Difference between revisions of "Riparian corridors in the California Central Coast Region"

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Hilty JA, Marenelender AM. 2004. Use of riparian corridors and vineyards by mammalian predators in northern California.
 
Hilty JA, Marenelender AM. 2004. Use of riparian corridors and vineyards by mammalian predators in northern California.
 
Conservation Biology 18:126-135.
 
Conservation Biology 18:126-135.
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== Links ==
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* Other [[Watershed Issues]]
  
 
== Disclaimer ==
 
== Disclaimer ==
  
This page may contain student work completed as part of assigned coursework. It may not be accurate. It does not necessarily reflect the opinion or policy of [[CSUMB]], its staff, or students.
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This page may contain student work completed as part of assigned coursework. It may not be accurate. It does not necessary reflect the opinion or policy of [[CSUMB]], its staff, or students.

Revision as of 10:43, 27 January 2009

Summary

Riparian habitats support a large number of species when compared to other landscapes. They are often utilized by wildlife for movement, and buffered stream zones have been documented to facilitate dispersal of animals. Designating protected buffer zones around streams and rivers is an important tool toward preserving connectivity.

Location

The issue occurs most likely in most watersheds to some degree. Documented studies have been conducted in Northern California and Queensland Australia to name a few.

Resource/s at stake

Primary resource at stake is biodiversity, but other benefits from buffering riparian zones exist. Streamside vegetation slows the runoff into waterways, and increases the infiltration of water by soil. Floodplain forests and riparian wetlands minimize the effects of floods, by storing the flood water. Streamside vegetation stabilizes stream banks and beds, as well as traps and filters pollutants and sediments entering the waterways. Riparian vegetation also serves as a water temperature regulator by shading the stream surface.

Stakeholders

In the central coast region the stakeholders would comprise of private and public land owners whose lands border or contain riparian habitats, governmental agencies such as Fish and Wildlife service, Forest Service, National and State Parks, conservation agencies such as Nature Conservancy, and agriculture interest groups.

Laws, policies, & regulations

...What laws, policies, and/or regulations are involved?...

Systems

The issue deals with the hydrological system, and the riparian ecosystem surrounding it. Specifically it deals with aquatic and terrestrial biota.

Science

Hilty and Merenlender (2004) found that mammalian predators in norhtern California were 11 times more likely to be found in riparian habitats then in the upland vineyards.

Crome et al. (1994) demonstrated riparian habitats harbor more bird species then human planted windbreaks.

Harris et al. (1996) showed that buffered zones around streams facilitate movements of animals such as black bears and forest dependent birds.

Tools

...What analytical (e.g. modeling) tools were or could be used?...

Future research

It is difficult to conclude from the few studies on the subject whether all riparian habitats facilitate connectivity.

A MS thesis on wildlife presence/absence across different habitats/landscapes in the Salinas Valley would shed a light on the degree of connectivity local waterways provide.

A thorough monitoring program of the California Central Coast waterways would give a good understanding of which characteristics of riparian zones and surrounding landscapes facilitate connectivity. There is a growing concern about maintaining connectivity between the Santa Lucia range and the Gabilan Range across the Salinas valley. It is very likely that waterways are being utilized by wide ranging species to cross the Salinas valley, but there is no documentation to support this theory.

References

Chrome F, Isaacs J, Moore L. 1994. Modeling Florida panther movements in response to human attributes of the landscape and ecological settings. Ecological Modeling 140:51-80.

Harris LD, Hoctor T, Maehr D, Sanderson J. 1996. The role of networks and corridors in enhancing th evalue and protection of parks and equivalent areas. In national parks and protected areas, ed Wright RG, pages 173-197. Cambridge, England: Blackwell Science.

Hilty JA, Marenelender AM. 2004. Use of riparian corridors and vineyards by mammalian predators in northern California. Conservation Biology 18:126-135.

Links

Disclaimer

This page may contain student work completed as part of assigned coursework. It may not be accurate. It does not necessary reflect the opinion or policy of CSUMB, its staff, or students.