The Role of Riparian Corridors in Maintaining Regional Biodiversity

Author(s): Robert J. Naiman, Henri Decamps and Michael Pollock

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Source: Ecological Applications, Vol. 3, No. 2 (May, 1993), pp. 209-212
Published by: Ecological Society of America
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Ecological Applications,3(2), 1993.,pp. 209-212

? 1993 by the Ecological Societyof America

THE ROLE OF RIPARIAN CORRIDORS IN MAINTAINING

REGIONAL BIODIVERSITY'
ROBERT

J.NAIMAN

Centerfor
Streamside
Studies,University
of Washington,
AR-J0,Seattle,Washington
98195 USA
HENRI DECAMPS

CentreNationalde la Recherche
Centred'ecologiedes ressources
renouvelables,
Scientifique,
29, rueJeanneMarvig,31055 Toulouse,France
MICHAEL

POLLOCK

Centerfor
Streamside
Studies,University
of Washington,
AR-10Seattle,Washington
98195 USA
Abstract. Riparian corridorspossess an unusuallydiverse arrayof species and environmentalprocesses.This "ecological" diversityis relatedto variable flood regimes,geomorphicchannel processes,altitudinalclimate shifts,and upland influenceson the fluvial
corridor.This dynamic environmentresultsin a varietyof life historystrategies,and a
diversityof biogeochemicalcycles and rates,as organismsadapt to disturbanceregimes
over broad spatio-temporalscales. These factssuggestthateffectiveriparianmanagement
could ameliorate many ecological issues related to land use and environmentalquality.
We contend that ripariancorridorsshould play an essential role in waterand landscape
planning,in the restorationof aquatic systems,and in catalyzinginstitutionaland societal
cooperation forthese efforts.
Key words: biodiversity;
hydrologic
fluvialecosystems;
connectivity;
landscape;policy;riparian
corridor.
Natural ripariancorridorsare the most diverse,dy- dynamicsand the annual dischargeregime.Riparian
namic, and complex biophysical habitats on the ter- corridorson large streamsare characterizedby wellrestrialportion of the Earth. Riparian corridors,as developed, geomorphicallycomplex floodplainswith
interfacesbetweenterrestrial
and aquatic systems,en- long periods of seasonal flooding,lateralchannel micompass sharp environmentalgradients,ecological gration,oxbow lakes in old riverchannels,a diverse
processes,and communities.Riparian corridorsare an vegetativecommunity,and moistsoils (Salo et al. 1986,
unusuallydiverse mosaic of landforms,communities, Naiman et al. 1992).
and environmentswithinthelargerlandscape. As such,
Ecological investigationsof ripariancorridorshave
we believetheyserveas a framework
forunderstanding demonstratedthemto be a keylandscape featurewith
the organization,diversity,and dynamicsof commu- substantialregulatorycontrols on environmentalvinities associated with fluvialecosystems(Naiman et tality(Naiman et al. 1992). Streams are non-equilibrium systemswith strongeffectson habitatformation
al. 1988, Gregoryet al. 1991).
The ripariancorridorencompasses thestreamchan- and stability,on the attributesof riparianvegetation,
nel and that portionof the terrestriallandscape from on local geomorphologyand microclimate,and on the
the highwater mark towardsthe uplands where veg- diversityof ecological functions.The ripariancorridor
disturbedby floodsand debris flows,creetationmay be influencedby elevated watertables or is frequently
flooding,and by the abilityof soils to hold water.The ating a complex shiftingmosaic of landformsover a
widthof the ripariancorridor,the level of controlthat spatial scale rangingup to 107 m (Salo et al. 1986,
the streamsidevegetationhas on the streamenviron- Swanson et al. 1988). Consequently,plantspecies richment,and the diversityof functionalattributes(e.g., nessvariesconsiderablyin space and timealong stream
informationflow,biogeochemicalcycles)are relatedto margins,and these variations have importantinfluthesize ofthestream,thepositionofthe streamwithin ences on the in-streambiota and processes. It is well
the drainagenetwork,the hydrologicregime,and the knownthatriparianvegetationregulateslightand temlocal geomorphology.For example, the ripariancor- peratureregimes,provides nourishmentto aquatic as
biota, acts as a sourceof largewoody
ridoris oftensmall in thenumerousheadwaterstreams well as terrestrial
influencessedimentrouting,
thatare almost completelyembedded in the forest.In debris(whichsignificantly
mid-sizedstreamsthe ripariancorridoris larger,being channel morphologyand in-streamhabitat),regulates
representedby a distinctband of vegetation whose the flow of water and nutrientsfromuplands to the
width is determinedby long-term(>50 yr) channel stream,and maintains biodiversityby providingan
unusuallydiverse arrayof habitat and ecological serI Manuscript
received13 July1992.
vices (Naiman and Decamps 1990). We believe that

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210
210

ROBERT
NAIMANET
ROBERT J
J.NAIMAN
ET AL.
AL.

Ecological Applications

3,No.2
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

many of the ecological issues related to landuse and ample, Nilsson (1992) reports13% (>260 species) of
environmentalquality could be ameliorated with ef- the entireSwedish floraof vascular plants occurring
along a singlerivercorridor;Junk(1989) reportsthat
fectiveripariancorridormanagement.
all periodicallyflooded forestsin the Amazon basin
RIPARIAN CORRIDORS REQUIRE
may have ;20% of the 4,000-5,000 estimatedAmaA LANDSCAPE PERSPECTIVE
zonian tree species; and Tabacchi et al. (1990) report
We view the term "biodiversity"as encompassing over 900 taxa ofvascularplantsalong theAdour River
the presence of species and ecological processes,and ripariancorridorin France.
The reasons forthe highdiversityof vascular plants
it may be more properlyreferredto or thoughtof as
"ecological diversity."The maintenanceof biodiver- are thoughtto be related to (1) the intensityand fresityrequiresa landscape perspective,especiallyforflu- quency of floods,(2) small-scale variations in topogvial ecosystemswhose drainage networksare embed- raphyand soils as a resultof lateralmigrationof river
ded in thelandscape.We also view theripariancorridor channels,(3) variationsin climateas streamsflowfrom
as the heartof the drainage basin since it may be the highto low altitudesor across biomes, and (4) disturecosystem-levelcomponentmostsensitiveto environ- bance regimes imposed on the riparian corridorby
mental change (Naiman et al. 1988, 1989). It is our uplandenvironments.The migrationcapacityofplants
workinghypothesisthatdeliveryand routingof water, along riparian corridorsis also an importantfactor
sediment,and woody debrisare the keyprocessesreg- explainingthe high biodiversityobserved along river
ulatingthe ecological characteristicsof ripariancorri- courses. Collectively,these forcescreate a mosaic of
dors, and it is the dynamicsof these materialsthatare habitatsin a non-equilibriumsystem,which allows a
affectedby alterationsto the landscape. Available ev- wide varietyof species to co-exist. It is well known
idence suggeststhat ecologicallydiverse ripariancor- that environmentalheterogeneity,productivity,and
ridorsare maintainedby an active naturaldisturbance resourcediversityhave major effectson functionaldiregimeoperatingover a wide rangeof spatial and tem- versityand species richness(Solbrig 1991). Floods deporal scales. Ecologicallydiverseripariancorridorsare stroyolder patches and create new patches, resulting
dependenton thenatureofthedisturbance(e.g.,floods, in an annual redistributionand sortingof sediment
fire,landslides,debristorrents,
channelmigration)and sizes and new channel configurations.
Altitudeaffects
the abilityof the biotic systemto adjust to constantly theoverallclimate,whileindividualvegetativepatches
changingconditions(Kalliola et al. 1992). The natural influencethe microclimate.Species fromupland habdisturbanceregime impartsconsiderable spatial het- itatsadd to thespeciesdiversityin theripariancorridor
erogeneityand temporalvariabilityto the biophysical although,in many cases, theyare relativelyrare. Ficomponentsof the system.In turn,this is reflectedin nally, riparian corridorsare productive systemsbethe life historystrategies,productivity,and diversity cause of the proximityof waterand nutrients,
but they
oftheecological community.In supportof thesestate- are also subjectedto regularand stochasticdisturbance.
ments we offerthe followingobservationsrelated to These observationsare consistentwiththe conceptsof
Huston (1979) and Solbrig(1991) relatedto the mainthe biodiversityof ripariancorridors.
Even thoughthe ripariancorridorhas been recog- tenance of high biodiversityin non-equilibriumsitunized forits high levels of biodiversity,it is still not ations where the process of competitiveexclusion is
known how many species are presentforany system retardedby periodic population reductionsand envi(Nilsson 1992). This is remarkable,consideringthat ronmentalfluctuations.
> 80% of the ripariancorridorarea of NorthAmerica
IMPLICATIONS FOR SCIENCE AND POLICY
and Europe has disappeared in the last 200 yr. The
If the global body of evidence gatheredto date is
generalmodificationof this importanthabitatis continuingon a global scale,withlittleattentionbeingpaid correct(thereare no studiesto the contrary),thenthe
to the ecological or human consequences of these implicationsforscience and policyare substantialand
changes(Decamps and Naiman 1989, Pettset al. 1989). farreaching.Recognitionof the ripariancorridoras a
Biodiversityis best documented for vascular plants, significantlandscape component in maintainingreeven thoughnearly70% of vertebratespecies in a re- gional biodiversityalso offerssignificant
advances for
gion will use ripariancorridorsin some significant
way resolvingissues relatedto endangeredspecies, cumulative effects,
wateryieldand quality,and sustainabilduringtheirlifecycle (Raedeke 1989).
Studies of riparianvascular plants in Sweden (Nils- ity.However, to attainthis level of recognitionit will
son 1986, 1992, Nilsson et al. 1989), in Finland (Kal- be necessarythat policy makers have the desire and
liola and Puhakka 1988), in the Peruvian Amazon ba- abilityto address the followingconsiderations:
The environmentmustbe recognizedas a legitimate
sin (Salo et al. 1986, Junk 1989, Kalliola et al. 1992),
in southernFrance (Tabacchi et al. 1990, Decamps consumerofwater.The global alterationof hydrologic
and Tabacchi 1993), and in the northwestern
United regimesis having devastatingeffectson fundamental
States (Raedeke 1989, Gregoryet al. 1991) all dem- processesmaintainingthevitalityofripariancorridors.
onstrateunusuallyhighlevels of biodiversity.For ex- In theconterminousUnited Statesonly2% of thetotal

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May 1993

211

PRESERVING BIODIVERSITY

quallengthsof riversare consideredto be of sufficient

ityforprotection(Benke 1990); it is less in Europe and
many developing countries. In many countries,especiallythose in arid regions,more than halfthe population lives within 1 km of a ripariancorridor,using
it formost of theirdaily needs (Turneret al. 1990). In
flowaddition,as of 1990 nearly70% ofthefreshwater
ing to the oceans was controlledor modifiedin some
manner(Petts 1984 and personalcommunication)with
littleunderstandingor appreciationof the ecological
consequences. Finally, the supplies of freshwaterin
many partsof the world are severelyover-subscribed,
making water a key securityissue in our collective
future.A balance between immediate human water
needs and long-termenvironmentaland human requirementsforwaterin the ripariancorridoris essential.
The restorationof fluvialecosystemswill be a complex and expensive effortin this decade and beyond.
are alreadyunderwayin theUnited States
Major efforts
(Columbia and Connecticutrivers)and Europe (Rhine
and Danube rivers). Clearly,complete restorationof
the ecological diversitywill be impossible. However,
restorationeffortsthat consider disturbanceregimes
(frequencyand intensity),hydraulicheterogeneityof
the channel,and sedimentdynamics,and that lessen
over
on thechannel,willbe effective
humanconstraints
efforts
thelongtermand at lowercoststhanengineering
directedat specifiedsites.In the past nearlyall human
diking)have
influenceson rivers(e.g.,dams, irrigation,
simplifiedthe system; restorationrequires managementforconnectivityand variabilityover broad spatial and temporalscales.
These considerationsdemand a broaderperspective
in planning.Planning based on isolated components
(e.g., fish,vegetation,or restorationof specificstream
sections)is ecologicallyincomplete.Considerationmust
be given to maintaininghydrologicconnectivityand
variabilityof ripariancorridorsfromthe headwaters
to the sea. This means that betterriparian corridor
protectionmusttake place in the numerousheadwater
streamsas wellas in thebroad floodplainsdownstream.
The area of land impactedby thisrecommendationis
often <10% of the total land mass, but it offersan
unusually diverse array of ecological services far in
excess of its areal extent.We recognize,however,that
managementprescriptionsare oftenmade at the local
level based on site-specificcharacteristics;but in the
futurethey must be made within a basin-wide perspective. Attainingthis broader planningperspective
requiresa close liaison betweenscience and policy. It
willbe necessaryto develop new applicationsofemerging technologies(e.g., geographicinformationsystems
and visual models) forbasin-wideperspectives(Pastor
and Johnston1992, Swanson et al. 1992) and to couple
considerationwith
social,economic,and environmental
policydecisionsat spatio-temporalscales and levels of
demonstratedin
complexityseldom beforeeffectively

human societies (Lee 1992, Lee et al. 1992, Naiman

1992).
A finalconsiderationrelates to political and institutionalcooperation.Internationalcooperation(IUCN
1980) and regionalpoliticalcooperation(Naiman 1992)
are frequentlydemanded since many river (riparian)
corridorsare sharedby two or more political statesor
land owners. In addition, regulatoryinstitutionsusuallyhave onlyjurisdictionfora portionoftheresources
in the riparian corridor,and often the institutional
(e.g., fisheriesvs. agriculture).
mandatesare conflicting
Unless political and institutionalcooperation can be
achieved thericharrayofbiologicallydiverseresources
and ecological servicesassociated with ripariancorridors will continueto be exploitedor wasted. The consequences of existingpracticesforlong-termenvironmentaland human vitalitywill be severe.
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