Relationships between riparian vegetation and geomorphic process zones in the Toiyabe mountain range in Nevada

We conducted a field observational study to investigate the ecological significance of the "process zone" geomorphic classification scheme for riparian ecosystem distribution, composition, and structure. We measured geomorphic characteristics at multiple scales in order to better understand relationships between geomorphology and riparian vegetation, and to suggest improvements to the classification scheme. We field mapped process zones and riparian vegetation types in 2007 and 2008 in four small, perennial watersheds in the Toiyabe mountain range of central Nevada, USA. Watershed boundaries, process zones and vegetation patches were digitized in a GIS. The file geodatabase also contains points representing site locations of detailed field sampling that occurred in 2008. During the summer of 2008 we surveyed channel, valley, and watershed characteristics and collected abundance and structure data for all vascular plant species within the riparian zone of the main stream channel for the same four watersheds.
Riparian ecosystems supply valuable resources in all landscapes, but especially in semiarid regions such as the Great Basin of the western United States. Over half of Great Basin streams are thought to be in poor ecological condition and further deterioration is of significant concern to stakeholders. A thorough understanding of how physical processes at multiple scales work independently and interactively to shape riparian communities is necessary for successful management or restoration. Rivers and associated riparian ecosystems exhibit great variety in physical and biological structures, assemblages, and processes. Ecologically significant classification schemes are useful for identifying functionally similar sites within and among rivers as well as prioritizing conservation and restoration efforts.
Original metadata date was 08/20/2010. Metadata modified on 03/12/2013 to adjust citation to include the addition of a DOI (digital object identifier) and other minor edits. Minor metadata updates on 12/20/2016.