Linkages among watersheds, stream reaches, and riparian vegetation in dryland ephemeral stream networks

Shaw, Jeremy R.; Cooper, David J.

doi:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2007.11.030

Cited by 82 publications

(63 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…Although flow in ephemeral streams is episodic, the biotic and abiotic components concentrated around their limited and stochastic water supply provide a sharp contrast to the semiarid uplands (Levick et al, 2008). Ecosystems within and adjacent to ephemeral streams provide services such as habitat, biodiversity, and basin aquifer recharge (e.g., Decamps et al, 2004;Shaw and Cooper, 2008); however the consequences of increased urbanization on these ecosystems and their related services are not well known. Additional services provided by these ecosystems which could be affected include: filtering of surface and ground water pollutants (Levick et al, 2008;Naiman and Decamps, 1997), reduction of stream energy during high flow events (Bull, 1997;Levick et al, 2008), stabilization of channel banks (Naiman and Decamps, 1997;Zaimes et al, 2004), mitigation of extreme temperatures (Naiman and Decamps, 1997), and provision of incision and sediment deposition (Bull, 1997;Levick et al, 2008;Naiman and Decamps, 1997).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Elevated air temperatures in riparian ecosystems along ephemeral streams: The role of housing density

Kurc

Zaimes

Crimmins

et al. 2012

Journal of Arid Environments

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Elevated air temperatures in riparian ecosystems along ephemeral streams: The role of housing density

Kurc

Zaimes

Crimmins

et al. 2012

Journal of Arid Environments

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“…Reviews by Steiger et al (2005) and Corenblit et al (2007) establish how landforms and physical processes drive the dynamics of biological communities. Strong linkages exist among watershed morphometry, stream hydro-geomorphology, and riparian plant communities in ephemeral stream networks (Shaw and Cooper 2008). An examination of the influence of landform features on the distribution of vegetation on floodplains along small channels in North America (Mollot et al 2008) found that landforms exerted a strong influence on the distribution of trees, shrubs, and understory plant species.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Using Multivariate Analyses to Assess Effects of Fluvial Type on Plant Species Distribution in a Mediterranean River

et al. 2011

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We propose a method to assess the distribution of plant assemblages along rivers delimiting homogeneous fluvial types using cluster analysis applied to morphological features, quantified with aerial photos and geographic information system software. A stratified random sampling design along the elevational gradient was used to analyze riparian plant species. Multivariate statistics were applied to detect patterns of variation in the species data, and among functional and ecological groups. Cluster analysis identified four fluvial types: headwater, low sinuosity, braided, and incised. Canonical Correspondence Analysis, INdicator SPecies ANalysis, and partial ordinations all suggested that fluvial types were characterized by well-defined indicator species. The differences found by Redundancy Analysis and nonparametric analysis of variance for functional and ecological groups also supported the fluvial type division, showing different distributional trends for annual and woody species, and the greatest ecological distance between braided and headwater types. Based on the ordination results, dividing fluvial types according to morphological features was justified by environmental and floristic differences, although plant species variability was only partially described. Our results illustrated that the fluvial type classification created using this methodology was consistent with natural plant species distribution patterns.

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“…Streams that Xow only in response to large storm and runoV events and that have deep water tables, i.e. ephemeral streams, are common in dryland regions but have garnered less research attention (Uys and OKeeVe 1997;Shaw and Cooper 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Plant species richness in ephemeral and perennial reaches of a dryland river

2008

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Ephemeral reaches are common along desert rivers but are less well studied than those with perennial stream Xow. This study contrasted riparian plant species richness and composition (extant vegetation and soil seed bank) between stream reaches with diVerent low-Xow conditions (perennial vs. ephemeral Xow) but similar Xood patterns and similar watershed-derived species pools. Data were collected at Cienega Creek (Arizona, USA) over a 2 year period spanning drought conditions and wetter conditions. Consistent with expectations relating to water limitation eVects on diversity, species richness in the riparian zone was lower at ephemeral-Xow sites during a season with minimal precipitation and no overbank Xooding; under these conditions, the more permanent water sources of the perennial-Xow sites sustain the larger number of species. During seasons with greater precipitation and elevated stream Xows, in contrast, species richness at ephemeral-Xow sites increased to levels at or slightly above those of perennial-Xow sites. For values pooled across two wet seasons of a calendar year, year-round richness was greater at the two ephemeral-Xow sites (total of 92 vascular plant species) than at the two perennial-Xow sites (68 species). This greater year-round richness was a combination of multiple factors: greater light, space, and bare ground, a diverse soil seed bank (with the seed banks equally species-rich among hydrologic types), and moderately abundant precipitation and Xooding suYcient to stimulate establishment of opportunistic species (mainly annuals) during the bimodal wet seasons. These results indicate that long-term patterns of site water availability, by inXuencing woody plant cover, mediate the diversity response to episodic water pulses in dryland rivers. The results also have implications for riparian conservation eVorts, which to date have focused primarily on perennial stream reaches: ephemeral reaches of spatially intermittent rivers harbor many riparian plant species, and warrant conservation eVorts, as well.

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Linkages among watersheds, stream reaches, and riparian vegetation in dryland ephemeral stream networks

Cited by 82 publications

References 31 publications

Elevated air temperatures in riparian ecosystems along ephemeral streams: The role of housing density

Elevated air temperatures in riparian ecosystems along ephemeral streams: The role of housing density

Using Multivariate Analyses to Assess Effects of Fluvial Type on Plant Species Distribution in a Mediterranean River

Plant species richness in ephemeral and perennial reaches of a dryland river

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