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Riparian vegetation research in Mediterranean-climate regions: common patterns, ecological processes, and considerations for management

Hydrobiologia volume 719, pages 291–315 (2013)Cite this article

Abstract

Riparian corridors in Mediterranean-climate regions (med-regions) are resource-rich habitats within water-limited, larger landscapes. However, little is known about how their plant communities compare functionally and compositionally across med-regions. In recent decades, research on these ecosystems has expanded in both geographic scope and disciplinary depth. We reviewed 286 riparian-vegetation studies across the five med-regions, and identified common themes, including: (1) high levels of plant biodiversity, structural complexity, and cross-region species introductions; (2) strong physical controls on plant demographics and community structure; and (3) intensive human impacts. European and Californian ecosystems were the most represented among the studies reviewed, but Australia, South Africa, and Chile had the greatest proportional increases in articles published since 2000. All med-regions support distinct riparian flora, although many genera have invaded across regions. Plant species in all regions are adapted to multiple abiotic stressors, including dynamic flooding and sediment regimes, seasonal water shortage, and fire. The most severe human impacts are from land-use conversion to agriculture, streamflow regulation, nutrient enrichment, and climate change. Current knowledge gaps and subjects for future research include cumulative impacts to small, ephemeral streams and large, regulated rivers, as well as understudied ecosystems in North Africa, the western Mediterranean basin, and Chile.

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Acknowledgments

We thank J. Amigo Vázquez, M. Ater, and P Arsénio who provided valuable information about Chilean, North African, and South African riparian vegetation, respectively. The river channel migration image was provided by A. Fremier, and photographs were graciously contributed by B. Belletti, J. Kalwij, and R. L. Pettit. Funding was provided by CNRS/CNRST (S. Dufour), the CNRS PICS Program (S. Dufour and J.C. Stella), California’s Delta Science Program (J.C. Stella) and a post-doctoral grant from the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology-FCT (SFRH/BPD/47140/2008, P. M. Rodríguez-González). Some of this research was conducted while J. Bendix was a visiting research fellow at the University of Macau.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Forest and Natural Resources Management, State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, One Forestry Drive, Syracuse, NY, 13210, USA

    John C. Stella

  2. Centro de Estudos Florestais, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade Técnica de Lisboa, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017, Lisbon, Portugal

    Patricia M. Rodríguez-González

  3. CNRS UMR 6554 LETG Rennes COSTEL, Département de Géographie, Université Rennes 2, Place du Recteur Henri Le Moal, 35043, Rennes Cedex, France

    Simon Dufour

  4. Department of Geography, Syracuse University, 144 Eggers Hall, Syracuse, NY, 13078-1020, USA

    Jacob Bendix

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  1. John C. Stella
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  2. Patricia M. Rodríguez-González
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  3. Simon Dufour
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  4. Jacob Bendix
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Correspondence to John C. Stella.

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Guest editors: N. Bonada & V. H. Resh / Streams in Mediterranean climate regions: lessons learned from the last decade

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Stella, J.C., Rodríguez-González, P.M., Dufour, S. et al. Riparian vegetation research in Mediterranean-climate regions: common patterns, ecological processes, and considerations for management. Hydrobiologia 719, 291–315 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-012-1304-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-012-1304-9

Keywords

  • Australia
  • California
  • Chile
  • Mediterranean basin
  • Riparian ecohydrology
  • South Africa