a case study. 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