| This thesis synthesizes three papers on the ecology of the riparian zone vegetation found along small coldwater streams in northwestern Ontario. The objectives of this thesis were (1) to describe the biodiversity and distribution and abundance of riparian zone plant species and vegetation types along the longitudinal and lateral gradients, (2) to evaluate the current buffer zone guidelines by comparing the riparian plant community between undisturbed sites and sites with adjacent clearcuts and forest fire, and (3) to examine the changes in the plant community trait structure found over the riparian-upland ecotone.;The riparian zones of these streams are diverse, with a large proportion of the regional flora, including some locally rare species, represented.;Riparian plant community composition was compared between sites that were undisturbed, sites where clear-cuts were separated from the riparian zone by a buffer of upland forest, and sites where a forest fire had burned to the riparian zone-upland ecotone.;The changes in importance of a range of reproductive, physiological, and morphological plant traits were examined over the riparian-upland ecotone. (Abstract shortened by UMI.). |
