Hydrology and Earth System Sciences www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci.net 1027-5606 1607-7938 14 8 2010 10.5194/hess-14-1655-2010 http://www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci.net/14/1655/2010/ http://www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci.net/14/1655/2010/hess-14-1655-2010.html http://www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci.net/14/1655/2010/hess-14-1655-2010.pdf 1655 1668 2010-08-25 Spatial variability in floodplain sedimentation: the use of generalized linear mixed-effects models A. Cabezas acabezas@ymail.com M. Angulo-Martínez M. Gonzalez-Sanchís J. J. Jimenez F. A. Comín Pyrenean Institute of Ecology-Spanish Research Council, IPE-CSIC. 1005 Avd. Montañana, 50080 Zaragoza, Spain Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, IGB, Müggelseedamm 301, 12587 Berlin, Germany Aula Dei Experimental Station – Spanish Research Council, EEAD-CSIC. 1005 Avda. Montañana, 50080 Zaragoza, Spain Sediment, Total Organic Carbon (TOC) and total nitrogen (TN) accumulation during one overbank flood (1.15 y return interval) were examined at one reach of the Middle Ebro River (NE Spain) for elucidating spatial patterns. To achieve this goal, four areas with different geomorphological features and located within the study reach were examined by using artificial grass mats. Within each area, 1 m² study plots consisting of three pseudo-replicates were placed in a semi-regular grid oriented perpendicular to the main channel. TOC, TN and Particle-Size composition of deposited sediments were examined and accumulation rates estimated. Generalized linear mixed-effects models were used to analyze sedimentation patterns in order to handle clustered sampling units, specific-site effects and spatial self-correlation between observations. 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