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CASE STUDY OF RIPARIAN VEGETATION AFFECTING WATER QUALITY OF SMALL STREAMS IN LATVIA
Abstract
Riparian forests are important ecosystems providing a spectrum of ecosystem services such as erosion control, nutrient modification and improvement of water quality in adjacent streams. In many countries management of riparian forests are restricted to protect aquatic biota as vegetation, especially woody plants provide nutrient uptake from soil preventing stream water over-enrichment. However not all tree and ground cover vegetation species carry the same positive effect on stream quality. Aim of our study was to link the water quality with vegetation composition in riparian forests. Vegetation data were collected along the 15 streams in the eastern Baltics (Latvia) with different water quality to determine relationship between wooden plants and understory vegetation, we used detrended correspondence analysis and indicator species analysis. Our results suggested that there is an evident productivity gradient between tree and understory vegetation species. From understory vegetation grass species dominated in oligotrophic conditions, they have wider root system and can protect soil against the erosion. Wood volume had significant impact on grass species. Nitrogen fixing species were found in fertile soils and in presence of Alnus incana L. Indicator species analysis approved that Alnus incana L. was found by the rivers with low water quality. We recommend shift of dominant tree and shrub species to favour habitat for grass species and reduce presence of vegetation contributing nitrogen into the soil.
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