LE3 .A278 2016

2016

Bondrup-Nielsen, Soren

Acadia University

Master of Science

Masters

Biology

Biology

This study examines biodiversity and water quality in riparian zones within an agricultural landscape in the Tri-brook Watershed, Annapolis Valley, NS. Specifically, the location of the zone in the watershed (distance from source), density of cattle adjacent to the streams, fencing cattle from the zone, disturbance by cattle as it relates to the Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis, and the Riparian Health Assessment were investigated. Data on plant diversity was obtained from 1m2 plots adjacent to the riparian zone; the CABIN protocol was used for the aquatic invertebrate diversity and percent Ephermeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera, and analyses for total Nitrogen and Phosphorus was done on water samples collected within the streams. Plant diversity appeared to decrease within riparian zones with increase distance from the source whereas total Nitrogen increased. There were no relationships found with cattle density. There were potential effects of fencing cattle out of the stream on plant diversity. Disturbance from cattle appeared to follow the Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis, that is plant diversity appeared to be highest at intermediate disturbance by cattle within the riparian zone. There was a potential increasing relationship found for the Riparian Health Assessment and plant diversity in 2008. In future studies, increased sample size should be considered. Future studies should also include a larger variety of cattle densities in order to determine if cattle density plays a role in biodiversity and water quality. Cattle disturbance should be studied further to accurately categorize levels of disturbance

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https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:1377