Riparian buffers along stream margins have been widely adopted as a management strategy to mitigate the adverse effects of plantation forestry on stream ecosystems. However, the efficacy of these riparian buffers can be jeopardised by variations in width, length, and vegetation which can range from native and exotic scrub (including bracken, gorse, broom and blackberry) to remnant beech forest. This thesis investigates the influence of riparian vegetation age and composition, on stream ecosystems within exotic pine plantations. Initially, a survey of 50 streams within pine forests of various ages and riparian composition was conducted at sites from mid-Canterbury to Hanmer Springs over the summer of 2004-2005. Additionally, terrestrial subsidies were compared between young pine, mature pine and indigenous forest streams to ascertain differences or similarities between vegetation types. A range of physico-chemical and biological characteristics were recorded, while vegetative age and composition with catchment, riparian buffer and reach scales were determined using GIS. Forestry activities were found to vary temporarily and tended to adversely impact upon streams where riparian buffers were narrow and lacked indigenous vegetation. Stream instability and sedimentation were consistently higher in catchments lacking indigenous riparian vegetation, and more markedly so in recently harvested catchments compared with more mature forests. Streams dominated by pine forests had finer substrates with higher water temperatures and levels of turbidity, while those dominated by indigenous forest had coarser substrates, higher flows and dissolved oxygen levels, and less in-stream debris. Benthic community composition was similar among sites, although taxonomic richness, EPT diversity, and invertebrate abundances were enhanced by indigenous riparian vegetation.

No description available.

Riparian buffers along stream margins have been widely adopted as a management strategy to mitigate the adverse effects of plantation forestry on stream ecosystems. However, the efficacy of these riparian buffers can be jeopardised by variations in width, length, and vegetation which can range from native and exotic scrub (including bracken, gorse, broom and blackberry) to remnant beech forest. This thesis investigates the influence of riparian vegetation age and composition, on stream ecosystems within exotic pine plantations. Initially, a survey of 50 streams within pine forests of various ages and riparian composition was conducted at sites from mid-Canterbury to Hanmer Springs over the summer of 2004-2005. Additionally, terrestrial subsidies were compared between young pine, mature pine and indigenous forest streams to ascertain differences or similarities between vegetation types. A range of physico-chemical and biological characteristics were recorded, while vegetative age and composition with catchment, riparian buffer and reach scales were determined using GIS. Forestry activities were found to vary temporarily and tended to adversely impact upon streams where riparian buffers were narrow and lacked indigenous vegetation. Stream instability and sedimentation were consistently higher in catchments lacking indigenous riparian vegetation, and more markedly so in recently harvested catchments compared with more mature forests. Streams dominated by pine forests had finer substrates with higher water temperatures and levels of turbidity, while those dominated by indigenous forest had coarser substrates, higher flows and dissolved oxygen levels, and less in-stream debris. Benthic community composition was similar among sites, although taxonomic richness, EPT diversity, and invertebrate abundances were enhanced by indigenous riparian vegetation.

The effectiveness of giant cane [Arundinaria gigantea(Walt.) Muhl.] as riparian buffer vegetation has been demonstrated through research and has gained interest from state and federal agencies to support restoration efforts. Unfortunately, little is known about the physical and chemical properties of the soils below canebrakes and how soil characteristics influence aboveground and belowground biomass production. To determine what physical attributes of the plant influence its success as riparian buffer vegetation and also to determine the interactions with underlying soils, fourteen canebrakes were sampled throughout Southern Illinois. Objective one was to develop an allometric equation to quantify belowground biomass based on aboveground parameters of canebrakes. Previous research found that successful propagation was dependent on rhizome length, the number of internodes and the number of rhizome buds present, but no data exists regarding the yield of rhizomes for a given area. By harvesting all aboveground biomass (culms and leaves) and belowground biomass (roots and rhizomes) to a depth of 25 cm from a 1-m2 plot at each site, morphometric characteristics were quantified and biomass allocation throughout the plant was determined. A significant linear relationship between total aboveground biomass (live and dead) and belowground biomass in giant cane was evident (R=0.865, p<0.001). Although this is a strong relationship, it may be impractical for a manager to harvest, process, and weigh all of the aboveground biomass to speculate the biomass below ground. Therefore, metrics were explored for predicting the length of rhizome, number of rhizome internodes and number of rhizome buds an area will yield using multiple regression and models were developed that estimate these parameters. Using the equation that predicts the number of rhizome buds for a given area, the yield of propagules can then be estimated. Although this equation does not account for all variation of belowground characteristics, it will provide a general guideline for land managers restoring giant cane. The second objective was to estimate biomass allocation of giant cane roots/rhizomes beneath canebrakes by depth (i.e., at 25-cm increments to a depth of 150 cm). Results showed that 67% of giant cane's belowground biomass was within the top 25 cm of the soil profile and accounted for 65% of all belowground biomass encountered at that depth. Giant cane rhizomes were documented to a depth of 51-75 cm deep while cane roots existed in the deepest cores at a depth of 126-150 cm with an average density of 0.08 kg m-3. Giant cane belowground biomass declined with increasing depth, but was still the dominant species at 26-50 cm, comprising 61% of all biomass encountered at that depth. These results support the utility of giant cane as an effective riparian buffer species by increasing the soil porosity and promoting infiltration while contributing a significant source of carbon to the soil profile. Chemical and physical soil properties were measured to determine if they related to canebrake characteristics. Significant correlations were found between various soil properties and canebrake characteristics, implying there is an interaction between giant cane and the underlying soil. Results from this research will improve our understanding of the dynamics of giant cane and supplement existing information to help guide restoration efforts.

As population increases and urbanization occurs, watershed management will be critical in the protection of water resources in North Central Texas. By 2040, Denton County will nearly double its 2010 population. The Upper Hickory Creek Watershed lies west of Denton and empties into Lake Lewisville. Lake Lewisville provides drinking water for Denton, Dallas, and other neighboring cities. Mitigation of non-point source pollutants as a result of urban and agricultural practices is essential to protecting Lake Lewisville water resources. A common best management practice used to mitigate pollutants is the protection of riparian ecotones that occupy river corridors; however, recent agricultural and urban practices are diminishing these ecosystems and their services. In this paper, the riparian buffer delineation equation (RBDE) is used to assess the current state of Upper Hickory Creek Watershed to aid in the monitoring of the riparian buffers along stream corridors. While the RBDE was used as pre-assessment tool for the riparian buffer effectiveness in the watershed, a new form of the equation was used to evaluate riparian buffer improvement potential (BP) in conjunction with Denton County parcel data to provide insights into buffer effectiveness and identify areas for improvement on a landowner scale.

No description available.

The application of intensive farming and cultivation practices, resulting in large-scale modification of the hydrology of streams and rivers and of the natural vegetation, has increased the need to find ways to mitigate the negative impact of this habitat degradation. Suitable design and creation of riparian buffer zones in agriculture areas, is by many considered the best remedial measure. Riparian buffer zones (RBZ) are protecting waterways from degradation as they can improve and maintain water quality by filtering sediment, nutrients, organic matter, and pesticides. At the same time RBZ constitute habitat for many animals and plants and their existence increases ecological connectivity, reduces erosion and creates recreational areas. The aim of the study was to investigate how agricultural companies in the Örebro County relate to riparian buffer zones along small streams and examine the actual status of riparian buffer zones, to see if they are designed by taking site characteristics into consideration. Furthermore, the aim was to check how consistent the approach of the agricultural companies is with the actual status of the riparian buffer zones as well as with the recommendations of the Swedish Board of Agriculture. In addition, the study aims to make conclusions if riparian buffer zones can be both an economical and an ecological tool in agricultural landscapes. The data collection consisted of two different parts. First, a quantitative survey including 20 agricultural companies was done to investigate how different agricultural companies relate to riparian buffer zones in connection with smaller streams. Second, a field study was carried out to examine the riparian buffer design along small streams in14 agricultural sites, where the stream width, the buffer width, the slope of the riparian zone, the soil texture and the vegetation were measured. The study results from both the questionnaire and the field study suggest that a riparian buffer zone of 3-10 m without overstory vegetation is preferred. These findings follow the Swedish Board of Agriculture recommendations regarding buffer width and overstory vegetation. Because of the small number of sites investigated and the small variation of the variables, no significant correlation was found between site characteristics and buffer zone widths. A larger project that will include more sites all over Sweden could test if the existing riparian zones are designed efficiently. However, an important finding of this study was that the farmers consider RBZ as an important ecological tool for maintaining water quality and for minimizing soil erosion and the use of fertilizers and pesticides. In addition, most of the agricultural companies would consider wider buffer zones and overstory vegetation if they would be compensated with government funding. RBZ can be an economic and ecological tool in agricultural landscapes in the future, if correct guidance to design and manage RBZ according to the site characteristics will be provided to the farmers. / Intensiva jordbruks- och odlingsmetoder som resulterar i storskalig modifiering av hydrologi och den naturliga vegetationen i vattendrag har skapat ett behov av att hitta sätt att mildra de negativa effekterna. En lämplig design och skapande av kantzoner i jordbruksområden anses av många vara den bästa åtgärden för att begränsa den negativa påverkan. Kantzoner längs vattendrag skyddar dem från degradering eftersom de kan förbättra och bibehålla vattenkvalitén genom att filtrera bort sediment, näringsämnen och bekämpningsmedel. Samtidigt utgör kantzoner livsmiljöer för många djur och växter och bidrar till ökad ekologisk konnektivitet, minskar erosion och skapar rekreationsområden. Syftet med studien var att undersöka hur jordbrukare i Örebro län förhåller sig till kantzoner längs mindre vattendrag och undersöka den aktuella statusen för kantzoner för att se om de är lämpligt utformade för att ta hänsyn till lokala förhållanden. Målet var dessutom att kontrollera om jordbrukarnas strategi är förenlig med den reella statusen för kantzoner och med Jordbruksverkets rekommendationer. Dessutom undersöks om det går att dra slutsatser om kantzoner längs mindre vattendrag kan vara både ett ekonomiskt och ett ekologiskt verktyg i jordbrukslandskapet. Datainsamlingen bestod av två olika delar. Först gjordes en kvantitativundersökning som omfattade 20 jordbrukare för att undersöka hur olika jordbrukare relaterar till kantzoner längs mindre vattendrag. För det andra, genomfördes en fältstudie för att undersöka kantzoners design längs mindre vattendrag i 14 jordbrukområden, där vattendragets bredd, buffertbredden, lutningen av kantzonen, markstrukturen och typ av vegetation mättes. Studieresultaten från både frågeformuläret och fältstudien indikerar att en buffertzon på 3–10 m utan träd- och buskvegetation föredras. Dessa resultat följer Jordbruksverkets rekommendationer angående buffertbredden och typ av vegetation. På grund av det låga antalet undersökta lokaler och den låga variationen i variablernas värden hittades ingen signifikant korrelation mellan de andra egenskaperna och buffertzonsbredden. Ett större projekt som skulle omfatta fler lokaler över Sverige skulle kunna testa om de befintliga kantzoner utformas effektivt. Ett viktigt resultat i denna studie var dock att jordbrukarna betraktade kantzoner som ett viktigt ekologiskt verktyg för att upprätthålla vattenkvaliteten och minimera markerosion, samt användningen av gödsel och bekämpningsmedel. Dessutom skulle de flesta av jordbrukare överväga bredare buffertzoner och busk- och trädvegetation om de skulle kompenseras med statlig finansiering. Kantzoner kan vara ett ekonomiskt och ekologiskt verktyg i jordbrukslandskapet i framtiden, om korrekt vägledning för att utforma och hantera kantzoner enligt lokala förhållanden tilldelas jordbrukarna.

Siekiant, kad į paviršinius vandens telkinius nepatektų pavojingų medžiagų, vandens telkinių krantai būtų apsaugoti nuo erozijos, būtų užtikrintas vandens telkinių pakrančių ekosistemų stabilumas, saugomas vandens telkinių pakrančių gamtinis kraštovaizdis bei jo estetinės vertybės yra nustatomos paviršinio vandens telkinio apsaugos zonos, o jų dalyje prie vandens telkinio nustatomos pakrantės apsaugos juostos. Kol kas Lietuvoje yra skiriamas mažas dėmesys pakrančių apsaugos juostom. Taigi šiose magistro tezėse aptariami pastaruoju metu Lietuvoje ir Europos sąjungoje naudojami teisės aktai ir reglamentai susiję su vandens apsauga ir pakrančių apsaugos juostomis. Šio magistrinio darbo metu buvo pasirinktas Nevėžio pabaseinio reguliuotas Trikojo upelis. Tyrimo metu buvo atlikta statistinė analizė, kuri parodė, kad Trikojo upelio pakrančių apsaugos juostos esminiai nesiskiria. Dauguma pakrančių apsaugos juostų pločiai 2,5 m. Buvo nustatyta, kad apsaugos juostos atitinka aplinkosauginius reikalavimus ties pievomis ir mišku. Taip pat buvo nustatinėjama sumedėjusios augalijos pasiskirstymas upelio šlaituose, rūšių skaičius ir tankis. / In order to protect surface water reservoirs against dangerous substances, to protect water reservoir banks from erosion, to ensure water reservoir coastal ecosystem stability, to save natural landscape of water reservoir coasts and its esthetical valuables, surface water reservoir protection zones are established. Coastal protection bands are determined in their proximity to water reservoir. Still, little attention is paid to coastal protection bands in Lithuania. This Master Thesis analyzes legal acts and regulation relative to water protection and coastal protection bands and valid in Lithuania and the European Union in present time. The regulated Trikojis streamlet of Nevėžis catchment basin was chosen for this Master Thesis. Statistical analysis was performed during this research, which showed no essential differences between Trikojis streamlet coastal protection bands. Most coastal protection bands were 2,5 m wide. It was determined, that protection bands meet the environmental protection requirements in meadow and forest regions. Ligneous vegetation division on the streamlet slopes was determined, so as the amount of its species and their density.

We tested the adequacy of standard 30 m riparian buffers for semi-aquatic vertebrate species, using the boreal toad (Bufo boreas boreas) as an example. We monitored toad populations in south-central Utah using radio telemetry during the summers of 2003 and 2004. We found 30 m buffers inadequate for protecting boreal toads and suggest this is likely true for other species as well. Managers must consider several factors when constructing buffers: (1) Buffer requirements may vary by time of year. While we located toads most often in wet habitats, toads commonly utilized upland habitats in late summer, occasionally at distances greater than 100 m from water. (2) A single year's observation may not be sufficient to establish adequate buffers. Toads moved into upland habitats more often and at greater distances from water (> or = 30 m) during the wetter, cooler weather conditions of 2004 than in 2003. (3) Buffer requirements may differ by sex. Male toads appeared to have stronger selection for wetland habitats than females. Females moved greater distances from water than males, often outside of buffer areas. (4) Buffer requirements may differ by location. 30 m buffers contained 82.4% of all observations, though results varied between 50.0 and 97.2%, depending on breeding location. Finally (5) All habitat requirements should be considered when establishing buffers. Many small, unmapped streams and seeps utilized by toads for hibernation were located outside buffer zones. After ground truthing and extending 30 m buffers around these habitats, the percentage of all observations within 30 m buffers increased to 92.4%. Managers need to be aware of the accuracy of digital and other mapping sources used in creating buffers and to incorporated all critical habitats in conservation buffers. Our boreal toad example suggests that ground truthing may be the most important factor in establishing effective buffer zones.

No description available.