Stream Networks and Riparian Zones

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Stream Networks and Riparian Zones Landscape
Ecology (EEES 4760/6760) Basic
terminology Stream Network Structure
Function Management Reading Gregory, S.V.,
F.J. Swanson, W.A. McKee, and K.W. Cummins.
1991. An ecosystem perspective of riparian
zones. Bioscience 41(8) 540-551.
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Away from the river, there forms a clear
successional gradient resulted from different
disturbances (i.e., flooding).
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Naiman 2005
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Naiman 2005
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Naiman 2005
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Naiman 2005
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Naiman 2005
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Naiman 2005
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Composition and Abundance of Small Stream
Riparian Vegetation in Managed Landscapes
Jiquan Chen1, Kimberley D. Brosofske2, Robert
Naiman5, and Jerry F. Franklin6

• Environmental Science, University of Toledo, OH,
  jiquan.chen_at_utoledo.edu
• Dept. of Natural Resources Science, University of
  Rhode Island, Kingston, RI
• SFWP, Michigan Technological University,
  Houghton, MI
• Forestry Science Lab, USDA Forest Service, Grand
  Rapids, MN
• School of Aquatic Fishery Sciences, University
  of Washington, Seattle, WA
• College of Forest Resources, University of
  Washington, Seattle, WA

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• Riparian zones are known for their rich biota,
  unique biophysical conditions and dynamics, and
  highly complex vegetation structure.

• Numerous authors have reported high species
  diversity related to riparian buffers (Naiman
  Bilby 1998) .

• One study (Hibbs Bower 2001) of plant
  distribution associated with managed riparian
  buffers concluded that edge effects appeared
  unfounded in this region for the plant community.

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• OBJECTIVES
• To examine plant species distribution across
  small streams (1st 3rd order streams) in two
  managed landscapes Western Washington and
  Northern Wisconsin
• To quantify the contribution of small streams to
  the plant species pool of a managed landscape in
  Northern Wisconsin
• To discuss the underlying mechanisms for species
  distribution within riparian zones

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HYPOTHESIS The unique biophysical environment
associated with small streams will result in a
different community composition within riparian
zones however, the difference may not be
significant immediately after disturbance (e.g.,
harvesting) because of the time lag necessary for
demographic processes (reproduction, mortality,
immigration, emigration) to result in
compositional change.
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Five streams in three locations in W. Washington
State were selected for pre- and post-harvest
analysis of microclimate and vegetation.
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One of the five streams used in W.
Washington. Overstory is dominated by
Douglas-fir, western hemlock, red alder, western
red cedar, and grand fir.
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Study Site Chequamegon National Forest
Northern Subsection Near Ashland, WI
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A Northern Hardwood Landscape Upper Great Lakes
Region
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180 m
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Data Source
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• Data Analysis
• Explore changes in percent cover from stream to
  the upland by species (frequency and abundance)
• Identify statistical and functional groups and
  examine changes from the stream to upland
  (PC-Ord)
• Compare species list with the species list of the
  landscape

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Results
Changes in mean (STD) woody debris and bare
ground cover () from small streams to the
upland in W. Washington.
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Results
Changes in mean (STD) grass and shrub cover ()
from small streams to the upland in W.
Washington.
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Results
Changes in mean (STD) cover () of total
vegetation and mosses from small streams to the
upland in W. Washington.
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Results
Changes in mean (STD) cover () of selected plant
species from small streams to the upland in W.
Washington.
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Conclusion W. Washington
Plant communities of managed riparian zones in
Western Washington exhibited clear differences
from upland forest. These differences, however,
varied greatly among species and other
measurements of community composition and
structure. Specific conclusions thus can only be
drawn when the measurement is specified.
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Northern hardwood landscape and the riparian
corridors in N. Wisconsin.
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• Results
• A total of 92 plant species were recorded along 3
  transects in N. Wisconsin, compared with 98
  species along 7 transects in W. Washington.

• In W. Washington, 34 species were identified as
  riparian species, but gt50 species appeared to be
  riparian species in N. Wisconsin.

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Changes in species cover () from streams to
upland in a northern hardwood landscape, WI
Cover ()
Distance from Stream (m)
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Results
Changes in mean (STD) cover () of selected plant
species from small streams to the upland in N.
Wisconsin.
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Results More riparian species than upland
species were detected in this unmanaged
ecosystem. Riparian Upland Abies
balsamea Amelanchier sp. Aster
ciliolatus Aralia nudicaulis Athyrium
felix-femina Bromus altissimus Calamagrosis
canadensis Calamagrosis stricta Caltha
palustris Carex bromides Carex disperma
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• Question
• How much do riparian zones contribute to the
  cumulative richness and abundance of plant
  species at the landscape-level?

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Current Vegetation and Locations of Sampling Plots

• 168- 50m2 Plots Sampled
• 10 of Plots Within Each Patch Type
• Left Out For Model Validation

• 9 Interior Types
• 1 Edge Zone
• 2 Road Zones

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Summary Total number of species 333 Common to
all patches 98 (29.4) Unique
species 0 Restricted to the eight
patches 32 No. of exotic species 14
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Conclusion N. Wisconsin

• Riparian communities in N. Wisconsin clearly play
  different roles in the landscape from those in W.
  Washington.
• Not only did these undisturbed riparian zones
  host more unique species, our preliminary
  analysis indicated that they also contributed
  significantly to the landscape level species pool.

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Wed. (3/25) Riparia

• Flood Pulse Concept (FPC)
• Case studies of
• Whooping Crane in NEWater spill over in SE
  USASalmon and N in Alaska
• Summary of Riparia functions (Naiman et al. 2005
  Chapter 6)
• Dam management and removal