Delineating and mapping riparian areas for ecosystem service assessment

Abstract

Riparian buffers, the interface between terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems, have the potential to protect water bodies from land‐based pollution, and also for enhancing the delivery of a range of ecosystem services. The UK currently has no defined optimal width or maximum extent of riparian buffers for specific ecosystem services. Here, we present the first study, which attempts to (a) compare and critique different riparian buffer delineation methods and (b) investigate how ecological processes, for example, pollutant removal, nutrient cycling, and water temperature regulation, are affected spatially by proximity to the river and also within a riparian buffer zone. Our results have led to the development of new concepts for riparian delineation based on ecosystem service‐specific scenarios. Results from our study suggest that choice of delineation method will influence not only the total area of potential riparian buffers but also the proportion of land cover types included, which in turn will determine their main ecosystem provision. Thus, for some ecological processes (e.g., pollutant removal), a fixed‐distance approach will preserve and protect its ecosystem function, whereas for processes such as denitrification, a variable‐width buffer will reflect better riparian spatial variability maximizing its ecological value. In summary, riparian delineation within UK habitats should be specific to the particular ecosystem service(s) of interest (e.g., uptake of nutrients and shading), and the effectiveness of the buffer should be ground‐truthed to ensure the greatest level of protection.

Spatial zoning of microbial functions and plant-soil nitrogen dynamics across a riparian area in an extensively grazed livestock system

“…2). The maximum length of the transects was decided according to the extent of the riparian zone as defined by the variable buffer delineation method (de Sosa et al, 2017). Intact soil cores (5 cm diameter, 0-15 cm depth) were collected at three different zones (from this point onwards in the manuscript, these are referred to as zones 1, 2 and 3), selected according to their dominant vegetation cover (Fig.…”

Influence of Catchment and Stream Characteristics on Suspended Solids and Phosphorus Concentrations Across an agriculturally Intensive Watershed in Southern Ontario

“…No universal definition of a riparian area exists but they can generally be described as transitional zones between land and freshwater ecosystems, characterized by unique biotic, hydrologic, and soil conditions (Sosa et al, 2018;Verry et al, 2005). Riparian areas are terrestrial areas, which are directly influenced by aquatic ecosystems (Verry et al, 2005).…”

Relationships between Soil Nutrients and Plant Diversity in Riparian Woodlands Along the Middle and Lower Reaches of the Yellow River, China

“…As such, the riparian zone is larger than that used in the studies conducted by Hazlett et al [47] (5 m and 75 m from the lakeshore), Schilling et al [48] (1, 20, and 40 m from river), Cierjacks et al [49] (518±50 m from main channel), Smith et al [23] (transects 36 m long and separated by 6 m), Lidman et al [12] (4, 12 and 22 m from river), and de Sosa et al [45] (2 and 50 m from river). These differences in distance used, which could be determined by river size and order, topographic feature, and land use and land cover [52], can lead to differences in hydrologic dynamics, geomorphic dynamics, and ecological processes. For instance, small rivers in montane areas have steeper side-slopes and lower alluvial developments, which can contribute to a more rapid transition from riparian zone to non-riparian zone [45,[46][47][48].…”