Ecological delineation of riparian areas and its significance for the Upper Mersey River watershed, Nova Scotia, Canada.

摘要

Riparian wildlife is important in maintaining watercourse ecological integrity, yet present riparian buffer guidelines often fail to maintain sufficient terrestrial habitat for riparian species. A literature review was undertaken to assess the terrestrial habitat requirements of riparian obligates using the American beaver (Castor canadensis) as a focal species. Published data indicates that a 50-m-wide riparian area in its natural state can support many riparian obligates as well as the ecological functions provided by riparian vegetation. GIS analysis showed that a 50-m-wide riparian buffer, measured from the edge of the watercourse and its adjacent wetlands, represents 15% of the land in the Upper Mersey River watershed. Exclusion of forestry activities in this buffer decreases the potential timber harvest by approximately 10% compared to present practices. To conserve wide-ranging riparian obligates (moose some species of turtles, amphibians and odonates), riparian buffers should be integrated in a connectivity plan for the entire watershed.