Restoration Of Riparian Vegetation Research Articles

The Assessment on the Flood Mitigation Strategies of the Local Government Unit of Santo Tomas, Davao del Norte: A Basis for Policy Formulation

This study evaluates flood mitigation strategies implemented by the LGU of Santo Tomas, Davao del Norte, focusing on indicators such as Rehabilitation of River Banks, Bridges, Dredging, and Reforestation. Through random sampling in selected barangays, 377 respondents provided feedback, indicating Very High Descriptive Equivalents for all strategies. However, the detailed analysis identifies the Rehabilitation of River Banks as an area for improvement (mean score: 4.19), emphasizing the need for enhanced catchment drainage, floodwater capacity, and sediment yield reduction. Recommendations include regular maintenance of drainage channels, river widening, and the establishment of riparian buffer zones. Future research should explore flood-prone residents’ perceptions of LGU strategies. A proposed policy on River Bank Rehabilitation emphasizes an ecosystem-based, participatory approach to enhance resilience, increase public awareness, and promote sustainable development. Strategies encompass riparian vegetation restoration, bank stabilization, invasive species control, water quality improvement, floodplain management, and public education. Implementation rests with the LGU of Sto. Tomas and stakeholders, with ongoing monitoring and evaluation to ensure effectiveness and facilitate adjustments. This study provides valuable insights and a practical policy framework to enhance flood mitigation, specifically focusing on river bank rehabilitation in LGU-Santo Tomas, Davao del Norte.

Dam periodic storage drives the spatial pattern of vegetation towards banded evolution

Emerging and fragile ecosystems such as reservoir riparian zones are of increasing concern with the increasing number of damming projects worldwide. Current knowledge of riparian vegetation in reservoirs focuses on the individual and community level, with little understanding of spatial patterns and ecological processes at the landscape level. Here, we demonstrate the evolution process, evolution direction, and evolution mechanism of vegetation spatial patterns under persistent and periodic inundation disturbances in the reservoir riparian zone, through coupled analyses of landscape evolution and ecological processes, using continuous years of drone observation data in the riparian zones of two major reservoirs, Xiaowan and Nuozhadu of the Lancang River. We found that vegetation landscape evolution is driven by seed dispersal, environmental factors fluctuations, species tolerance differences, and competition for resource availability, showing a clear trend towards banded evolution. Ecological niche processes such as periodic wet-dry environmental filtering and interspecific competition dominated the formation of vegetation banding patches, and neutral processes of random seed dispersal dominated the areas where banding patches were formed. The water requirements of plants during the exposing period lead to a greater influence of environmental factors that are closely related to water, such as net rainfall, sunshine hours, groundwater storage, and soil moisture. Water redistribution between vegetated and bare ground patches is key to their formation and stability in the upper part of the riparian zone, where drought stress is severe, while in the lower part, vegetation is mainly affected by inundation stress during flooding periods. Therefore, riparian vegetation restoration is critical to maintain a certain area of bare ground patches for drought areas in the exposing period, in contrast to the emphasis on vegetation patch coverage. And it is possible to carry out spatial planning based on the development trend of the belt distribution, taking into account the flood and drought tolerance of the species as well as the fluctuating rhythms of the main factors, such as the rainfall, which is worth exploring further.

Dam inundation duration as a dominant constraint on riparian vegetation recovery

The identification of limiting factors is essential for the ecological restoration of riparian ecosystems degraded by the damming of rivers, but remains unclear. Here, we quantitatively assessed the relative importance of environmental factors and revealed the main limiting factors for riparian vegetation restoration and their influencing mechanisms, using riparian plant and environmental data of seven large reservoirs in southwest China. We found that inundation duration had a significantly greater effect on riparian vegetation distribution, cover and diversity than environmental factors such as inundation depth, rainfall, humidity, temperature, sunshine hours, aspect, slope, surface relief, soil pH, available nitrogen (AN), available phosphorus (AP), and available potassium (AK); vegetation cover, species richness, complexity and dominance were highly significantly negatively correlated with inundation duration (p < 0.01); inundation for 5 months is close to the tolerance limit of most plants and poses a significant limiting effect on the vegetation restoration in the reservoir riparian. Therefore, the inundation duration should be highlighted in riparian vegetation restoration. Meanwhile, incorporating the riparian inundation into the river ecological scheduling objectives to shorten the inundation duration and thus radically alleviate the limitation is a new opportunity for vegetation restoration in the reservoir riparian.

Increased Riparian Vegetation Density and Its Effect on Flow Conditions

The physical and biological structure of riparian vegetation fundamentally influences floodplain roughness, and thus the flood velocity and flood levels of a river. The study aims to provide detailed spatial data on the vegetation density of a floodplain, and to model the effect of the actual vegetation and various scenarios on flow conditions. LiDAR data were applied to evaluate the density and roughness of the submerged understory vegetation over the densely vegetated floodplain of Lower Tisza, Hungary. Then, HEC–RAS 2D modelling was applied to analyse the effect of the actual vegetation on flow conditions. Further scenarios were also created to predict the effect of (i) invasive plant control, (ii) no maintenance, and (iii) riparian vegetation restoration (meadows). According to the results, since the 19th Century, the increased vegetation density is responsible for a 17-cm flood level increase, and if the vegetation grows even denser, a further 7 cm could be expected. As the vegetation density increases, the overbank flow velocity decreases, and the crevasses and flood conveyance zones gradually lose their function. Simultaneously, the flow velocity increases in the channel (from 1 m/s to 1.4 m/s), resulting in an incision. Applying LiDAR-based 2D flow modelling makes it possible to plan sustainable riparian vegetation maintenance (e.g., forestry, invasive species clearance) from both ecology and flood control perspectives.

An improved model of shade-affected stream temperature in Soil &amp; Water Assessment Tool

Abstract. Stream temperatures have been increasing worldwide, in some cases reaching unsustainable levels for aquatic life. Riparian revegetation has been identified as a strategy for managing stream temperatures by blocking direct solar radiation. In this study, the effects of riparian vegetation on stream temperatures were included within the Soil &amp;amp; Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model through a shade factor parameter. An equilibrium temperature approach was used to integrate the shade factor in an energy balance context. The stream temperature sub-model was improved using the new energy balance equation and integrated into SWAT. Unlike existing models, the modified SWAT model enables improved representation of two processes – mass and heat transfer – that influence stream temperature change and enables simulation of shading and its effects on stream temperatures at sub-basin scales. The updated SWAT model was tested in Dairy McKay Watershed, OR, USA, for four scenarios: current conditions of riparian vegetation, full restoration, efficient restoration, and no vegetation. The model calibration under current riparian vegetation showed good performance (Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency NSE &gt; 0.74). Stream temperature reduction and number of days with stream temperatures above survival limits (NDSTASL) for aquatic species were also evaluated as measures of riparian shade performance. Findings showed average temperature reductions of 0.91 ∘C (SD = 0.69 ∘C) and reductions in NDSTASL of 17.1 d over a year for full riparian restoration and average reductions of 0.86 ∘C (SD = 0.67 ∘C) and 16.2 d for efficient restoration. Notwithstanding the similar benefits, efficient restoration was 14.4 % cheaper than full riparian vegetation restoration.

Water pollution at Lake Natron Ramsar site in Tanzania: A threat to aquatic life

Lake Natron Ramsar site is a recognized Ramsar site and Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA) in Tanzania. It is a breeding site for 75% of the global population of lesser flamingo (Phoeniconaias minor). Water quality changes can affect the plankton composition and diversity, causing alteration of LNRS ecosystem abundance. Water quality assessment at LNRS was conducted after reported alkaline tilapines (Alcolapia species) and pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus) mortalities. Water samples were collected from five sampling sites in Engaresero and Pinyinyi rivers during wet and dry seasons. Physico-chemical parameters including pH, turbidity, dissolved oxygen (DO), biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), nitrates, chloride, sodium, ammonium, electrical conductivity and total alkalinity were assessed. Additionally, plankton composition and abundance were analyzed to investigate the cause of reported mortalities. Observation method was used to assess the anthropogenic activities taking place along inlet rivers. BOD, COD, ammonium and pH values were higher compared to the Tanzania Environmental Management Act of 2004 and World Health Organization recommended values for freshwater, resulting into low DO levels. There were no zooplankton or phytoplankton colonies observed from sampled water. The study observed anthropogenic activities (unsustainable crop cultivation, deforestation and overgrazing) at the LNRS catchment. The reported physico-chemical changes could be due to such anthropogenic activities at the LNRS catchment which could have resulted into the reported fish mortalities. Watershed management using nature-based solutions such as restoration of riparian vegetation and environment management awareness are recommended for LNRS ecosystem sustainability.

Preservation of Vegetation Diversity to Maintain the Riparian Ecosystem of the Sampean Watershed

Riparian vegetation on river borders can affect the riparian ecosystem of the watershed related to its function as a buffer zone and ecotone between water and land. A high diversity of riparian vegetation can indicate that the ecosystem of a river border is in good condition. Therefore, it is helpful to inventory the diversity of vegetation in the riparian zone, which was done in this study using the Shannon-Wiener diversity index. In this research, four plots measuring 5m x 5m, spread across upstream, middle, and downstream areas were used to analyze the types of vegetation, including trees, shrubs, and herbs. The diversity index (H’) results revealed four vegetation species at the tree level, twelve species at the shrub level, and six species at the herb level. The range of H’ values in all sample plots was 1&lt; H’ &lt;3, so the river border was shown to have moderate diversity, which indicated that the ecosystem in the Sampean watershed is relatively balanced. It is necessary to preserve the riparian buffer zone through riparian vegetation restoration management to improve the ecosystem balance of the Sampean watershed.&#x0D; Keywords: riparian vegetation, watershed, Shannon-Wiener diversity index

Ultrashort-term responses of riparian vegetation restoration to adjacent cycles of ecological water conveyance scheduling in a hyperarid endorheic river basin

The management of ecological water conveyance (EWC) can allow riparian vegetation communities to survive the threat of degradation in hyperarid inland areas and promote the health of groundwater-recharged riparian ecosystems. However, the ultrashort-term effects of periodic EWC scheduling on riparian vegetation remain unclear. This study explored the spatiotemporal differentiation in species structure (herbs, shrubs, and trees), diversity (measured by the Simpson, Shannon–Wiener, Pielou, and Margalef indices), stability (evaluated via Godron fitting distances and abundance-biomass comparison curves), and integrity (proxied by the vegetation-based index of biotic integrity) of vegetation communities in the downstream Heihe River Basin, China. Empirical orthogonal function, Pearson correlation, canonical correspondence analysis (CCA), and partial CCA methods were used to evaluate the effects of dominant habitat environmental factors from the hydrogeographic features, soil physicochemical properties, and anthropogenic impacts. The results showed that the riparian vegetation community diversity, stability, and integrity varied moderately to slightly with hierarchical distance from near wetlands (<200 m; containing mainly herbs) to far desert edges (>800 m; occupied by shrubs/subshrubs). The middle transition zone (200–800 m; occupied mostly by trees/subtrees) had the best diversity and integrity but relatively poor stability. The most significant influencing factors were EWC and soil moisture. The simple diversity, fair-level integrity, and disturbed but not irreversibly damaged stability of the vegetation community were generally improved by 14.82%, 20.33%, and 30.57%, respectively, in the pre-EWC period but worsened in the post-EWC period. The difference in spatially distributed EWC quantities caused more apparent vegetation restoration in high water-supplied subareas where certain biological community instability existed. Therefore, adequate EWC management can be considered a prerequisite for the maintenance of high richness and structural stability in local communities and requires a good balance between interregional vegetation abundance and enhanced environmental tolerance.

The hydrochorous dispersal of plant propagules in a giant river reservoir: Implications for restoration of riparian vegetation

Abstract The riparian vegetation of many rivers around the world is impacted by flow regulation for hydropower. Water levels behind dams are being raised to generate electric energy, forming river reservoirs. River regulation has a large impact on the riparian vegetation, which influences both the adjacent aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Therefore, the restoration of degraded riparian vegetation in river reservoirs has been of increasing research interest. Propagules dispersed from connected tributaries via water (hydrochory) are considered a vital source for the recovery of riparian vegetation in regulated rivers. However, the hydrochorous dispersal of plant propagules in river reservoirs is unclear. We explored the dispersal distance and deposition patterns of hydrochorous propagule mimics in three tributaries that are regulated by the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) in China. In eight out of nine release experiments, 95% of propagule mimics were found within 3 km downstream from the release points. Cumulative wind speed was the most important factor affecting the dispersal distance of propagule mimics in the TGR. However, the dispersal distance of propagule mimics was not significantly affected by water‐level variation and channel sinuosity. Variations in water level strongly affected the deposition pattern of propagule mimics, with only 6.6% of the propagule mimics stranding on the riparian zones under raised water level and 83.8% stranding under declined water levels. The majority of stranded propagule mimics were deposited at gentle slopes (0–20°). Synthesis and applications. Our results suggest that the majority of propagules that enter river reservoirs via water would be retained within the first few kilometres. Wind and water level variation are the main factors determining the dispersal distance and deposition pattern of propagules. Our findings have applications for riparian vegetation restoration in river reservoirs. The vegetation in steep riparian zones distant from free‐flowing tributaries should be the priority for restoration actions because these areas receive limited hydrochorous propagules. The plant biodiversity and hydrological connectivity of connected tributaries, which is an important propagule sources, should be protected. The seasonal dominant wind pattern should be considered when evaluating the importance of tributaries as the source of hydrochorous propagules for river reservoirs.

Riparian vegetation shade restoration and loss effects on recent and future stream temperatures.

River temperatures are expected to increase this century harming species requiring cold-water habitat unless restoration activities protect or improve habitat availability. Local shading by riparian vegetation can cool water temperatures, but uncertainty exists over the scaling of this local effect to larger spatial extents. We evaluate this issue using a regional spatial stream network temperature model with covariates representing shade effects to predict mean August stream temperatures across 78,195 km of tributaries flowing into the Columbia River in the northwestern US. We evaluate nine scenarios predicting stream temperatures for three riparian shade conditions (current, restored, and no riparian vegetation) within three different climate periods (2000s, 2040s, and 2080s). Results suggest riparian shade restoration (2000s climate) could decrease mean August stream temperatures by 0.62°C across the study network. Under the same restored shade conditions, temperature predictions for tributaries at their confluence with the Columbia River range from 0.02-2.08°C cooler than under current shade conditions. The climate warming effect predicted for the 2040s and 2080s, however, is greater than the cooling effect from restoring riparian shade. Streams less than 10m bankfull width cooled more frequently with riparian shade restoration. In Oregon, the proportion of fish habitat for salmon and trout rearing and migration that meet temperature numeric water quality criteria could be increased by 20% under restored shade conditions although net habitat declines may still occur in the future. We conclude riparian vegetation restoration could partially mitigate future warming and help maintain cold-water habitats that function as thermal refuges if implemented strategically.

Restoration of riparian vegetation on a mountain river degraded by historical mining and grazing

AbstractRiparian ecosystems in montane areas have been degraded by mining, streamflow alterations, and livestock grazing. Restoration of ecological and economic functions, especially in high‐elevation watersheds that supply water to lower elevation urban and agriculture areas is of high priority. We investigated the response of riparian vegetation and bank stability following channel treatments and riparian habitat restoration along a segment of the upper Arkansas River south of Leadville, Colorado. The study area has been historically degraded by heavy‐metal mining and is designated a U.S. Superfund site. Additionally, trans‐basin water diversions and livestock grazing have contributed to channel widening and altered vegetation composition and cover. We used a before‐after‐control impact study design in four reaches with varied contamination and grazing history to assess restoration success. Before restoration, streambanks were dominated by graminoids and total vegetation cover varied among reaches with willow cover less than 16% in three reaches. Post‐restoration, changes in total vegetation cover fell short of projected goals, but willow cover was greater than 20% in all study reaches. The increase in woody cover likely contributed to reduced erosion and vegetation encroachment post‐restoration. Differences in functional group cover among reaches persisted post‐restoration and may be attributed to soil contamination levels and low willow seed rain and dispersal. These results highlight the importance of setting realistic restoration goals based on elevation and past land use. We recommend further remediation of fluvial tailings with low vegetation cover and continued monitoring of willow height and cover to determine if further restoration activities are needed.

The artificialization in the sediment profiles of the streams in the Água Branca basin – Itirapina, São Paulo, Brazil

River sediments have the capability to accumulate and absorb traces of anthropic environmental degradation. In this work, we investigated the effects of urban land use on the composition of physical sediment. For this purpose, sediment profiles were collected in the wet and dry seasons and in locations with mixed land-use. For the sediment analysis, particle size separation, organic matter degradation, visual analysis of the thickest fraction using a magnifying glass and stereomicroscope analysis of the particle size material corresponding to the sands were performed. It was observed that the sedimentation of synthetic materials and plastics (fragments and fibres) were the most frequently found materials. More intense urban occupation areas and with less riparian vegetation suffer more from this degradation than rural areas or areas with preserved riparian vegetation. The dam in the basin accumulates more materials (macro and microplastics) and has the role of containing and preventing these residues from being transported downstream. The importance of investing in environmental management measures is emphasized, and based on the sampled sites assessed, the restoration of riparian vegetation, greater inspection of inadequate waste disposal and public cleaning actions are suggested, including actions in the Tibiriçá dam.

Response of cladoceran assemblages to restoration of riparian vegetation: A case study in a tropical reservoir of Brazil

In recent decades, riparian vegetation has been removed from important ecosystems around the world, in spite of its high ecological importance for aquatic biota. Nevertheless, the effects of catchment land use on zooplankton have been little studied. The present study investigated if replanting riparian vegetation in a tropical reservoir influences the richness and abundance of cladoceran communities, by addressing the question of whether cladocerans show differences in richness and abundance among four levels of riparian vegetation conditions: 1) native forest (NF); 2) 30 years after forest replanting (R1); 3) 10 years after forest replanting (R2); and 4) no forest (No-F). Zooplankton samples were obtained from 9 stations in the Volta Grande Reservoir, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Cladocerans in zones NF and R1 showed higher levels of richness and abundance than in zones No-F and R2. Ceriodaphnia reticulata, Ceriodaphnia laticaudata, and Diaphanosoma spinulosum showed higher abundances in zones NF and R1. Cladoceran community structure was influenced by the different levels of riparian vegetation. This study showed that the presence and age of riparian forest positively influence the abundance, richness and diversity of cladoceran assemblages. Furthermore, our results indicated that C. reticulata, C. laticaudata and D. spinulosum are more efficient than other cladocerans in exploiting allochthonous resources provided by riparian forest. Functional diversity was higher in zones NF and R1, suggesting that the trait composition of cladoceran assemblages responds positively to recovery of riparian forest. Overall, our research suggests that cladocerans are good indicators of riparian vegetation conditions and that restoration of riparian forest positively affects cladoceran assemblages of tropical reservoirs.

Global Overview of Ecosystem Services Provided by Riparian Vegetation

Abstract Fluvial riparian vegetation (RV) links fluvial and terrestrial ecosystems. It is under significant pressure from anthropogenic activities, and, therefore, the management and restoration of RV are increasingly important worldwide. RV has been investigated from different perspectives, so knowledge on its structure and function is widely distributed. An important step forward is to convert existing knowledge into an overview easily accessible—for example, for use in decision-making and management. We aim to provide an overview of ecosystem services provided by RV by adopting a structured approach to identify the ecosystem services, describe their characteristics, and rank the importance of each service. We evaluate each service within four main riparian vegetation types adopting a global perspective to derive a broad concept. Subsequently, we introduce a guided framework for use in RV management based on our structured approach. We also identify knowledge gaps and evaluate the opportunities an ecosystem service approach offers to RV management.

Changes in vegetation and soil properties following 6 years of enclosure in riparian corridors

Abstract Aims Riparian corridors play vital roles in the maintenance of biodiversity. Nonetheless, plant species diversity and vegetation coverage in riparian corridors are seriously threatened by increasing pressure owing to livestock consumption and anthropogenic disturbance; even the stability of river courses has been threatened. The establishment of enclosures is a widely used strategy to restore degraded grassland ecosystems, but its impact on degraded herbaceous riparian vegetation and soil properties remains unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether species composition, richness, diversity, and soil properties can be recovered by the enclosure. Methods Twenty long-term monitoring sample plots were set in the Liaohe main stream river, Liaohe main stream river was enclosed for grazing and farmland exclusion in 2012. The height, coverage and individual numbers of plant were recorded for species richness and diversity evaluation from 2012 to 2017; soil nutrients were measured for comparative analysis in 2012 and 2017. We examined the effects of the establishment of enclosures on plant species diversity and soil properties from 2012 to 2017 in the riparian corridors of the Liaohe River system in China. Important Findings Plant species richness and diversity significantly increased from 2012 to 2017. The dominance of Asteraceae plants increased, while the abundance of Gramineae plants decreased over time. The difference in abundance increased each year since enclosure was implemented in 2012. The concentrations of phosphorus and potassium in the soil significantly decreased as a result of the combined effects of vegetation restoration and prohibition of farming practices following the establishment of enclosures. There was also a lag time related to the response of soil organic matter to the establishment of enclosures. In conclusion, our study provides new evidence regarding the response of species diversity, species composition and soil properties following riparian vegetation restoration efforts through enclosure development.

THE IMPORTANCE OF RESTORATION AT AN URBAN RIPARIAN SITE IN SOUTHWESTERN OREGON FOR NON-BREEDING BIRDS

Riparian systems support disproportionately high biodiversity and are critical for avian conservation in the western United States, yet much historic riparian habitat has been lost or degraded. Restoration of riparian vegetation and associated ecological processes is a high priority, and birds can serve as indicators of restoration success. Here, we analyze data from 17 y of constant-effort mist netting at an urban riparian restoration site to examine changes in capture rates from 2001 to 2017. Capture rates of 4 of 17 species commonly using the site during autumn, and 6 of 14 species using the site during winter, increased over time, and more so in the restored area compared to the mature riparian reference area. This suggests that these birds increased use of the restored habitat area as riparian tree and shrub plantings matured. Birds that responded positively to restoration included several species that breed in and are considered indicators of coniferous forest habitats (Purple Finch, Oregon Junco, Hermit Thrush, and Fox Sparrow) that often inhabit riparian areas during the non-breeding season. Species that breed in riparian habitat did not show as consistent or as strong of a non-breeding season response to restoration. Riparian birds associated with open, wet herbaceous vegetation (Common Yellowthroat and Lincoln's Sparrow) declined in the restored area in autumn while maintaining stable capture rates in the reference area. Three species of finch (Spinus spp.) used the restored habitat, and the site as a whole, in far fewer numbers during the autumn dispersal and migration period in the years following restoration, likely owing to invasive teasel removal efforts. Taken together, these results suggest that restoration actions can result in trade-offs that benefit some birds while reducing suitable habitat for others. Birds complete important activities in the autumn and winter, including dispersal, migration stopover, and molt, so restoration work that supports bird populations during the non-breeding season, even at relatively small urban sites, can make important contributions to their conservation. However, managers should consider the goals of restoration actions in the context of species- or guild-specific responses to restoration-associated changes in vegetation structure.

Monitoring the Diversity of Frogs and Toads (Amphibia: Anura) along Code River Province of Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta

The research about frogs and toads diversity in the Code River, Province of Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta (DIY) had been done in 2012 (Yudha et al, 2013). Now, after five years passed, we conduct monitoring activities to updating its diversity and distribution. After five years, we consider that there are many changes along the river that influenced habitat condition for frogs and toads which live along and near the river. Some of the changes are unused land became human settlement or paddy fields and waste land. The purpose of this research is to monitor the diversity of frogs and toads after five years along Code River. The method used was line transect combine with visual encounter surveys (VES) and river bank cruising. Results show that the species number of frogs and toads found in 2012 were slightly higher compare to 2017. The frogs and toads on upstream part were diverse in 2017 compare to 2012 due to natural restoration of riparian vegetation occur on upstream. The frogs and toads on midstream part were less diverse in 2017 compare to 2012 due to increasing human activities near the river and less riparian vegetation. The frogs and toads on downstream part were also less diverse in 2017 compare to 2012 due to increasing human activities near the river and more household waste stuck on riparian vegetation. There was variation of anurans diversity after five years due to changing on physical condition of the river and human activities near the river.

In‐stream habitat and macroinvertebrate responses to riparian corridor length in rangeland streams

Conservation and restoration of riparian vegetation in agricultural landscapes has had mixed success at protecting in‐stream habitat, potentially due to the mismatch between watershed‐scale impacts and reach‐scale restoration. Prioritizing contiguous placement of small‐scale restoration interventions may effectively create larger‐scale restoration projects and improve ecological outcomes. We performed a multi‐site field study to evaluate whether greater linear length of narrow riparian tree corridors resulted in measurable benefits to in‐stream condition. We collected data at 41 sites with varying upstream tree cover nested within 13 groups in rangeland streams in coastal northern California, United States. We evaluated the effect of riparian tree corridor length on benthic macroinvertebrate communities, as well as food resources, water temperature, and substrate size. Sites with longer riparian corridors had higher percentages of invertebrates sensitive to disturbance (including clingers and EPT taxa) as well as lower water temperatures and less fine sediment, two of the most important aquatic stressors. Despite marked improvement, we found no evidence that macroinvertebrate communities fully recovered, suggesting that land use continued to constrain conditions. The restoration of long riparian corridors may be an economically viable and rapidly implementable technique to improve habitat, control sediment, and counter increasing water temperatures expected with climate change within the context of ongoing land use.

Riparian vegetation restoration: Does social perception reflect ecological value?

AbstractSocial‐ecological contexts are key to the success of ecological restoration projects. The ecological quality of restoration efforts, however, may not be fully evident to stakeholders, particularly if the desired aesthetic experience is not delivered. Aesthetically pleasing landscapes are more highly appreciated and tend to be better protected than less appealing landscapes, regardless of their ecological value. Positive public perception of restoration actions may therefore facilitate stakeholder involvement and catalyse recognition of ecological improvement. Here we aim to contrast aesthetical perception and ecological condition in headwater river reaches restored through passive ecological restoration in study areas in Portugal (Alentejo) and France (Normandy). We recorded structural and functional indicators of riparian vegetation to monitor the ecological condition of study sites along a passive restoration trajectory. Aesthetical perception indicators were assessed through stakeholder inquiries developed under a semantic differential approach. We analysed perception responses to changes in the riparian ecosystems resulting from passive ecological restoration across different geographical contexts and social groups. The analysed social groups comprised stakeholders (environmental managers and landowners) and university students (landscape architecture and geography students). Results indicate that (a) visual preferences often do not reflect changes in ecological condition, (b) perception of the restoration process is strongly context dependent, and (c) experience and cultural background affect perception of ecological condition across the different social groups analysed. Clear identification of relevant stakeholder groups (those interested in or directly affected by restoration), effective communication, and stakeholder engagement are therefore essential for assuring the success of river restoration projects.

Investigating Temperature and Nutrients as Drivers of Primary Productivity in Aquatic Environment

An investigation into the relationship between temperature and the nutrients (,, and ) in pelagial primary productivity of the middle reaches of Otamiri River in Owerri, Southeastern Nigeria was carried out between October and November, 2018 at ten sampling points (OTP 1-OTP 10). The estimation of productivity was made with the light and dark bottle technique. Maximum yields in Gross Primary Productivity (GPP) (0.8738 mgCL-1d-1), Net Primary Productivity (NPP) (0.8513 mgCL-1d-1), as well as Community Respiration (CR) (0.1613 mgCL-1d-1) were recorded at OTP 3, OTP 3 and OTP 8 respectively that had more vegetation covers than in segments without cover. GPP is correlated withions (r = 0.400),ions (r = 0.418), and water temperature (r = 0.379) (p 0.05), while CR is correlated with ions (r = 0.500) (p 0.01). The variability of GPP increased mildly with increasing temperature and the nutrients; with predicted regression model productivities of 0.1388, 0.5621, and 0.6066 mgCL-1d-1, corresponding with mean values of 28.41℃, 0.33 mg/L, 1.04 mg/L and 10.25 mg/L recorded for temperature,,, and ions concentrations. Mean GPP was estimated to result in a comparatively low annual productivity of 188.75 mgCL-1yr-1. Conservation and restoration of riparian vegetation covers in watershed corridors of the river for optimal driver roles were recommended.