Riparian vegetation management for water temperature regulation: implications for the production of macroinvertebrate prey of salmonids

Abstract

The effect of riparian vegetation on the seasonal availability of macroinvertebrate prey for salmonids was examined. Although prey composition changed significantly between sampling seasons, overall prey density remained similar. It is often assumed that there is greater benthic production within streams without riparian vegetation, but this assumption was found to be dependent on stream size. The presence of riparian vegetation increased benthic macroinvertebrate density, but only in larger streams. Greater densities of prey of terrestrial origin were found in the drift of streams with riparian cover but only in spring. An unforeseen contributor to potential prey items for salmonids in streams with riparian vegetation was the increased presence of drifting prey of aquatic origin. The results further support riparian management as a viable tool for regulating instream temperatures without impacting on macroinvertebrate density. The presence of riparian vegetation can even increase salmonid prey availability in some instances.

Patterns and dynamics of vegetation recovery following grazing cessation in the California golden trout habitat

“…Riparian vegetation provides food and habitat for many terrestrial and aquatic species (Cummins et al. ) and is also a source of leaves and invertebrates that fuel river ecosystems and sustain aquatic consumers (Nakano and Murakami , Ryan and Quinn ). Riparian vegetation is essential for stabilizing the river channel and river banks (Kauffman et al.…”

“…Riparian vegetation is essential for stabilizing the river channel and river banks (Kauffman et al 1997, Miller et al 2014. Additionally, riparian vegetation provides shade that has a cooling effect on stream water temperature, which may ameliorate the expected water temperature increases linked to global warming (Naiman and D ecamps 1997, Moore et al 2005, Nussl e et al 2015, Ryan and Quinn 2016.…”

“…The riparian zone is defined as the interface between stream and terrestrial ecosystems and is considered a diverse, dynamic, and complex ecotone (Naiman and D ecamps 1997). Riparian vegetation provides food and habitat for many terrestrial and aquatic species (Cummins et al 1989) and is also a source of leaves and invertebrates that fuel river ecosystems and sustain aquatic consumers (Nakano andMurakami 2001, Ryan andQuinn 2016). Riparian vegetation is essential for stabilizing the river channel and river banks (Kauffman et al 1997, Miller et al 2014.…”

Riparian vegetation in production forest at Cemoro-Modang River, Cepu, Central Java

“…Riparian vegetation can provide birds and animals with fruits and nuts as well as cover (Agouridis et al, 2010). Riparian canopy can regulate of instream temperatures and able to reduce water temperature by 1 to 2 0 C (Ryan & Kelly-Quinn, 2016;Trimmel et al, 2018).…”