The effects of human-induced changes in the avifauna of western riparian habitats
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Authors: R. D. Ohmart
Date: 1994
Journal: Studies in Avian Biology
Volume: 15
Number:
Pages: 273-285
Summary of Methods: This is a summary of 57 articles examining the effects of major human activities (dams, reservoirs, instream flow reductions, flood control and dewatering of rivers, domestic livestock grazing, and agriculture environmental modifications) on riparian habitat in 11 western states and the changes that have occurred due to this activity on western bird habitat.
Article Summary / Main Points: The impacts of water management and agriculture in the future will be minimal, while livestock grazing poses the largest threat to riparian habitats and their associated bird populations. Livestock exclusion and better management practices on short stream reaches resulted in recovery of riparian vegetation. Storage reservoirs resolved the problems of a constant water supply and the annual threat of floods. The loss of valuable cottonwoods and willow habitats was the result from dam installation and regulation of flow. Except in well-studied examples (the lower Colorado River), data is lacking to clearly tie degradation and loss of many endangered species in riparian habitats to declining numbers of neotropical migrants. Expansion of agriculture across the areas was permitted by reservoirs providing a constant water supply and seemingly never ending canals. Public agencies need to improve their conservation and land management practices if western bird populations are to remain intact.
Vegetation Types: Riparian and Wetlands
MLRA Ecoregions: Not Applicable
Agrovoc Control Words: Riparian zones Grazing Birds
Article Review Type: Refereed
Article Type: Scientific Synthesis
Keywords: agriculture, domestic livestock grazing, riparian degradation, riparian habitats, riparian restoration, water management
Annotation: This is a good synthesis of existing research examining the effects of human impact on regional bird populations in western riparian habitats. Grazing management does pose a substantial threat to riparian areas and the wildlife species that use them, but with proper grazing management the negative impacts of livestock grazing can be minimized.
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