The Importance of Riparian Vegetation to Stream Ecosystems

Knight, Allen W.; Bottorff, Richard L.

doi:10.1525/9780520322431-025

Cited by 12 publications

(6 citation statements)

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“…Studies revealed that riparian vegetation promotes the occurrence of invertebrates including insects and facilitates suitable habitat for insects by providing food, resting and hiding places for emergent adults and substratum for egg laying. Also the shade cover regulates water temperature and overall quality of the stream (Knight & Bottorff 1981;Ober & Hayes 2008). Moreover, the prey insects are attracted by flowering plants, which in turn form ideal food for odonates.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

On the diversity and abundance of riparian odonate fauna (Insecta) of the midstream Chalakkudy River, Kerala, India

Bose

Binoy

Kakkassery³

2021

J. Threat. Taxa

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The riparian Odonate insect diversity of the midstream Chalakudy River at six locations assessed from February 2018 to January 2019 has revealed the occurrence of 25 species of odonates. Among them,10 species are dragonflies belonging to seven genera of the family Libellulidae and the remaining 15 species are damselflies belonging to six families and 11 genera. Five endemic damselfly species have been recorded. Pseudagrion indicum is endemic to the Western Ghats, while the remaining four species, Vestalis apicalis, Libellago indica, Dysphaea ethela, and Heliocypha bisignata, are endemic to India. Diversity indices of the odonates in all the six locations were analyzed and it showed less abundance at sites where tourist activities are more and with thin native riparian vegetation. Further, the study has unequivocally revealed that thick native riparian vegetation is essential for their perching and existence. By and large, the uncontrolled tourism activities and habitat alteration interfere with the density and diversity of these endemic species.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

On the diversity and abundance of riparian odonate fauna (Insecta) of the midstream Chalakkudy River, Kerala, India

Bose

Binoy

Kakkassery³

2021

J. Threat. Taxa

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“…Zahn and Maier (1997) reported on the importance of riverine vegetation for providing protection to insects against wind, rain and predators, making them abundant source of food for bats. Human influence in this habitat can lead to a decrease in detrital inputs for detritivores, an increase in water temperature, a decrease in the area of insect habitats and a change in water quality and quantity (Knight & Bottorff, 1984). Management and conservation of riverine habitat should therefore be promoted.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bat activity and species richness in different land‐use types in and around Chome Nature Forest Reserve, Tanzania

et al. 2020

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Bats have important ecological roles in ecosystems, but many species are threatened because of anthropogenic impacts. Tanzania has limited information on how bats respond to habitat modification. This makes it difficult to anticipate which bat species are at risk. Bat activity and species richness were assessed in five land‐use types: forest and banana–coffee (upland habitats), rice paddy, riverine and sisal estate (lowland habitats). Mist nets, harp traps and bat detectors were used to sample bats. Species richness differed between habitats. Bat activity levels were higher in lowland habitats than upland habitats. Riverine and rice paddy habitats were shown to have an important role as foraging sites for many insectivorous bats as bat species richness and activity were generally higher than other habitats. Fruit‐eating bats preferred riverine and banana–coffee habitats. We recommend using organic manure as alternatives to chemical fertilisers, and pesticide use should be avoided in rice paddies. Riparian vegetation along rivers and water bodies should be maintained as important faunal nesting, roosting and/or foraging grounds. The requirement that farming practices be at least 60 m from the river should be strictly enforced. These recommendations will help in the conservation of bats and their habitats in modified agricultural landscapes.

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“…An increase in urban human population causes expansion of agriculture, industrialization, urbanization, and deforestation in the river watershed [8]. These activities destroy aquatic habitats by interfering with natural stream physicochemical balance and flow characteristics to support diverse aquatic biotas [4]. Additionally, they degrade aquatic habitats by increasing both organic and inorganic pollution that accelerates eutrophication levels thus degrading water quality [29].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Benthic macroinvertebrates are vital species in global wetlands because they act as indicators of water quality changes due to their different tolerance levels to water pollution [15,13]. They maintain the functional and structural integrity of rivers through degrading particulate organic matter which helps in the decomposition of organic matter and nutrient recycling [4,13]. Reduced aquatic biota diversity is attributed to toxic waters.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Analysis of Spatial and Temporal Distribution of Aquatic Macroinvertebrates in Relation to Selected Environmental Parameters along Nairobi River, Kenya

Ndichu,

Tela,

Fred

et al. 2023

JGEESI

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Aquatic diversity in riverine ecosystems is threatened by the intensification of unsustainable human actions in the river catchment areas. Nairobi River is one of the global wetlands that is experiencing high levels of degradation and this has a detrimental effect on the community's livelihood. The study aimed to analyze the spatial and temporal distribution of aquatic macro invertebrates in relation to some environmental parameters in the Nairobi River watershed in Kenya. The study objectives were: to find out macroinvertebrates' diversity in the Nairobi River; to investigate selected water quality parameters in rainy and dry periods along the river; and to analyze the spatial distribution of macroinvertebrates in relation to selected water quality parameters. During the dry days, temperature, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, turbidity nitrates, and phosphates had significant differences (P ˂0.05 and F˃1). In the same period, macroinvertebrates were higher in the middle course 1 section of the river (mean 657.00) and in the middle course 2 section (mean 588.00) to upper and lower sections. However, there was no significant difference (P > .05) in the sites. Similarly, during the wet days, macroinvertebrates were noted to be higher in the middle course 2 areas (mean 168) and middle course 1 (mean 155). However, the number of macroinvertebrates was not significantly different (P > .05). Animals such as midge larvae and pupa, aquatic earthworms and mosquito larvae were highly tolerant to pollution due to adaptations to survival while others such as water penny, gilled snails, fingernail clam were sensitive to pollution thus they survived in very few sections of the river and in small numbers. The study recommends the need to conserve the river watershed as well as restore degraded river sections to guarantee the continued future provision of ecosystem services to the adjacent urban river communities and improve the river's biological integrity.

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The Importance of Riparian Vegetation to Stream Ecosystems

Cited by 12 publications

References 0 publications

On the diversity and abundance of riparian odonate fauna (Insecta) of the midstream Chalakkudy River, Kerala, India

On the diversity and abundance of riparian odonate fauna (Insecta) of the midstream Chalakkudy River, Kerala, India

Bat activity and species richness in different land‐use types in and around Chome Nature Forest Reserve, Tanzania

Analysis of Spatial and Temporal Distribution of Aquatic Macroinvertebrates in Relation to Selected Environmental Parameters along Nairobi River, Kenya

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