When we talk about a riverbank, we refer to the shore or edge of a body of water. It is the area of land closest to the ocean, sea, lake, river, stream, etc. It can be said to be associated with the transitional space between the aquatic environment and the adjacent terrestrial environment. riverbanks They are characterized by having different vegetation and a significant role in the ecosystem. The characteristics and importance of riverbanks are fundamental to environmental balance, which can be explored in other articles related to the importance of riverbanks and riparian forests.
For this reason, we are going to dedicate this article to tell you everything you need to know about the riverbanks, their vegetation and the importance they have.
Riverbank vegetation
Riverbank vegetation is deeply affected by the physical characteristics of the river, the intensity and frequency of the river, the path, the erosivity and transport capacity, and the grain size of the sediment on which its flow depends.
The complete knowledge of the riverbank river should be based on the characteristics of the area it occupies (horizontal structure), as well as the species that compose it and their size (vertical structure), as well as their position in the river and their expected evolution over time.
In the vertical structure, the riparian forest presents a complex organization, formed by the following strata in its greatest development:
- Tree layer- Usually multi-species, but often dominated by a single species in each layer.
- Tree stratum: It is formed by the larvae of the upper trees and other tall woody plants are added.
- Shrub stratum: The main characteristics of sun-loving shrubs associated with riverbanks make this layer more important in clearings and on the outer edges of forests.
- Herbaceous layer: generally well developed within the forest, formed by Albizia julibrissin, and rich in early phenological geological plants.
- Lianoid formation: Due to its remarkable development, especially in the warmer regions of Spain, it is very characteristic of riverside forests.
- Epiphytic stratum: Generally consisting only of mosses, liverworts and lichens, almost always abundant and diverse.
Riverside benefits
The environmental functions and services provided by the riverbank are multifaceted:
- They regulate the microclimate of the river: its occurrence is the result of the control of the riparian vegetation of the basic climatic conditions of the environment and the influence of the surface of the river water.
- They help regulate the shape and dynamics of rivers: through its ability to support plant formation.
- They are ideal habitats for a large number of plant and animal species: due to the special conditions of the microclimate and the availability of water, organic matter and nutrients.
- They serve as filtering areas to prevent the entry of sediments and pollutants into the riverbed: They are favored by their location in the territory and the shape of the relief, hydrological and biological processes characteristic of the riverside environment.
- They function as collection areas for water, organic matter and sediments: the existing flows of matter and energy are related to the flows of matter and energy produced in the relevant aquatic environment.
- They serve as replenishment areas for groundwater bodies: because they are areas of accumulation of water, organic matter and sediments.
- They have an important landscape value.
The term 'ribera' should not be confused with 'rivera', synonymous with stream, which is a natural stream of water that normally flows continuously, but which, unlike a river, has little flow and may even disappear in the dry season.
Associated forests
Riparian forests are evergreen ecosystems that develop along the edge of waterways. This is because these areas maintain soil moisture at different times of the year. They are variable ecosystems in space and time. Spatial changes are reflected in changes in the vertical, horizontal and vertical structure of the forest. Time changes can be related to seasonal or random events.
They constitute the habitat of a large number of species: they include plant forms with a great diversity of morphology, physiology and reproductive adaptability, which allows them to survive in flooded soils. They are habitats, refuges and corridors for many animals. What's more, They are important to maintain environmental quality because they intervene in the capture of polluting nutrients from water and sediments. For this reason, they are ecosystems that can be used to promote environmental sanitation in contaminated areas.
Riparian forests contain the most diverse and productive plant communities. They produce a wide variety of habitats and microclimates, and support a large number of species. They also contribute to connectivity between remote areas and act as ecological corridors that facilitate the dispersal of individuals and gene flow. Their diversity is critical to the health of aquatic ecosystems, highlighting the importance of importance of riverbanks and riparian forests.
On the other hand, the energy and materials provided by forests are essential to maintain the aquatic nutrient network. Leaves, branches, and logs that fall into rivers and streams will be caught by fallen trees and rocks. They provide food and shelter for small fish, crustaceans, amphibians, insects, etc., and form the basis of the food web of aquatic ecosystems.
Riparian forest functions
Riparian forests play an important role in controlling the microclimate of rivers and streams by controlling extreme temperatures. In very hot climates or seasons, forests will isolate solar radiation, lower water temperatures, and consequently reduce evaporation. On the other hand, in cold climates or seasons, forests retain heat from the soil and bodies of water, keeping the water at a higher temperature.
Riparian forests are very important in terms of environmental sanitation and maintenance of river water quality. They remove sediment from the water and isolate, filter or transform nutrients and other pollutants. This process is essential for the health of riverbanks and their ecosystems.
These ecosystems remove excess nitrates from water bodies, most of which come from unsustainable agricultural practices. The processes involved in this part of the nitrogen cycle are denitrification and nitrate uptake by plants.
Denitrification is the biochemical conversion of nitrate to nitrogen in the form of molecular nitrogen or nitrogen oxides. Therefore, Nitrogen dissolved in the water is removed and released into the atmosphere.
On the other hand, the nitrate absorbed by plants can come from soil or water. They integrate it into their tissues and turn it into plant biomass. In this way, nitrogen is separated from the culture medium and stored for a long time. Both mechanisms reduce the amount of available nitrogen dissolved in the water.