Multi-scale analysis of restored riparian forests structure and function effects in agricultural streams

• Grant number: 21/14411-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Effective date (Start): February 01, 2023
• Effective date (End): January 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Ecology - Ecosystems Ecology
• Principal Investigator: Silvio Frosini de Barros Ferraz
• Grantee: Paula Caroline dos Reis Oliveira
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Restoration of forest adjacent to water bodies is being applied worldwide to improve the status of stream ecosystems. The decision on how to restore stream through riparian forests has often been based rather on socioeconomic rationales than on scientific assessment of stream ecosystem functioning, especially in the tropics where knowledge on streams restoration is scarce. In riparian forest restoration, it is frequently assumed that the stream ecosystem functions are mainly mediated by the riparian vegetation buffer width. However, riparian forest condition and upstream catchment land-use have been suggested as important additional predictors of stream health. Therefore, this study aims to identify crucial functional components of Atlantic riparian forest restoration on stream structure and functioning, and thereby upscale this information to achieve a broad application potential. In a gradient of catchment land-use intensity and riparian forest conditions, functional and structural indicators of stream health will be measured and related to landscape variables. The data on stream health in relation to landscape variables will be used to develop a mechanistic model as a georeferenced-tool that will benefit restoration of riparian forests and streams. (AU)