The effects of cattle exclusion on stream structure and function

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dc.contributor.authorHughes, April Heatheren
dc.contributor.committeechairBenfield, Ernest F.en
dc.contributor.committeememberWebster, Jackson R.en
dc.contributor.committeememberAust, W. Michaelen
dc.contributor.departmentBiologyen
dc.date.accessioned2014-03-14T20:43:46Zen
dc.date.adate2008-09-01en
dc.date.available2014-03-14T20:43:46Zen
dc.date.issued2008-07-08en
dc.date.rdate2008-09-01en
dc.date.sdate2008-08-19en
dc.description.abstractStream ecosystems can be influenced by cattle grazing in the riparian zone due to sediment input, nutrient loading, and soil compaction, which lead to alterations of macroinvertebrate and microbial activity. Recently government programs, such as the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP), have provided funding for farmers to exclude cattle from streams and riparian zones. Funding for CREP is limited and does not allow for post exclusion assessment. The objectives for this study were; 1) to explore whether CREP and other cattle exclusion initiatives help restore functional integrity to streams; 2) and if they do, to evaluate the time required for integrity to be restored. I predicted leaf processing (a fundamental ecosystem level function) in streams would be influenced by excluding cattle from the riparian zone due to changes in nutrient availability, sediment abundance, shredding macroinvertebrates, and microbial activity. I tested this prediction by measuring leaf processing at sites that had cattle excluded for <1 to 15 years. Breakdown rates did not correspond linearly to time since cattle exclusion. This was probably due to the opposing effects of elevated sediment versus nutrients on leaf breakdown at recently grazed sites. Leaf breakdown and shredder density were strongly correlated with riparian vegetation density. This study suggests that in addition to cattle exclusion, reforestation of woody riparian vegetation may be essential to restore functional integrity to agricultural streams.en
dc.description.degreeMaster of Scienceen
dc.identifier.otheretd-08192008-232136en
dc.identifier.sourceurlhttp://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-08192008-232136/en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/34642en
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.relation.haspartHughes_April_MastersThesis.pdfen
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjectstreamen
dc.subjectcattleen
dc.subjectriparian vegetationen
dc.subjectshredding macroinvertebratesen
dc.subjectleaf breakdownen
dc.subjectfungal biomassen
dc.subjectmicrobial respirationen
dc.subjectsedimenten
dc.subjectnutrientsen
dc.titleThe effects of cattle exclusion on stream structure and functionen
dc.typeThesisen
thesis.degree.disciplineBiologyen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.levelmastersen
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Scienceen

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