The influence of partial timber harvesting in riparian buffers on macroinvertebrate and fish communities in small streams in Minnesota, USA

Chizinski, Christopher J.; Vondracek, Bruce; Blinn, Charles R.; Newman, Raymond M.; Atuke, D. M.; Fredricks, Keith; Hemstad, Nathaniel A.; Merten, Eric C.; Schlesser, N. J.

doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2010.02.006

Cited by 22 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…First, the decrease in canopy cover was minimal at Pine and Bailey Creeks (9 % and 7 % decrease, respectively). Previous studies with similar reductions in canopy cover also found no temperature response [36,66,81,82]. Second, there was still a substantial amount of canopy cover remaining at Pine Creek (55 %), Bogard Creek (39 %), and Bailey Creek (45 %) which likely provided sufficient shading to continue to moderate stream temperature.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 75%

Aquatic Ecosystem Response to Timber Harvesting for the Purpose of Restoring Aspen

2013

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The removal of conifers through commercial timber harvesting has been successful in restoring aspen, however many aspen stands are located near streams, and there are concerns about potential aquatic ecosystem impairment. We examined the effects of management-scale conifer removal from aspen stands located adjacent to streams on water quality, solar radiation, canopy cover, temperature, aquatic macroinvertebrates, and soil moisture. This 8-year study (2003–2010) involved two projects located in Lassen National Forest. The Pine-Bogard Project consisted of three treatments adjacent to Pine and Bogard Creeks: (i) Phase 1 in January 2004, (ii) Phase 2 in August 2005, and (iii) Phase 3 in January 2008. The Bailey Project consisted of one treatment adjacent to Bailey Creek in September 2006. Treatments involved whole tree removal using track-laying harvesters and rubber tire skidders. More than 80% of all samples analyzed for NO3-N, NH4-N, and PO4-P at Pine, Bogard, and Bailey Creeks were below the detection limit, with the exception of naturally elevated PO4-P in Bogard Creek. All nutrient concentrations (NO3-N, NH4-N, PO4-P, K, and SO4-S) showed little variation within streams and across years. Turbidity and TSS exhibited annual variation, but there was no significant increase in the difference between upstream and downstream turbidity and TSS levels. There was a significant decrease in stream canopy cover and increase in the potential fraction of solar radiation reaching the streams in response to the Pine-Bogard Phase 3 and Bailey treatments; however, there was no corresponding increase in stream temperatures. Macroinvertebrate metrics indicated healthy aquatic ecosystem conditions throughout the course of the study. Lastly, the removal of vegetation significantly increased soil moisture in treated stands relative to untreated stands. These results indicate that, with careful planning and implementation of site-specific best management practices, conifer removal to restore aspen stands can be conducted without degrading aquatic ecosystems.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 75%

Aquatic Ecosystem Response to Timber Harvesting for the Purpose of Restoring Aspen

2013

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“…The changes in the avian community following timber harvesting within RMZs differed from the macroinvertebrate and fish communities under the same treatments in our experimental sites (Chizinski et al, 2010). Although harvesting to the low RBA was adequate in minimizing the effect on the aquatic system, there was indication of disruption to the avian community (this study).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 57%

Breeding bird response to partially harvested riparian management zones

Chizinski¹,

Peterson²,

Hanowski³

et al. 2011

Forest Ecology and Management

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a b s t r a c tWe compared avian communities among three timber harvesting treatments in 45-m wide even-age riparian management zones (RMZs) placed between upland clearcuts and along one side of first-or second-order streams in northern Minnesota, USA. The RMZs had three treatments: (1) unharvested, (2) intermediate residual basal area (RBA) (targeted goal 11.5 m 2 /ha, realized 16.0 m 2 /ha), and (3) low RBA (targeted goal 5.7 m 2 /ha, realized 8.7 m 2 /ha). Surveys were conducted one year pre-harvest and three consecutive years post-harvest. There was no change in species richness, diversity, or total abundance associated with harvest but there were shifts in the types of birds within the community. In particular, White-throated Sparrows (Zonotrichia albicollis) and Chestnut-sided Warblers (Dendroica pensylvanica) increased while Ovenbirds (Seiurus aurocapilla) and Red-eyed Vireos (Vireo olivaceus) decreased. The decline of avian species associated with mature forest in the partially harvested treatments relative to controls indicates that maintaining an unharvested RMZ adjacent to an upland harvest may aid in maintaining avian species associated mature forest in Minnesota for at least three years post-harvest. However, our observations do not reflect reproductive success, which is an area for future research.

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“…Preservation of riparian forests along streams is better than complete deforestation, but this preservation effort is insignificant compared to nonharvested areas because the reduction in litter still leads to fewer shredders (Lecerf & Richardson 2010). When harvesting occurs in areas that are less than 200 m long, no effect of riparian buffer forest harvest on aquatic insects is detected (Chizinski et al . 2010).…”

Section: Deforestationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of forest disturbances on aquatic insect assemblages

Yoshimura

2012

Entomological Science

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Natural and human-made disasters such as floods and logging occur in and around rivers. Stream-dwelling aquatic insects respond to these disturbances in various ways. Primary consumers among them rely greatly on algae and leaf litter from riparian vegetation as food. Therefore, once a disturbance such as a flood has occurred, insects may find it difficult to find food in a stream, and the aquatic insect assemblage can be impacted greatly as a result. Disturbances in riparian areas also increase fine sediment loads into streams, damaging habitat and altering the aquatic insect assemblage. Deforestation impacts not only terrestrial but also aquatic animals. In this review paper, aquatic insect assemblages are assessed according to alterations in land use in and around streams. Following this paper, it is expected that clarification of aquatic insect fauna and their life cycles will progress and that the distribution and habitat use of aquatic insects will be afforded greater attention in forest management.

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The influence of partial timber harvesting in riparian buffers on macroinvertebrate and fish communities in small streams in Minnesota, USA

Cited by 22 publications

References 41 publications

Aquatic Ecosystem Response to Timber Harvesting for the Purpose of Restoring Aspen

Aquatic Ecosystem Response to Timber Harvesting for the Purpose of Restoring Aspen

Breeding bird response to partially harvested riparian management zones

Effects of forest disturbances on aquatic insect assemblages

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