Riparian buffers and potentially unstable ground

Tang, Swee May; Montgomery, David R.

doi:10.1007/bf02471956

Cited by 13 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…Riparian zones (the fringes of rivers or streams) are the interface between aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. They are affected by fluvial processes such as flooding and deposition of alluvial soil, and typically support a distinctive flora that differs in structure and function from adjacent terrestrial vegetation (Gregory et al ., 1991; Naiman et al ., 1993, 2005; Tang & Montgomery, 1995; Prach et al ., 1996; Naiman & Décamps, 1997). Riparian vegetation fulfils or influences various important ecological functions in relation to aquatic habitats, including the provision of food, moderation of stream water temperature via evapotranspiration and shading, providing a buffer zone that filters sediments and controls nutrients, and stabilization of stream banks (Barling & Moore, 1994; Hood & Naiman, 2000).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Riparian vegetation: degradation, alien plant invasions, and restoration prospects

Richardson

Holmes

Esler

et al. 2007

Diversity and Distributions

800

631

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Rivers are conduits for materials and energy; this, the frequent and intense disturbances that these systems experience, and their narrow, linear nature, create problems for conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in the face of increasing human influence. In most parts of the world, riparian zones are highly modified. Changes caused by alien plants -or environmental changes that facilitate shifts in dominance creating novel ecosystems -are often important agents of perturbation in these systems. Many restoration projects are underway. Objective frameworks based on an understanding of biogeographical processes at different spatial scales (reach, segment, catchment), the specific relationships between invasive plants and resilience and ecosystem functioning, and realistic endpoints are needed to guide sustainable restoration initiatives. This paper examines the biogeography and the determinants of composition and structure of riparian vegetation in temperate and subtropical regions and conceptualizes the components of resilience in these systems. We consider changes to structure and functioning caused by, or associated with, alien plant invasions, in particular those that lead to breached abiotic-or biotic thresholds. These pose challenges when formulating restoration programmes. Pervasive and escalating human-mediated changes to multiple factors and at a range of scales in riparian environments demand innovative and pragmatic approaches to restoration. The application of a new framework accommodating such complexity is demonstrated with reference to a hypothetical riparian ecosystem under three scenarios: (1) system unaffected by invasive plants; (2) system initially uninvaded, but with flood-generated incursion of alien plants and escalating invasion-driven alteration; and (3) system affected by both invasions and engineering interventions. The scheme has been used to derive a decision-making framework for restoring riparian zones in South Africa and could guide similar initiatives in other parts of the world.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Riparian vegetation: degradation, alien plant invasions, and restoration prospects

Richardson

Holmes

Esler

et al. 2007

Diversity and Distributions

800

631

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“…It is apparent that the riparian zone ecotone, operating across a broad range of spatiotemporal scales, plays an important role relating biodiversity, bioproduction and nutrient transformation (Ward and Wiens, ). They typically support a distinctive flora and vegetation communities that differ in structure and function from adjacent terrestrial vegetation (Gregory et al ., ; Naiman et al ., ; ; Tang and Montgomery, ; Prach et al ., ; Naiman and Décamps, ) in response to hydrological, geomorphological and disturbance regime (Naiman et al ., ; Décamps et al ., ; Shafroth et al ., ; Cooper et al ., ). Therefore, riparian vegetation is characterized by vertical and mainly transverse gradients (Gregory et al ., , Steiger et al ., ), reflecting the flow variability (considered as the principal process in structuring the riparian zones, Décamps et al ., ) with its critical components that affect the biodiversity of riparian communities: magnitude, frequency, duration, timing and the rate of change (Poff et al ., ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Check dam influence on vegetation species diversity in mountain torrents of the Mediterranean environment

et al. 2013

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Previous research has developed a method to assess the impact of check dams on riparian vegetation and related river bed sediment size with vegetation coverage and development. On the basis of this knowledge, this paper aims to investigate the effects on riparian species diversity induced by 32 check dams in four torrent headwaters of Southern Italy. Species richness and composition of riparian vegetation in the active channel were surveyed upstream and downstream of each check dam and in intermediate (less disturbed) sites. Furthermore, links between hydromorphological processes and vegetation diversity were analysed. The identified differences in species diversity seem to be related to the morphological adjustments of the channel after the installation of check dams. These fluvial morphological adjustments introduced variations to the flood depth and frequency of the riparian areas creating new riparian conditions. Higher species richness and evenness were observed upstream of check dams, where alien species prevail over native ones in new habitats on the sedimentation wedge behind the dam. Conversely, downstream of check dams, where the boundary of the inundated area moves down towards the thalweg (due to incision processes after check dam installation), riparian vegetation tends to assume a terrestrial character, losing some herbaceous species of the riparian environment. This research confirms that the discontinuity in the fluvial environment caused by check dams induces morphological adjustments that can be translated in new riparian conditions for the establishment of vegetation, affecting the ecological aspects and species diversity of riparian habitats. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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“…Diversos procesos fluviales, tales como crecidas y deposición del suelo aluvial, modelan la zona ribereña. Estos factores determinan, a su vez, la formación de una flora característica, típicamente diferente en estructura y función de la vegetación terrestre adyacente (Gregory et al 1991, Naiman et al 1993, Tang & Montgomery 1995, Prach & Straskrabová 1996, Naiman & Décamps 1997. Su función como proveedoras de alimento para organismos acuáticos, moderadoras de la temperatura del agua, filtradoras de nutrientes y contaminantes (Naiman et al 1993), estabilizadoras de los bancos de los ríos (Barling & Moore 1994, Hood & Naiman 2000 y como corredores para el movimiento de organismos (Naiman & Décamps 1997), las convierten en zonas de vital importancia para el mantenimiento de la biodiversidad.…”

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Composición florística y distribución de los bosques ribereños subtropicales andinos del Río Lules, Tucumán, Argentina

Sirombra¹,

Mesa²

2009

RBT

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Floristic composition and distribution of the Andean subtropical riparian forests of Lules River, Tucuman, Argentina. We studied the floristic composition and distribution of the riparian forest of two hydrographical systems in a subtropical Andean region. Using uni and multivariate techniques, we tested the hypotheses that a differentiable riparian forest exists, composed by native vegetation typical of the Yungas phytogeographical province, and that the distribution of vegetation varied significantly with geomorphologic characteristics. Parallel transects along the water courses were used to collect presence-absence data of vegetation in eleven sites. Detrended Correspondence Analysis defined a group of common riparian species for the studied area (Solanum riparium, Phenax laevigatus, Tipuana tipu, Cestrum parqui, Carica quercifolia, Acacia macracantha, Celtis iguanaea, Juglans australis, Pisoniella arborescens, Baccharis salicifolia, Cinnamomum porphyrium and Eugenia uniflora) and identified two reference sites. The distribution of the riparian vegetation varied significantly with the geomorphic characteristics along the studied sites. Riparian habitats were composed by native and exotic species. A distinct riparian flora, different in structure and function from adjacent terrestrial vegetation, could not be identified. Riparian species were similar to the adjacent terrestrial strata. These species would not be limited by the proximity to the river. Anthropogenic impacts were important factors regulating the introduction and increase of exotic vegetation. The lack of regulation of some activities in the zone could cause serious problems in the integrity of this ecosystem. Rev. Biol. Trop. 58 (1): 499-510. Epub 2010 March 01.

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Riparian buffers and potentially unstable ground

Cited by 13 publications

References 20 publications

Riparian vegetation: degradation, alien plant invasions, and restoration prospects

Riparian vegetation: degradation, alien plant invasions, and restoration prospects

Check dam influence on vegetation species diversity in mountain torrents of the Mediterranean environment

Composición florística y distribución de los bosques ribereños subtropicales andinos del Río Lules, Tucumán, Argentina

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