Riparian Zones Flashcards

1
Q

What is a riparian zone?

A

Three dimensional zone of direct interactions between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. It mediates the transfer or material and energy. In addition to influencing the physical and ecological characteristics of a stream

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2
Q

Where do headwater streams get most of their organic matter?

A

From surrounding forest (in first - third order streams) as they can accumulate tonnes of leaf litter

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3
Q

What effects does riparian vegetation have?

A

Availability of light: Impacts stream temperature and humidity
Bank stability: Roots tie soil together and prevents flows, and stream bank collapses
Provides large woody debris which can impact channel flow, sediment deposits and cause ice dams

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4
Q

How does temperature control everything?

A

Rate of metabolism, growth, decomposition, gas solubility, ice processes, survival, hatch times. Solar radiation is dominant source of heat and riparian zones impact that by its forest cover (conifer stand has 5% sunlight while a clear cut would have 100%)

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5
Q

What gas does riparian plants remove?

A

Nitrogen

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6
Q

What is a buffer zone?

A

An area of fixed width used to protect watershed from human disturbance. NOT A RIPARIAN ZONE! They are often legally required and of 30m. Provincial regulation not federal.

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7
Q

What activities can occur in a buffer zone?

A

Select harvest up to 30%, No machinery - manual harvest, cutting must be for non marketable value (ex: better view of lake)

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8
Q

What happened when people cut down trees on river edge in 50s/60s?

A

Damaged aquatic life severely, would cause banks to collapse with lost root stability

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9
Q

Valleys and highlands produce what temp of water?

A

Valleys: Cold water
Highlands: Warm Water

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10
Q

What is a river?

A

Linear (more narrow than wide) channel of water with depression and banks. They flow downhill via their topographical gradient

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11
Q

What is brackish water?

A

It is a mixture of fresh and salt water. A river near an ocean

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12
Q

What are the five influences on hydrology?

A

Local climate: Rainfall and costal effect
Season: Total precipitation = constant, but in winter water is mainly unavailable
Watershed: Depends on height of land
Morphology: Mouth of rivers will have a lot of sand making multi channels. Sediments are deposited by rivers of glaciers from the past
Land Use: Dams delay flow, irrigation causes less water to make wet fields, oil sands create petroleum deposits

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13
Q

How does cement impact permeability?

A

Because of its low porosity, cement impacts a waterways discharge and flow rate. 1) By changing geomorphology: causes sandbars and meandering rivers which adds nutrients to the bank 2) Increases volume of water which can cause flooding. This limited water can leave vegetation, fish and mussels exposed :(

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14
Q

What are the two sources of organic carbon in river?

A

1) Autchtonous inputs: Produced within stream
2) Allochthonous inputs: Produced outside of stream

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15
Q

What are some examples of autchtonous carbon?

A

Algae, phytoplankton, macrophages, biofilm (periphyton)

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16
Q

What are some examples of allochthonous carbon?

A

Leaf litter, wood, branches, dissolved organic matter (DOM), FPOM (fine particle organic matter), CPOM (Coarse particle organic matter), LWD (large wood debris), fruit, dead animals, sewage and agricultural inputs

17
Q

What is stream ecosystem efficientcy?

A

Quantified data of energy inputs converted to CO2 or exported downstream. In general - especially in headwaters this level is low.

18
Q

How is carbon from rivers distributed?

A

25% used in system, 25% stored as organic carbon, 50% transported to ocean.

19
Q

What is P/R ratio, how does it differ with carbon inputs?

A

Production to respiration ratio. Small headwater streams are heterotrophic and experience external inputs R > P. Large rivers are autotrophic and experience internal outputs R < P.

20
Q

Describe headwaters (1st to 3rd order streams).

A

Cold, swift, forested. Strongly heterotrophic and the dominant organisms are shredders to collectors

21
Q

Describe mid-order streams (4th to 6th order streams)

A

Riparian vegetation plays key role, canopy opens - primary production, temp increases and less erosion all. Dominant organisms are collectors and grazers

22
Q

Describe higher order streams (6th - 10th)

A

Wide and deep channels, volume of flow increases, autrophic production decreases, FPOM utilized by benthic creatures

23
Q

What are pulses in ecology?

A

Natural and predictable disturbances to which biota can adapt.

24
Q

What are the three models of large river ecosystems?

A

1) RCC: River continuum concept
2) RPM: Riverine productivity model
3) FPC: Flood pulse concept

25
Q

What are marine derived nutrients?

A

Aquatic vectors bring in nutrients and organic materials from alternative sources. This may impact nitrogen availability. Often from ocean to freshwater. MDN noticeable on west coast (fish die and wash up on land to decompose)