scholarly journals Event-scale flow and sediment generation responses to agricultural land cover change in lowland UK catchments

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Veronica Escobar-Ruiz ◽  
Hugh Smith ◽  
Neil Macdonald ◽  
Andres Peñuela
Keyword(s):  
Land Cover ◽  
Sediment Yield ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Spatial Arrangement ◽  
Riparian Buffer ◽  
Buffer Strips ◽  
Event Scale ◽  
Winter Cereals ◽  
Spring Cereals ◽  
Riparian Buffer Strips

Agricultural land use can increase runoff and erosion leading to detrimental downstream impacts. This paper examines the impact of agricultural land cover change on runoff and sediment generation at event scales using a model-based approach. SHETRAN, a physically based, spatially distributed model, was applied in two southwest England catchments to represent: (a) changes in the land cover (cropland extent and spatial arrangement), (b) changes in crop type, and (c) use of riparian buffer strips. A total of 84 simulated events within a 4-year period were used to quantify flow and sediment generation impacts. We found past changes in land cover resulted in significant differences in sediment yield (p < 0.05). Linear regression showed an increase in flow and sediment yield proportional to increases in arable crop area (p < 0.001). The spatial arrangement of cropped fields and riparian buffer strips produced no significant differences in event flow or sediment yield (p > 0.05). However, buffer strip scenarios compared with the base run showed sediment load reductions in specific events, up to 20% and 15% for woodland and grass riparian buffers, respectively. When comparing crop types with and without the use of post-harvest cover crops, we observed non-significant differences (both Qv and Sy). However, large reductions in modelled sediment yields occurred for some events (e.g., up to 60% for winter cereals, 50% for maize and 74% for spring cereals). For these scenarios, examination of rainfall event magnitude emphasized the importance of ground cover in mitigating soil erosion for maize and spring cereals, but not for winter cereals. Our findings indicate that significant changes in sediment delivery at the event scale are associated with cropland extent and crop types, depending on rainfall magnitude, but not on the spatial arrangement of cropped fields or the use of riparian buffer strips.

Elevated numbers of flying insects and insectivorous birds in riparian buffer strips

2000 ◽  
Vol 78 (5) ◽  
pp. 740-747 ◽  
Author(s):  
Darroch M Whitaker ◽  
Allan L Carroll ◽  
William A Montevecchi
Keyword(s):  
Abies Balsamea ◽  
Agricultural Landscapes ◽  
Riparian Buffer ◽  
Buffer Strips ◽  
Insectivorous Birds ◽  
Size Classes ◽  
Clear Cutting ◽  
Flying Insects ◽  
Riparian Buffer Strips ◽  
Capture Rates

We compared the abundances of flying insects along undisturbed lakeshores and riparian buffer strips in balsam fir (Abies balsamea) forests in western Newfoundland. Insects were collected in pan traps placed on the forest floor and tanglefoot (sticky) traps suspended within the live canopy. Significantly greater numbers of insects were captured in riparian buffer strips than in undisturbed shorelines for four of five size classes in the canopy and two of five size classes in the understory. Collections were dominated by adult Diptera and Hymenoptera. Mean capture rates along buffer strips were 120-200% of the mean capture rates along undisturbed shorelines. This increase was greatest for large-bodied insects. A likely explanation for our observations is that buffer strips act as windbreaks, collecting airborne insects blown in from adjacent clearcuts and lakes. This phenomenon has been widely documented in agricultural landscapes. Understory wind speed was generally greater along buffer strips than controls, which is a reflection of increased exposure caused by clear-cutting. A concurrent parallel study conducted at the same sites investigated the effects of riparian buffering on breeding bird assemblages. Ubiquitous insectivorous birds, including the yellow-rumped warbler (Dendroica coronata) and blackpoll warbler (Dendroica striata), were more abundant along buffer strips than undisturbed shorelines, possibly in response to increased prey availability. Increased food availability may in part explain the high numbers of insectivorous birds typically observed in riparian buffer strips in boreal forests.

Understory plant diversity and biomass in hybrid poplar riparian buffer strips in pastures

New Forests ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 241-265 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julien Fortier ◽  
Daniel Gagnon ◽  
Benoit Truax ◽  
France Lambert
Keyword(s):  
Plant Diversity ◽  
Hybrid Poplar ◽  
Riparian Buffer ◽  
Buffer Strips ◽  
Riparian Buffer Strips ◽  
Understory Plant

Response to clear-cut logging by northern waterthrushes

2003 ◽  
Vol 33 (5) ◽  
pp. 755-762 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian G Warkentin ◽  
Allison L Fisher ◽  
Stephen P Flemming ◽  
Shawn E Roberts
Keyword(s):  
Foraging Behaviour ◽  
Habitat Type ◽  
Riparian Buffer ◽  
Foraging Efficiency ◽  
Riparian Habitat ◽  
Buffer Strips ◽  
Clear Cut ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
Riparian Buffer Strips ◽  
Treatment Interaction

We examined the distribution and foraging behaviour of northern waterthrushes (Seiurus noveboracensis) in recently harvested and intact landscapes of Newfoundland. Data were collected along six 1-km segments of stream and adjoining upland habitat resulting in four treatments (harvested or intact, upland or stream) with three replicates each. Although known as a riparian specialist, we found waterthrush territories equally distributed across intact upland and riparian habitats. However, few waterthrushes occupied harvested uplands, while large numbers packed into riparian buffer strips adjacent to these 5- to 10-year-old postharvest clearcuts. Arthropod abundance and biomass were highly variable between years and across the four treatments, generating significant year × treatment interaction effects. Riparian habitat (in both intact and harvested areas) had consistently greater numbers of arthropod prey and more biomass than either upland habitat type. Northern waterthrushes foraging in riparian habitat adjacent to harvested uplands had lower attack rates and more frequent long flights than waterthrushes foraging in the intact treatment types. Prolonged packing of individuals into riparian buffer strips, and apparent adverse affects on waterthrush foraging efficiency, raise concerns about the effectiveness of buffer strips for sustaining viable populations of terrestrial riparian habitat specialists.

scholarly journals TRANSPORT AND FATE OF ATRAZINE IN MIDWESTERN RIPARIAN BUFFER STRIPS

2001 ◽  
Vol 37 (6) ◽  
pp. 1681-1692 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alissara Reungsang ◽  
Thomas B. Moorman ◽  
Ramesh S. Kanwar
Keyword(s):  
Riparian Buffer ◽  
Buffer Strips ◽  
Riparian Buffer Strips
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