Moving towards multi-layered, mixed-species forests in riparian buffers will enhance their long-term function in boreal landscapes

Hasselquist, Eliza Maher; Kuglerová, Lenka; Sjögren, Jörgen; Hjältén, Joakim; Ring, Eva; Sponseller, Ryan A.; Andersson, Elisabet; Lundström, Johanna; Mancheva, Irina; Nordin, Annika; Laudon, Hjalmar

doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2021.119254

Cited by 15 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 104 publications

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“…The application of forest management could lead to better conditions for aquatic organisms. For instance, stream macroinvertebrate density can be increased by selective logging by mimicking natural disturbances with an important aspect—no excess deadwood in streams [ 63 ]. High stand density, as demonstrated in our case study, affects understory vegetation and, if not managed, will lead to high deadwood input in streams at some point of the stand’s natural development [ 8 , 24 , 63 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For instance, stream macroinvertebrate density can be increased by selective logging by mimicking natural disturbances with an important aspect—no excess deadwood in streams [ 63 ]. High stand density, as demonstrated in our case study, affects understory vegetation and, if not managed, will lead to high deadwood input in streams at some point of the stand’s natural development [ 8 , 24 , 63 ]. Additionally, it may lead to lower individual tree stability, which creates a higher probability of wind damage, causing the same end result.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…was associated with high water quality. Furthermore, species and stand-age diversity can improve stream function dynamics [ 63 ]. Selective logging in oligotroph soils could change species composition in riparian forests leading to improvements in structural and species diversity [ 7 , 63 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Furthermore, species and stand-age diversity can improve stream function dynamics [ 63 ]. Selective logging in oligotroph soils could change species composition in riparian forests leading to improvements in structural and species diversity [ 7 , 63 ]. In single-species stands dominated by broadleaved trees, the introduction of fast-growing species could be beneficial [ 63 ], for example, willows ( Salix spp.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Vegetation Affecting Water Quality in Small Streams: Case Study in Hemiboreal Forests, Latvia

Saklaurs

Dubra

Liepa

et al. 2022

Plants

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Riparian forests are important ecosystems located along the margins of freshwaters. Riparian zones provide many ecosystem services, such as nutrient modification, erosion and temperature control, leading to improvements in water quality in adjacent water ecosystems. In many areas, riparian forest management is restricted to improve adjacent water quality. The potential influence of forest management on water quality of small streams was assessed by analysing species composition and structural diversity in riparian forests. We collected data in riparian forests along 15 streams in the eastern Baltics (Latvia) with different water quality classes. We used detrended correspondence analysis and indicator species’ analysis to determine relationships between woody plants and understory vegetation. We also used ADONIS and ANOSIM analysis to determine possible factors that affect species composition. Our results suggested that water quality is affected by ground vegetation, which in turn was altered by stand density and total yield. Site-specific decision making in management is required in riparian forests to ensure the required conditions in the streams, because species composition differs between sites, dominant tree species and stand parameters (density, total yield, stand age). Introduction of Betula pubescens Ehrh. in coniferous stands is favourable to ensure litter fall quality and provide shade for streams during summer.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Vegetation Affecting Water Quality in Small Streams: Case Study in Hemiboreal Forests, Latvia

Saklaurs

Dubra

Liepa

et al. 2022

Plants

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show abstract

“…Most forestry activities affect small streams that are not regulated for hydropower or timber floating purposes, although they may be channelised and ditched for drainage purposes (Hasselquist et al, 2021). Whenever flow regulation and forestry do occur in the same area, the hypothesis that a natural flow regime supports the resistance of riparian vegetation against negative effects of forestry (MacDonald et al, 2014) implies that riparian vegetation will undergo significant changes, as will its functioning.…”

Section: Forestrymentioning

confidence: 99%

Pressures on Boreal Riparian Vegetation: A Literature Review

2022

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Riparian zones are species-rich and functionally important ecotones that sustain physical, chemical and ecological balance of ecosystems. While scientific, governmental and public attention for riparian zones has increased over the past decades, knowledge on the effects of the majority of anthropogenic disturbances is still lacking. Given the increasing expansion and intensity of these disturbances, the need to understand simultaneously occurring pressures grows. We have conducted a literature review on the potential effects of anthropogenic pressures on boreal riparian zones and the main processes that shape their vegetation composition. We visualised the observed and potential consequences of flow regulation for hydropower generation, flow regulation through channelisation, the climate crisis, forestry, land use change and non-native species in a conceptual model. The model shows how these pressures change different aspects of the flow regime and plant habitats, and we describe how these changes affect the extent of the riparian zone and dispersal, germination, growth and competition of plants. Main consequences of the pressures we studied are the decrease of the extent of the riparian zone and a poorer state of the area that remains. This already results in a loss of riparian plant species and riparian functionality, and thus also threatens aquatic systems and the organisms that depend on them. We also found that the impact of a pressure does not linearly reflect its degree of ubiquity and the scale on which it operates. Hydropower and the climate crisis stand out as major threats to boreal riparian zones and will continue to be so if no appropriate measures are taken. Other pressures, such as forestry and different types of land uses, can have severe effects but have more local and regional consequences. Many pressures, such as non-native species and the climate crisis, interact with each other and can limit or, more often, amplify each other’s effects. However, we found that there are very few studies that describe the effects of simultaneously occurring and, thus, potentially interacting pressures. While our model shows where they may interact, the extent of the interactions thus remains largely unknown.

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Experimental riparian forest gaps and increased sediment loads modify stream metabolic patterns and biofilm composition

Myrstener,

Greenberg,

Kuglerová

2023

Ecosphere

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Forest management operations greatly influence stream habitats. Canopy clearing and subsequent canopy development during succession, site preparation, and ditching alter the light environment, and increase sediment inputs and nutrient exports from upland and riparian soils to streams. These physicochemical changes affect aquatic biofilms and metabolic rates, and in this study, we tested their individual and combined effects. We used 12 artificial streamside channels, together with a field survey of nine streams in and around clear‐cuts, to assess the effects of shading, substrate composition, and nutrient addition on biofilm biomass and composition, as well as metabolic rates. We found that biofilm biomass and gross primary production (GPP) were light limited in channels under 70% canopy shading. Nitrate additions at this shading level only marginally increased autotrophic biomass, while the rates of respiration increased 10‐fold when carbon was added. Open (unshaded) channels had three times higher rates of GPP compared with channels with 70% shading, and autotrophic biomass was twice as high, largely caused by the colonization of filamentous green algae. These changes to biofilm biomass, composition, and GPP were caused by differences in light alone, as temperature was not affected by the shading treatment. Notably, higher rates of GPP led to no positive effect on net ecosystem production. Further, fine‐grained substrates negatively affected GPP as compared with stone substrates in the experimental channels. In the surveyed streams, the negative effects of fine‐grained substrates exceeded the positive influence of light on biofilm biomass. Altogether, our results highlight the need for riparian management that protects headwaters from unwanted stressors by focusing on preventing sediment erosion and carbon transport in clear‐cuts, while providing variable shade conditions in second‐growth forests.

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Moving towards multi-layered, mixed-species forests in riparian buffers will enhance their long-term function in boreal landscapes

Cited by 15 publications

References 104 publications

Vegetation Affecting Water Quality in Small Streams: Case Study in Hemiboreal Forests, Latvia

Vegetation Affecting Water Quality in Small Streams: Case Study in Hemiboreal Forests, Latvia

Pressures on Boreal Riparian Vegetation: A Literature Review

Experimental riparian forest gaps and increased sediment loads modify stream metabolic patterns and biofilm composition

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